Yesterday was the culmination of a long running legal battle to evict a traveller community from a landsite they hadn't been legally occupying for decades. There's a legal one right next to it and well, I guess the community grew.
Amid violence they were evicted yesterday. Bailiff's were supposed to come at dawn but instead riot police led the 'operation'. Turning up in full riot gear with shields
Intimidate Provoke
No bloody wonder some thought 'fuck you' and started hurling bricks.
Over in Greece it was anti-cuts campaigners being tear gassed. Our police used Taser guns. Is this the future? Taser guns in the side pocket at all peaceful protests. There were no guns at Dale Farm. Just people protecting their homes and livelihoods and children's education and old people's care. Sure, activists were there to lend their support, but people losing their homes need support from somewhere, from someone.
You can never know how awful it is to be evicted until it happens to you, or nearly happens to you as it nearly happened to me and my son. Twice.
In the Standard yesterday, a story about how a £120,000 a year Tory told a single mother being evicted from her London home to 'live in the real world.' She wrote to a member of Boris' team wanting some help and guidance (as I also did to various politicians) and was told:
"There will never be enough council houses available...I am afraid you have to live in the real world where the country has no money and residents will have to deal with their own issues reather than expecting 'the system' to sort their lives out." (19/10/11 p.7)
Dale Farm is the real world. Dale Farm is people losing their homes. Did the council try and find them somewhere alternative to go? No. According to the Guardian, a local priest serving Dale Farm said:
I'm just so sad it came to this. There were other options - Basildon was offered sites from the Homes and Communities Agency, and it is tragic they were not taken up." (20/10/11 p7 from p 1 lead)
No-one is helped anymore and barriers are put before those trying to help themselves.
RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH.
There is a protest November 15th at Parliament.
There is still a chance to stop this disastrous localism bill from going through that will see people losing their homes becoming the order of the day.
You never know, you could be next.
Showing posts with label Police. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Police. Show all posts
Thursday, 20 October 2011
Thursday, 13 October 2011
Pass the bill...Ouch
You'll be pleased to know that the protest I, doctors and academics and ordinary people went on, the kettling I went through so your parents, mine, your child, mine, you, me could have a free National Health Service as long as we live made no difference at all to the outcome of the "Health and Social Care Bill". See, no mention of the word "National." You're paying now love. Happy?
The bill was voted down by 354 to 220 by the House of Lords so will go back to the House of Commons to the glee of our ruling Tory Party, I mean Coalition.
"Critics of the Bill say it paves the way for profit-making private firms - or "Any Qualified Providers" - to bid for every section of the NHS from the hospital casualty units to physiotherapy. Crucially, it means GPs deciding what gets funded and, in turn, lead to patient care decisions being based on cost the the first time in the history of the NHS." (P.2 Camden New Journal)
There are 1000's of people who are feeling disappointed today. Angry.
Is there any point? Is there any point protesting? Our leaders don't listen to us, our leaders don't care for your point of view if it doesn't match their own. Our leaders will do what they like.
Martyrs to the cause we're becoming aren't we?
Egypt, Libya, Syria, Greece
Did you know the Americans have occupied Wall Street? Yeah! Banners and flags peacefully highlighting the inequality and greed that's so pervasive in our societies. You'd be forgiven for not knowing because it's hardly been reported in the press.
There is a point to protesting. Of course there is a point.
Dave said he'd LEAVE THE NHS ALONE. There is NO MANDATE for this destruction.
Will you only see it when your local hospital is closed?
Will you care then?
http://occupywallst.org/
The bill was voted down by 354 to 220 by the House of Lords so will go back to the House of Commons to the glee of our ruling Tory Party, I mean Coalition.
"Critics of the Bill say it paves the way for profit-making private firms - or "Any Qualified Providers" - to bid for every section of the NHS from the hospital casualty units to physiotherapy. Crucially, it means GPs deciding what gets funded and, in turn, lead to patient care decisions being based on cost the the first time in the history of the NHS." (P.2 Camden New Journal)
There are 1000's of people who are feeling disappointed today. Angry.
Is there any point? Is there any point protesting? Our leaders don't listen to us, our leaders don't care for your point of view if it doesn't match their own. Our leaders will do what they like.
Martyrs to the cause we're becoming aren't we?
Egypt, Libya, Syria, Greece
Did you know the Americans have occupied Wall Street? Yeah! Banners and flags peacefully highlighting the inequality and greed that's so pervasive in our societies. You'd be forgiven for not knowing because it's hardly been reported in the press.
There is a point to protesting. Of course there is a point.
Dave said he'd LEAVE THE NHS ALONE. There is NO MANDATE for this destruction.
Will you only see it when your local hospital is closed?
Will you care then?
http://occupywallst.org/
Wednesday, 12 October 2011
How to deal with bad dreams and nightmares
I shall proceed to tell you about how I have dealt with my rabid dog nightmares because it is a fresh example.
If you have malevolent dreams, or pictures in your mind (like last year during my 'bodyquake' I saw images of women being burnt at the stake and all sorts of nasty things) then the best thing to do, in my opinion, is shine a light on it.
