As I rounded the corner to find riot police in the road, my first thought was that there had been an attack on Top Shop and other brands, as there had been the previous weekend over firms lack of UK tax payments. And the evidence backed this up with 60-80 protesters outside a rather damaged shop window. However, as the number of Police increased and started containing the crowd, the feeling and nature of the group changed. It became hard to judge who were protesting and who were shopping. Whatever, as fires were lit, there were some 300 taking action, as many police and several thousand onlookers.
As the numbers increased, so did the fire and there was strange mix of chants. It started with the expected (for a tuition fees protest) 'No ifs, no buts, no education cuts' with posters condemning the Lib Dems. Increasingly, 'Our Street' and 'Tory Scum' became the chant from the people banging and standing on bins. It was unclear what THIS protest was against but clear its participants weren't just students. 
The crowd grew to some 500 with larger missiles thrown at the Police. I now learn that during one of the surges forward, these items were also aimed at Prince Charles. A strong smell of burning, alcohol, cannabis and a more threatening atmosphere filled the air. With protesters circling on bikes and many using social media applications on their mobiles, it became clear something was about to happen. There was a sudden rush of at least 600 protesters down Oxford Street off to their next location at Marble Arch. On the way down they pulled the emergency stop on a number of buses, paralysing the entire road. But as they move away so did the cleaners appear and the evidence of what had just gone was quickly erased.
Having reported on student protests as a University Radio Reporter in France and the UK, witnessed teacher protests as a work placement journalist in France and covered a number of crowd events as a trainee reporter at Sheffield, I have seen more than the average number of protests. This was different. The selection of Oxford Street and Prince Charles' car rather than just Parliament and Government Buildings make me wonder the motivation of the protesters. Given the slogans these weren't all students. Given the alcohol, drugs and weapons available this was not always intended to be peaceful.
The policing was fair and subtle; I witnessed no provocation and, conversely, during the run down Oxford Street I saw no Police control or warning of the general public. The flash mob technique was successful if intimidating. As I walked down Oxford Street back to work this morning, there is little evidence as to what happened last night bar the repairs to shop windows. Yet it is all that the media (and office) are talking about. I wonder how long the repairs to reputations in Westminster and to the Students' cause will take.
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ReplyDelete09/12/10 2200 approx: Caroline Richards: Just watching the news, not sure what to make if what I have seen...
09/12/10 2200 approx: Helen Rowley: You were in Topshop?
09/12/10 2300 approx: Christopher Grinbergs: Helen - Just outside topshop though moved up and down, I was 25-50m from Prince Charles. Caroline - it was clear due to alcohol, drugs, missiles thrown, slogans chanted & location that this wasn't down to students alone. Strange to see in Britain.
10/12/10 1000 approx: Celia Burley: Scarey stuff, think I would have felt pretty intimidated!
10/12/10 1100 approx: Christopher Grinbergs: It was ok and I kept with the other bystanders who were trapped. It was well policed and there was only the odd moment where one felt unsafe.
10/12/10 1000 approx: Geoffrey Thompson: This is the flagship shop of Philip Green - notorious tax avoider. Give the rioters their due - they're not without powers of discrimination.
10/12/10 1100 approx: Christopher Grinbergs: Absolutely - think they are confusing two campaigns which particularly damages the student fees one. Green's wife holding shares in Monaco is not good but not sure the NUS would want to be associated with this.
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10/12/10 1057: Paul Sinker: Jolly good mate
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ReplyDelete10/12/10 0957: Hilary Jones:
I think it’s a sign of the social unrest we can expect in this country over the next few years as the cuts begin to hit – I think there were a lot of genuine students there.... but you have to remember that a lot of FE have had their EMA cut and they are the type of students who would have ultimately ended up the wrong side of the law if it hadn’t been for education and I do think they are protesting in the only way they know. They’re not from the “right side” of the street and are not necessarily intelligent enough to realise what they’re doing but I think this is just the start of things to come...........