The non-parliamentary politics thread

[Bizarre Löw Triangle]

The non-parliamentary politics thread

Guardian piece on workfare at Finsbury Park station.

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2015/jun/17/unpaid-warden-scheme-protest-jobseekers-london

[E10 Rifle]

The non-parliamentary politics thread

Am at a loose end this afternoon as it happens. Any physical activity going on around there?

Also, anyone on the anti-austerity demo on Saturday? I'm not, cos we're away this weekend - like the bourgeouis bastards we are - but obviously worth going to.

[Duncan Gardner]

The non-parliamentary politics thread

I'll be there on Saturday E10. Think I ran into you and all yer siblings on a previous one, in Hyde Park.

[johnr]

The non-parliamentary politics thread

I'm there too, looking forward to it.

[N est à?]

The non-parliamentary politics thread

There's also a 'communications blockade' from midday onwards of the Finsbury Park Business Forum, if you can't make it down to the station, so committed clicktivists can help too.

http://freedomnews.org.uk/demonstrat...-park-station/

[q]You can complain about the Finsbury Park Business Forum workfare scheme on 0207 527 5172, by email at info@finsburyparkbusinessforum.co.uk, and on twitter @FPBusiness.[/q]

[Bizarre Löw Triangle]

The non-parliamentary politics thread

E10 Rifle wrote: Am at a loose end this afternoon as it happens. Any physical activity going on around there?

Don't think so - there was a demo/leafleting/stall yesterday afternoon outside the station - mostly just raising awareness/pushing the comms blockade.

[johnr]

The non-parliamentary politics thread

Just back from the march in London; a great turnout - though it won't be reported much unless the Class War bunch kick off - and Corbyn was there. So he'll get my vote.

Couldn't see Charlotte Church though, and I had my best bib-and-tucker on for her too...

[DCI Harry Batt]

The non-parliamentary politics thread

It did look big. Len McCluskey said the rozzers were saying 250k.

[johnr]

The non-parliamentary politics thread

Indeed, which might have been a surprise to the rozzers themselves - on walking up to the march I heard one of them briefing to his minions that they were expecting 'at least 30,000'.

[johnr]

The non-parliamentary politics thread

And the crowd didn't respond that enthusiastically to Martin McGuinness's address.

[Benjm]

The non-parliamentary politics thread

It definitely felt big: we were waiting on Princes Street by Bank and didn't even get moving until about 1.30pm, arriving in Parliament Square not much before 4pm.

No Charlotte Church encounter for us, although this was almost made up for by a possible sighting of OTF's own Duncan Gardner marching alongside the Dudley Green Party banner.

Edit: Hadn't seen DG's confirmation of attendance above. I should have come over and said hello.

[Diable Rouge]

The non-parliamentary politics thread

Considering he's busily implementing austerity in Stormont, that's no surprise - McG, obviously.

[David Agnew]

The non-parliamentary politics thread

I've just got back - we didn't get moving until past 1pm, and arrived at Parliament Square around 3, although I did cadge a lift from Blackfriars onward.

Just one of the Labour leadership candidates were there, and none of the deputies.

[Duncan Gardner]

The non-parliamentary politics thread

Morning all. Excellent days out, as others say. I was the one in the straw hat with the banner.

Arrived at Parl Square just in time to hear Lucas and Garfunkel's speeches.

Spoke to a few cops, clearly hinting it was a much bigger crowd than they expected.

Marty, had he any shame at all, would have sent Steven Agnew to represent Stormont. Or at least a Dublin Shinner

[DCI Harry Batt]

The non-parliamentary politics thread

Who is Garfunkel?

Were the Greens the largest official party bloc there?

[Duncan Gardner]

The non-parliamentary politics thread

Marty



Arty



Good Communist Party turnout from what I saw.

[DCI Harry Batt]

The non-parliamentary politics thread

CPB? En masse? That's very rare.

[David Agnew]

The non-parliamentary politics thread

One of the funniest moments of the day for me (and one that TonTon among others will appreciate) was just after we left started marching, we went past a sound system, which was giving shoutouts to the various groups as they went past:

"Big up to DPAC - Disabled People Against Cuts"
*big cheer*
"Big up to the FBU"
*big cheer*
"Big up to TUSC"
*silence*
"Big up to the Mental Health Nurses"
*big cheer*

[Bizarre Löw Triangle]

The non-parliamentary politics thread

Seems anti-immigration cops ran into some resistance in South London today.





Eventually the van drove away; pelted with fruit, eggs and with flat tyres, and the TSG were brought in to complete the raid - a man serving in a chip shop without proper papers.

[DCI Harry Batt]

The non-parliamentary politics thread

From what I've read and seen, it looks like the community did its best to defend itself from a thoroughly vicious attack.

[Bizarre Löw Triangle]

The non-parliamentary politics thread

Yeah, although the resistance was eventually broken down (and one additional arrest made) it's clear that they can't do immigration raids if they have to get riot cops out every time.

[Geoffrey de Ste. Croix]

The non-parliamentary politics thread

Charlotte Church is ace isn't she?