Now JK Rowling, through Harry Potter, describes the Patronus. A white light and positive energy that beamed from Harry's wand into the shape of a stag.
Maybe you haven't read Harry Potter or seen the films so you don't know what I'm talking about, which is fine!
Sunday night I had my nightmare. Monday night it came back. I lifted my palm to the dog and imagined that white light was beaming from it, from me.
Yesterday the creature appeared in my daydreams and I'd blast it again with my light.
This morning, like now I'm writing about it, the dog's turning away from me. It's power has gone. I'm getting better with this Light thing!
I hope the dream stays away!
Light. Imagine light. Always LIGHT to get rid of nightmares and I'm guessing dark spirits as well (not that I want to experience that either)
BUILD YOUR STRENGTH.
Sticks and stones may break your bones
Your soul will never leave you.
USE ITS LIGHT
You know, I might tell my son what I've told you. He gets bad dreams.
"You were in it mummy, you were the bad person, you were the lion wanting to eat me up! I couldn't call you!"
Sleep easy my son my sun, sleep easy all of you;)
If you have malevolent dreams, or pictures in your mind (like last year during my 'bodyquake' I saw images of women being burnt at the stake and all sorts of nasty things) then the best thing to do, in my opinion, is shine a light on it.
Now JK Rowling, through Harry Potter, describes the Patronus. A white light and positive energy that beamed from Harry's wand into the shape of a stag.
Maybe you haven't read Harry Potter or seen the films so you don't know what I'm talking about, which is fine!
Sunday night I had my nightmare. Monday night it came back. I lifted my palm to the dog and imagined that white light was beaming from it, from me.
Yesterday the creature appeared in my daydreams and I'd blast it again with my light.
This morning, like now I'm writing about it, the dog's turning away from me. It's power has gone. I'm getting better with this Light thing!
I hope the dream stays away!
Light. Imagine light. Always LIGHT to get rid of nightmares and I'm guessing dark spirits as well (not that I want to experience that either)
BUILD YOUR STRENGTH.
Sticks and stones may break your bones
Your soul will never leave you.
USE ITS LIGHT
You know, I might tell my son what I've told you. He gets bad dreams.
"You were in it mummy, you were the bad person, you were the lion wanting to eat me up! I couldn't call you!"
Sleep easy my son my sun, sleep easy all of you;)
Dreams of rabid dogs
Sunday night, a whole pack of black, rabid dogs, circling me, snarling, saliva dripping from their fangs. I was very, very frightened and they wouldn't go away.
The following day, I consulted my good pal Google and got this:
Unless it is a pet, a dog usually represents contention, offense,
or an unclean spirit. A rabid dog represents evil, contagious evil,
persecution, great danger. (http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080812092801AAQ5q1u)
Monday afternoon I see my friend The Ed and he says "It's the police" and I'm like "Of course it is, doh!"
Monday night there's just one dog and soon after my alarm went off so that was alright.
Yesterday the dog just snarled into my mind at random moments, like when I was washing up.
Today I am eyeballing it and it turns away. Hopefully pretty soon it'll go altogether.
I'm so angry. This morning I was walking back from the school run and a fire engine was out on the street opposite the police station, infront of a cafe. I spoke to a guy in a regular suit and asked which building he'd come from. He pointed to the police station and I thought "Prick." (Heh heh and there was me last week saying I'd say Peace be with you to all my enemies!!!)
It's not funny. Politicians ask themselves why young people are so angry and it's really not difficult to figure out, particularly when bonds of trust have been broken.
The following day, I consulted my good pal Google and got this:
Unless it is a pet, a dog usually represents contention, offense,
or an unclean spirit. A rabid dog represents evil, contagious evil,
persecution, great danger. (http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080812092801AAQ5q1u)
Monday afternoon I see my friend The Ed and he says "It's the police" and I'm like "Of course it is, doh!"
Monday night there's just one dog and soon after my alarm went off so that was alright.
Yesterday the dog just snarled into my mind at random moments, like when I was washing up.
Today I am eyeballing it and it turns away. Hopefully pretty soon it'll go altogether.
I'm so angry. This morning I was walking back from the school run and a fire engine was out on the street opposite the police station, infront of a cafe. I spoke to a guy in a regular suit and asked which building he'd come from. He pointed to the police station and I thought "Prick." (Heh heh and there was me last week saying I'd say Peace be with you to all my enemies!!!)
It's not funny. Politicians ask themselves why young people are so angry and it's really not difficult to figure out, particularly when bonds of trust have been broken.
Tuesday, 11 October 2011
Release from detention
We are released one by one through a corridor of police, standing there with their flourescent jackets like air traffic controllers.
"All of them for just one of us!" I say to the good looking anarchist I'd been chatting to about the Holocaust earlier. "Who knew we are so powerful!!!"
We wait. We can just about see the person who went through infront of us, trying to shield their face.
My turn.
I walk zig zag past maybe five policemen and come to a group of about four of them, one of whom is holding a camera. A video camera?
I extend my palm out to its lens. It's symbolic. They can see me, they've got pictures of us all.
"If we're going to trade information can I have your names?"
