A fascinating
inside account
of the anti-capitalist movement, by an infiltrating journalist: (Sunday Times, via A&L)
They include university lecturers, people from the BBC, wealthy
psychology students, Oxbridge graduates, academics and social workers
as well as a frightening hard core of activists from groups that have
enjoyed a rebirth under the anti-globalisation flag - Class War, Black
Dog and the Anarchist Federation...
The youth of the 21st century are joining the new protest movement in
droves in the belief that market forces, free trade and globalisation, far
from making their world a better place, are enslaving the poor and
despoiling the planet.
His instructions for Monday, if I wanted to be part of his group, were
precise: "Avoid the Tube, the cops will bottle us in the stations. Bring
hats, change them all the time - you'd be surprised how well it works at
confusing people. Bring a change of clothing, too . . . it helps with the
CCTV, which is everywhere." He also told me to bring a small radio,
tuned in to the protest station Interference Radio, to follow the latest
movements of the police.
Only 100 or so of those present say they will involve themselves in the
peaceful Parliament Square demo. The rest insist they "just want to
party". Party options are many and varied. Class War will attack
branches of Reed Employment Services in protest over their payment of
the minimum wage. RTS will be at McDonald's on the Strand for 10am.
Another looser group is going into the City on spec.