"Yes. It's all here clearly labelled on our jackets."
Flash thought. I'll have to get my pencil out of my bag. A sharp instrument that.
"What's your name please?" asks the Filth. Because they are the filth at that moment. They aren't the copper. They aren't the bobby. They are the Other. The Oppressor. The Captor.
"Do I have to give it?" I ask, quietly I think.
"We'd prefer it if you did." (or something close to that)
"Do you mind if I don't give it to you... Today?"
"Why not?" I can feel them all looking at me.
"I just don't want to, that's all."
"Where do you live?"
"Why do you want to know that."
"So we can come and see you tomorrow."
"Tomorrow? What for?"
"To ask you for your name."
"I just told you, I don't want to give you my name."
"Don't let them intimidate you!" I look over the heads of my captors and see a young man, with shoulder length curls and a really gentle beautiful looking face.
"Don't let them intimidate you! They've managed to intimidate three people already. Just three, you don't have to tell them anything. Don't let them intimidate you!"
Do I smile? Or is it just my eyes that call out to him my thanks for his being so beautiful?
"Go with them please," says the Filth talking to me about two Others.
"Where am I going?"
"You can go now."
"Oh right, thanks."
Suddenly another one says to me, his notebook in hand. "The government has asked us to take note of who comes to these protests. Can you tell us your ethnicity?"
I scan down this list and see W1
Calender Girls!
Later I asked myself how come I was such a pushover all of a sudden.
"That one, White British. You know.. I was out there, we were out there looking out for your interests today."
"I know, we don't like doing this." At the time I shook my head thinking 'my arse.."
Then, and I just remembered this last night, talking to my friend, the Ed. One of them, blond starts saying something like "If you go on to join a protest or start a protest you will be arrested."
"Today?" I say somewhat confused.
"We are telling you that if you join a protest..."
"Yes, today?"
"Yes, if you join or start a protest today you will be arrested."
"I'm going home. I'm going home for a cup of tea. I was on my way home for a cup of tea when you stopped me."
And with that they let me go, and I quickened my pace up the way I had come and caught up with the Welsh crew ahead because they'd been so kind and so funny and I wanted to say thanks.
Tell you what though, the rabid dogs have not left my dreams yet.
Bastards.
Intimidate Provoke Oppress
Attack Occupy Resist.
They have the power to take everything but they cannot take our spirit. They cannot take our souls.
RIP to all those who die seeking fairness and justice for themselves and their fellow country men and women with special mention to the 26 Christian Greeks who were killed on Sunday whilst on a peaceful protest. (The Independent 11.10.11)
"All of them for just one of us!" I say to the good looking anarchist I'd been chatting to about the Holocaust earlier. "Who knew we are so powerful!!!"
We wait. We can just about see the person who went through infront of us, trying to shield their face.
My turn.
I walk zig zag past maybe five policemen and come to a group of about four of them, one of whom is holding a camera. A video camera?
I extend my palm out to its lens. It's symbolic. They can see me, they've got pictures of us all.
"If we're going to trade information can I have your names?"
"Yes. It's all here clearly labelled on our jackets."
Flash thought. I'll have to get my pencil out of my bag. A sharp instrument that.
"What's your name please?" asks the Filth. Because they are the filth at that moment. They aren't the copper. They aren't the bobby. They are the Other. The Oppressor. The Captor.
"Do I have to give it?" I ask, quietly I think.
"We'd prefer it if you did." (or something close to that)
"Do you mind if I don't give it to you... Today?"
"Why not?" I can feel them all looking at me.
"I just don't want to, that's all."
"Where do you live?"
"Why do you want to know that."
"So we can come and see you tomorrow."
"Tomorrow? What for?"
"To ask you for your name."
"I just told you, I don't want to give you my name."
"Don't let them intimidate you!" I look over the heads of my captors and see a young man, with shoulder length curls and a really gentle beautiful looking face.
"Don't let them intimidate you! They've managed to intimidate three people already. Just three, you don't have to tell them anything. Don't let them intimidate you!"
Do I smile? Or is it just my eyes that call out to him my thanks for his being so beautiful?
"Go with them please," says the Filth talking to me about two Others.
"Where am I going?"
"You can go now."
"Oh right, thanks."
Suddenly another one says to me, his notebook in hand. "The government has asked us to take note of who comes to these protests. Can you tell us your ethnicity?"
I scan down this list and see W1
Calender Girls!
Later I asked myself how come I was such a pushover all of a sudden.
"That one, White British. You know.. I was out there, we were out there looking out for your interests today."
"I know, we don't like doing this." At the time I shook my head thinking 'my arse.."
Then, and I just remembered this last night, talking to my friend, the Ed. One of them, blond starts saying something like "If you go on to join a protest or start a protest you will be arrested."
"Today?" I say somewhat confused.
"We are telling you that if you join a protest..."
"Yes, today?"
"Yes, if you join or start a protest today you will be arrested."
"I'm going home. I'm going home for a cup of tea. I was on my way home for a cup of tea when you stopped me."
And with that they let me go, and I quickened my pace up the way I had come and caught up with the Welsh crew ahead because they'd been so kind and so funny and I wanted to say thanks.
Tell you what though, the rabid dogs have not left my dreams yet.
Bastards.
Intimidate Provoke Oppress
Attack Occupy Resist.
They have the power to take everything but they cannot take our spirit. They cannot take our souls.
RIP to all those who die seeking fairness and justice for themselves and their fellow country men and women with special mention to the 26 Christian Greeks who were killed on Sunday whilst on a peaceful protest. (The Independent 11.10.11)
Stop and Search
"The police might want your name and address."
"Why?"
"To put on their database?"
"Why, I haven't done anything wrong."
"I'm just warning you that's all. It might happen, the terms of release."
"What if I don't give it?"
"They could take you down to the station to give it there."
"But we haven't done anything wrong, it's not fair."
"They might ask to see the contents of your bag"
"Can they do that?" Fuck yes, they can...
"Yeah, under section (16?)"
"They can look at mine if they like!" I say, heh heh, fuck my chest feels tight.
"Don't tell them that."
"No! Of course not!"
It's just I'm thinking.
My bag contains a copy of this month's Spirit and Destiny
and Philip Pullman's The Good Man Jesus and The Scoundrel Christ.
Figuritively epeaking
Search me!
No, I know, not funny.
"Why?"
"To put on their database?"
"Why, I haven't done anything wrong."
"I'm just warning you that's all. It might happen, the terms of release."
"What if I don't give it?"
"They could take you down to the station to give it there."
"But we haven't done anything wrong, it's not fair."
"They might ask to see the contents of your bag"
"Can they do that?" Fuck yes, they can...
"Yeah, under section (16?)"
"They can look at mine if they like!" I say, heh heh, fuck my chest feels tight.
"Don't tell them that."
"No! Of course not!"
It's just I'm thinking.
My bag contains a copy of this month's Spirit and Destiny
and Philip Pullman's The Good Man Jesus and The Scoundrel Christ.
Figuritively epeaking
Search me!
No, I know, not funny.
Hugh Laurie - dressed as a policeman?
I'm being kettled with about two or three dozen fellow protesters on Lambeth Bridge.
Police surround us, containing us in rows of two, three. Coppers everywhere you look.
Hang on, isn't that Hugh Laurie?
That is Hugh Laurie dressed up as a policeman!
What???!!!!
I'm not there with a friend so I tap a man next to me, a new friend, on the arm.
"Hugh Laurie's standing over there with a policeman's uniform on," I say giggling incredulously.
"What?" he says looking at me.
"Hugh Laurie, over there, look!"
"Oh yeah!" he agrees, laughing.
He turns to his friend: "There's a policeman over there, looks like Hugh Laurie!"
She laughs aswell!
Then someone says "Oh, I bet he gets ribbed about that alot at work."
Compassion? Do I hear compassion?
A compassionate anarchist?
Yes think of this next time you want to label a protester, next time you want to judge an anarchist in a scornful way believing us to be..what do you believe us to be actually?
John Lydon, of the Sex Pistols fame, once said an anarchist is someone who bends the rules, not breaks the rules.
No-one broke any rule on Sunday. Everyone was out speaking against cuts to the National Health Service, the Bill which is due to be read today.
Privatising the NHS, now that's against the rules. There is no mandate for what the Tories are trying to do.
Police surround us, containing us in rows of two, three. Coppers everywhere you look.
Hang on, isn't that Hugh Laurie?
That is Hugh Laurie dressed up as a policeman!
What???!!!!
I'm not there with a friend so I tap a man next to me, a new friend, on the arm.
"Hugh Laurie's standing over there with a policeman's uniform on," I say giggling incredulously.
"What?" he says looking at me.
"Hugh Laurie, over there, look!"
"Oh yeah!" he agrees, laughing.
He turns to his friend: "There's a policeman over there, looks like Hugh Laurie!"
She laughs aswell!
Then someone says "Oh, I bet he gets ribbed about that alot at work."
Compassion? Do I hear compassion?
A compassionate anarchist?
Yes think of this next time you want to label a protester, next time you want to judge an anarchist in a scornful way believing us to be..what do you believe us to be actually?
John Lydon, of the Sex Pistols fame, once said an anarchist is someone who bends the rules, not breaks the rules.
No-one broke any rule on Sunday. Everyone was out speaking against cuts to the National Health Service, the Bill which is due to be read today.
Privatising the NHS, now that's against the rules. There is no mandate for what the Tories are trying to do.
Unlawful imprisonment
I don't know how many we were being kettled but I'd say not many. I was never ever far from a policeman whereever I happened to be standing. They could hear every conversation and one was happily snap snap snapping his camera doing his little dance around our group.
I was with people who'd never been kettled before. A girl from America, another from Wales, possibly others, I didn't hear anybody talking of past experiences.
I'd hazard a guess that there were more police surrounding and containing us that there were of us.
Fortunately there were stewards in there who handed us Bust cards. In the event of being arrested to say "No Comment." There was a number for legal help on it too.
If they asked us for our names and addresses we might have to give it, we were told. Refusal to do so might see us arrested.
Under some act they had every right to stop and search us.
I don't know what I was feeling because I was feeling EVERYTHING ALL AT ONCE.
Bewildered, anxious, worried that I might not be back home in time for when my son came back from his dad's.
Thank God, really truly, that the guy with the guitar and harmonica were in there with us.
He bends down, opens his case and removes his instrument.
Some of the crowd start singing Python's "Always look on the bright side of life" and our guitar man joins in and knows all the verses too!
His friends then tell him to play the song we'd all joined in with on the comedy patch.
Strike Occupy Resist!
There was something most surreal and abit scary cheeky defiance singing this while illegally detained so close to the police you could almost hear them breath:
Intimidate Provoke Oppress
Soon after we were told that we would be released. I smiled at the guitar man: "Your playing secured that for us. Thank you!"
Here, have a listen. Imagine you are hearing it live, join in at the chorus!
Picket Line Party by CosmoInnit
Thank you for all of you in there that made the hour (or more?) pass less fearfully that it otherwise could have done.
No thanks, none, to the police.
What they did and what they put us through was totally and utterly unnecessary.
At the same time as we were being kettled 26 civilians were being killed by the military while out on their peaceful protest in Greece.
Intimidate Provoke Oppress
FILTH.
I was with people who'd never been kettled before. A girl from America, another from Wales, possibly others, I didn't hear anybody talking of past experiences.
I'd hazard a guess that there were more police surrounding and containing us that there were of us.
Fortunately there were stewards in there who handed us Bust cards. In the event of being arrested to say "No Comment." There was a number for legal help on it too.
If they asked us for our names and addresses we might have to give it, we were told. Refusal to do so might see us arrested.
Under some act they had every right to stop and search us.
I don't know what I was feeling because I was feeling EVERYTHING ALL AT ONCE.
Bewildered, anxious, worried that I might not be back home in time for when my son came back from his dad's.
Thank God, really truly, that the guy with the guitar and harmonica were in there with us.
He bends down, opens his case and removes his instrument.
Some of the crowd start singing Python's "Always look on the bright side of life" and our guitar man joins in and knows all the verses too!
His friends then tell him to play the song we'd all joined in with on the comedy patch.
Strike Occupy Resist!
There was something most surreal and abit scary cheeky defiance singing this while illegally detained so close to the police you could almost hear them breath:
Intimidate Provoke Oppress
Soon after we were told that we would be released. I smiled at the guitar man: "Your playing secured that for us. Thank you!"
Here, have a listen. Imagine you are hearing it live, join in at the chorus!
Picket Line Party by CosmoInnit
Thank you for all of you in there that made the hour (or more?) pass less fearfully that it otherwise could have done.
No thanks, none, to the police.
What they did and what they put us through was totally and utterly unnecessary.
At the same time as we were being kettled 26 civilians were being killed by the military while out on their peaceful protest in Greece.
Intimidate Provoke Oppress
FILTH.
Heading home after peaceful protest
We were all told to leave Westminster Bridge by the south end and turn right.
I heard that. Clearly.
The north end there was the wall of police I'd seen when I arrived but don't know why we couldn't leave that end. Hardly matters I suppose.
I was walking towards Lambeth Bridge vaguely asking myself where I was going. I fancied stopping at the Riverside Cafe for a cup of tea but figured I'd get a free one when I got home.
I'm walking over Lambeth Bridge and at the end see police vans but also see the guitar and harmonica player who'd done a set of funny protest songs on the comedy patch on Westminster Bridge. I go over to say thanks, he was really good! He thanks me for the compliment!
I ask him what all the police vans are doing there without questioning why he and everyone else aren't actually walking anymore.
I see a line of police in their flourescent yellow jackets walk past us and again think nothing.
Then I hear this kind of shout and the police have grabbed one another and encircled us, the force of which made me wobble a bit on my feet, made my body sway.
"This is unlawful imprisonment," someone shouts.
I feel my chest tighten and tell myself not to panic. It wouldn't do to panic.
I hear a guy say: "Let's play tag, you're it!"
"You're it!"
"It!"
and laugh.
A little later I tell a young guy (really good looking actually!) that I got free tickets through Seefilmfirst to go and see an opera called The Passenger on friday night. It's the story of an German SS officer who is on a cruise ship who sees one of her ex prisoner's from Auschwitz.
"My brother wanted to leave at the interval," I tell this boy. "But I told him we should stay to see the rest because stories like that are still relevant today, people around the world are still being oppressed, perhaps not to the same extent but..."
"It's important to feel it," says the guy.
"Hmmm," I say because if I was anywhere else I might say yes
but in a police kettle I am feeling it.
Maybe I should've stopped for that cup of tea?
Maybe it was right I should experience it?
Somebody told me this morning that kettlingpeople is illegal. If it isn't, it should be.
Here's a friend's experience. She occupied Fortnum and Mason's in a peaceful protest and wasn't allowed home at all:
http://ladieswotlunch.posterous.com/i-am-sparticus
I heard that. Clearly.
The north end there was the wall of police I'd seen when I arrived but don't know why we couldn't leave that end. Hardly matters I suppose.
I was walking towards Lambeth Bridge vaguely asking myself where I was going. I fancied stopping at the Riverside Cafe for a cup of tea but figured I'd get a free one when I got home.
I'm walking over Lambeth Bridge and at the end see police vans but also see the guitar and harmonica player who'd done a set of funny protest songs on the comedy patch on Westminster Bridge. I go over to say thanks, he was really good! He thanks me for the compliment!
I ask him what all the police vans are doing there without questioning why he and everyone else aren't actually walking anymore.
I see a line of police in their flourescent yellow jackets walk past us and again think nothing.
Then I hear this kind of shout and the police have grabbed one another and encircled us, the force of which made me wobble a bit on my feet, made my body sway.
"This is unlawful imprisonment," someone shouts.
I feel my chest tighten and tell myself not to panic. It wouldn't do to panic.
I hear a guy say: "Let's play tag, you're it!"
"You're it!"
"It!"
and laugh.
A little later I tell a young guy (really good looking actually!) that I got free tickets through Seefilmfirst to go and see an opera called The Passenger on friday night. It's the story of an German SS officer who is on a cruise ship who sees one of her ex prisoner's from Auschwitz.
"My brother wanted to leave at the interval," I tell this boy. "But I told him we should stay to see the rest because stories like that are still relevant today, people around the world are still being oppressed, perhaps not to the same extent but..."
"It's important to feel it," says the guy.
"Hmmm," I say because if I was anywhere else I might say yes
but in a police kettle I am feeling it.
Maybe I should've stopped for that cup of tea?
Maybe it was right I should experience it?
Somebody told me this morning that kettlingpeople is illegal. If it isn't, it should be.
Here's a friend's experience. She occupied Fortnum and Mason's in a peaceful protest and wasn't allowed home at all:
http://ladieswotlunch.posterous.com/i-am-sparticus
Sunday, 27 March 2011
Thousands marched in peace
I heard on the news last night that 250,000 protesters had descended on London for the March against the Alternative.
I don't think so!!!! As we took fairy steps up the embankment, so crowded the slow moving train of waving banners, I told Annie and the two others we were with: "There must be at least half a million here today, more!"
There were loads and loads of us! Some dressed up, others with DIY banners: One woman had a poster of Dave and Nick as the Banana's in pyjamas: "What do we do now B1?" asks the Deputy. "I've absolutely no idea B2!". Someone else carried a banner saying "My mum went to the polls and all I got was this lousy coalition."
Mine said: "No cuts" and on the other side "coalition resistance". Annie's was "Cut Trident" and her friend J's was "Leave Libya Alone"! Just picked them up off the side of the road! Woo woooooooooooo! Our voices our whistles!!
While we were walking Annie would get tweets about the violence taking place in Oxford street where UKUnCut was staging its own protest. There were other spin off groups there too, one called the Black Bloc, mostly responsible for the broken windows at Starbucks and the Ritz I'm guessing. Must of been them who chucked some paint at Boots while we in there buying chocolate and so told to sneak out a back door! (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_bloc).
Fortnum and Mason's got occupied by UKunCut just after we'd walked past it! I've read this morning they were peaceful, didn't so much as nick a cupcake, just dancing and singing and tidied up after themselves!
We got to Hyde Park as the rally ended so missed Miliband's address, all addresses infact! It was a great march though. It just seemed like everyone was out, people you see everyday. There was a really good vibe all of us there together (ha ha) "defending the needs of the majority against the interests of the few" (fellow protester!)
A shame then that I hear of police brutality. I was meant to be having lunch with a guy I met at the housing strategy meeting last weekend but he emailed to say his friend's friend's uncle "got beaten up by the police and is in hospital. Serious."
This vid, from the Guardian, may give you some idea of what I mean when I say there were lots and lots of people and lots of lots of people just like you and me!!:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/mar/26/anti-cuts-march-police-rioters?intcmp=239
Next time come if you can!!!
I don't think so!!!! As we took fairy steps up the embankment, so crowded the slow moving train of waving banners, I told Annie and the two others we were with: "There must be at least half a million here today, more!"
There were loads and loads of us! Some dressed up, others with DIY banners: One woman had a poster of Dave and Nick as the Banana's in pyjamas: "What do we do now B1?" asks the Deputy. "I've absolutely no idea B2!". Someone else carried a banner saying "My mum went to the polls and all I got was this lousy coalition."
Mine said: "No cuts" and on the other side "coalition resistance". Annie's was "Cut Trident" and her friend J's was "Leave Libya Alone"! Just picked them up off the side of the road! Woo woooooooooooo! Our voices our whistles!!
While we were walking Annie would get tweets about the violence taking place in Oxford street where UKUnCut was staging its own protest. There were other spin off groups there too, one called the Black Bloc, mostly responsible for the broken windows at Starbucks and the Ritz I'm guessing. Must of been them who chucked some paint at Boots while we in there buying chocolate and so told to sneak out a back door! (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_bloc).
Fortnum and Mason's got occupied by UKunCut just after we'd walked past it! I've read this morning they were peaceful, didn't so much as nick a cupcake, just dancing and singing and tidied up after themselves!
We got to Hyde Park as the rally ended so missed Miliband's address, all addresses infact! It was a great march though. It just seemed like everyone was out, people you see everyday. There was a really good vibe all of us there together (ha ha) "defending the needs of the majority against the interests of the few" (fellow protester!)
A shame then that I hear of police brutality. I was meant to be having lunch with a guy I met at the housing strategy meeting last weekend but he emailed to say his friend's friend's uncle "got beaten up by the police and is in hospital. Serious."
This vid, from the Guardian, may give you some idea of what I mean when I say there were lots and lots of people and lots of lots of people just like you and me!!:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/mar/26/anti-cuts-march-police-rioters?intcmp=239
Next time come if you can!!!
Wednesday, 8 July 2009
Police chief on illegal immigration
Ceci was very interested in this one.
When she first asked how police would safeguard illegal immigrants both Clout and I laughed. An illegal immigrant wouldn't go up to the police was what we were both thinking.
This had followed a discussion on ethnic minorities generally, that there was a deep mistrust from some groups, most of which he said was cultural. There are parents who want to discipline their kids how they want to, he said and police do go into parent groups and explain that the British way is different. (A report of our research is coming out in September and some of our team interviewed the Somali community. I myself don't know enough. But then that's what our research is about; building bridges, creating greater transparency between the community and the service providers of that community)
Ceci rephrased her question and focused on the abuse of illegal immigrant children. What solution did the police have for that?
Often you don't know what a difficult question a question can be. Very often the most simple questions can be the toughest to answer. Illegal immigration is a political hot potato, controversial and inflammatory.
He said the police had set up (needed to set up? bugger, sorry) a Third Party Plan. What is needed, he said, is for the volutary sector to step in. The protection of these children can only be implemented with the support of voluntary groups.
I am sure volutary groups will jump at the chance. Ceci could barely contain herself! For me, I felt the seeds of change being planted in the ground.
The research we're doing is in its early stages. Pilots have been done in Hull and have been successful. There is a real possibility for change. Where people's voices can be heard and policy can reflect their, our needs.
I wish it could happen overnight, well well before the next general election....
We could light up the world if we stayed side by side (ok, I've deconstructed a line from a Take That song, who cares, I'm suddenly feeling optimistic!)
When she first asked how police would safeguard illegal immigrants both Clout and I laughed. An illegal immigrant wouldn't go up to the police was what we were both thinking.
This had followed a discussion on ethnic minorities generally, that there was a deep mistrust from some groups, most of which he said was cultural. There are parents who want to discipline their kids how they want to, he said and police do go into parent groups and explain that the British way is different. (A report of our research is coming out in September and some of our team interviewed the Somali community. I myself don't know enough. But then that's what our research is about; building bridges, creating greater transparency between the community and the service providers of that community)
Ceci rephrased her question and focused on the abuse of illegal immigrant children. What solution did the police have for that?
Often you don't know what a difficult question a question can be. Very often the most simple questions can be the toughest to answer. Illegal immigration is a political hot potato, controversial and inflammatory.
He said the police had set up (needed to set up? bugger, sorry) a Third Party Plan. What is needed, he said, is for the volutary sector to step in. The protection of these children can only be implemented with the support of voluntary groups.
I am sure volutary groups will jump at the chance. Ceci could barely contain herself! For me, I felt the seeds of change being planted in the ground.
The research we're doing is in its early stages. Pilots have been done in Hull and have been successful. There is a real possibility for change. Where people's voices can be heard and policy can reflect their, our needs.
I wish it could happen overnight, well well before the next general election....
We could light up the world if we stayed side by side (ok, I've deconstructed a line from a Take That song, who cares, I'm suddenly feeling optimistic!)
Police chief on dispersal orders
I asked chief superindentent Clout what he thought of the borough's dispersal orders and whether he thought they were successful.
He told us "they're brutal but we they have to be used." Enforcing them was a last resort, he said, but also necessary in order to tackle gang crime. He then asked me what I thought. (He clouts with kindness this one)
I told him: "No, I don't think so."
He asked me why and I said: "Well, they all just come round to my place."
"How do you know?" he asked.
How do I know indeed? I keep myself to myself. I come home, close the door, cook, clean, read, write, play, listen to music, anything really. If see teenagers sitting on the wall I think, they are teenagers sitting on a wall. Once when I was locked out they offered to climb up the first balcony to let me and my son in and they were in the process of doing so when a resident arrived, was able to let me in and I could run up to a neighbour for my spares. By and large, I don't see anything. How do I know?
"Well, not so long ago they assaulted a security officer and they kicked out a glass panel from a top floor balcony and..."
"Right, OK, there may be instances where they move on elsewhere but there are dedicated safer neighbourhood teams in every area who are there to respond to any problems." I was abit thrown because his whole demeanour, the slackening of his body, the relief that seemed to wash over his face told me that he knew exactly where I lived. We've had riot police here and all sorts. There is a Safer Neighbourhood team here, I personally have no complaints. I let the matter drop.
Indeed, as the mother of a small boy, I have to trust what they do. Ages ago, a year or two ago, I read in the CNJ that teenagers were regularly assualted, beaten up, for fun and for mobile phones etc on Hampstead Heath. I want my son to go to secondary school around here, the article frightened me.
Clout told us there was a police officer in most secondary schools. That teams work closely with the school, with pupils. If they hear of a planned fight between rival schools, they will intercept that and use their stop and search powers.
I'm still unclear how they hear about these fights, I asked him how do they decide who to stop and search, do they stop them all? (My 12 year old nephew carried a knife for a while, to "defend"himself, until my brother rumbled him. I didn't say this to Clout).
They've taken lots of knives off kids he said. "We view it as protecting them, not harrassing them." He also said Camden Police are one of the best in the capital for tackling crime. He would say that of course but I've lived in Lambeth, I've heard a man being shot in the head with an air rifle right outside my flat. I chose to believe him. Well what choice do I have?
He told us "they're brutal but we they have to be used." Enforcing them was a last resort, he said, but also necessary in order to tackle gang crime. He then asked me what I thought. (He clouts with kindness this one)
I told him: "No, I don't think so."
He asked me why and I said: "Well, they all just come round to my place."
"How do you know?" he asked.
How do I know indeed? I keep myself to myself. I come home, close the door, cook, clean, read, write, play, listen to music, anything really. If see teenagers sitting on the wall I think, they are teenagers sitting on a wall. Once when I was locked out they offered to climb up the first balcony to let me and my son in and they were in the process of doing so when a resident arrived, was able to let me in and I could run up to a neighbour for my spares. By and large, I don't see anything. How do I know?
"Well, not so long ago they assaulted a security officer and they kicked out a glass panel from a top floor balcony and..."
"Right, OK, there may be instances where they move on elsewhere but there are dedicated safer neighbourhood teams in every area who are there to respond to any problems." I was abit thrown because his whole demeanour, the slackening of his body, the relief that seemed to wash over his face told me that he knew exactly where I lived. We've had riot police here and all sorts. There is a Safer Neighbourhood team here, I personally have no complaints. I let the matter drop.
Indeed, as the mother of a small boy, I have to trust what they do. Ages ago, a year or two ago, I read in the CNJ that teenagers were regularly assualted, beaten up, for fun and for mobile phones etc on Hampstead Heath. I want my son to go to secondary school around here, the article frightened me.
Clout told us there was a police officer in most secondary schools. That teams work closely with the school, with pupils. If they hear of a planned fight between rival schools, they will intercept that and use their stop and search powers.
I'm still unclear how they hear about these fights, I asked him how do they decide who to stop and search, do they stop them all? (My 12 year old nephew carried a knife for a while, to "defend"himself, until my brother rumbled him. I didn't say this to Clout).
They've taken lots of knives off kids he said. "We view it as protecting them, not harrassing them." He also said Camden Police are one of the best in the capital for tackling crime. He would say that of course but I've lived in Lambeth, I've heard a man being shot in the head with an air rifle right outside my flat. I chose to believe him. Well what choice do I have?
Sunday, 5 July 2009
Interview with Camden's Chief Superintendent of Police
As part of our research on safeguarding children, Ceci, Pete and I interviewed Camden's Chief Superintendent of Police on Friday.
What a nice man!
I was quite taken aback if truth be told. I thought he'd be up his own bottom. But no! He was laid back, dressed in his civvies not uniform, incredibly friendly, open and attentive.
The interview was meant to last 45 minutes but he let it carry on for well over an hour.
In my notebook I did write out an entire diatribe of what I'd post on this blog but as I like to write short posts I'll recount some of what he said over the course of this week.
One thing he said though was that people don't trust the police so I simply had to ask him "does the police trust people?"
He asked for an example and I gave the easiest at hand, the G20 demos. Well yes, compared to the Iranian police you are more gentle but.......
He admitted it was difficult, "people don't have 'criminal' tattoed on their foreheads."
Yes, my point, trusssssssssssssssssssst.
Like I said, I liked him, nice man. Do I trust him? He asked us that. I said "it depends where I am." In the interview I did and well, we were council volunteers asking about safeguarding children weren't we, though I'd like to imagine he's always that candid.
What a nice man!
I was quite taken aback if truth be told. I thought he'd be up his own bottom. But no! He was laid back, dressed in his civvies not uniform, incredibly friendly, open and attentive.
The interview was meant to last 45 minutes but he let it carry on for well over an hour.
In my notebook I did write out an entire diatribe of what I'd post on this blog but as I like to write short posts I'll recount some of what he said over the course of this week.
One thing he said though was that people don't trust the police so I simply had to ask him "does the police trust people?"
He asked for an example and I gave the easiest at hand, the G20 demos. Well yes, compared to the Iranian police you are more gentle but.......
He admitted it was difficult, "people don't have 'criminal' tattoed on their foreheads."
Yes, my point, trusssssssssssssssssssst.
Like I said, I liked him, nice man. Do I trust him? He asked us that. I said "it depends where I am." In the interview I did and well, we were council volunteers asking about safeguarding children weren't we, though I'd like to imagine he's always that candid.
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