Well, how many of you are happy with the turn out as I am?.
Estimates put the number of protesters at from the low of 250,000 to the now higher number of 500,000.
The media and police are saying 250 thousand protesters but as a general rule you can safely assume that number is grossly underestimated and you should be able to safely add 60%, then you will come close to the real number.
My opinion is there was over a million just in London, as well as campaigns were up and down the country in cities and towns so the real number is hard to calculate but defiantly not as low as 250 thousand.
But don’t take my word for it, let these absolutely amazing pictures speak for themselves.
Pictures from protests in London against the UK government’s programme of spending cuts, March 26th 2011. (by Tom Wills
Pictures from protests in London against the UK government’s programme of spending cuts, March 26th 2011. (by Tom Wills
The Numbers
There wasn’t just a few streets filled with protesters, but a few miles of streets this could be seen clear as day fromaerial footage on dare I say bbc news[although it was shown only once] which panned across the march which seemed never to have an ending or a beginning, miles of streets filled with protesters; makes you have a good feeling inside.
People from all walks of life came to show solidarity in the opposition to the governments attack on the poor and working people of this country. From young and old, workers, students to pensioners, and not forgetting the armchair protesters working tierlessly online to coordinate and inform the protesers on the ground.
We all stood together and showed the disgust at the draconian slash and burn policy of austerity destruction that has been enforced against the will of the people, and upon our families by a government that can only be seen as puppets for big business.
These cuts only help big business, together with the equally draconian budget announced this week, these measures are in effect creating ideal conditions for poverty and big business which thrives of slave labour.
100% of the protest was peaceful.
Yes I heard you saying “eh? but the bbc and other news/propaganda outlets are saying different! all I see on bbc are anarchists destroying the whole of London, explain yourself you blinky nutter?”.
Well this is the time I unleash the built up frustration and anger from yesterday as I watched the disgusting bbc news who were spewing hatred against the people who were crying out for help at a vicious attack on them. Then repeating that hatred every 5 minuets to make sure the propaganda message stuck [just as you throw shit at a wall, it will eventually stick].
But this is a victory for us, as we can now more easily document this propaganda and have millions of people know the truth.
I will say it again and explain why, so-called anarchists are used to discredit a protest by focusing on only them and not the 100& of the peaceful.
100% of the protest was peaceful, the reason being is the violence caused was by the so-called ‘black bloc’, who were defiantly not there to protest.
Agent provocateurs ‘black bloc’, Police and the Media.
Now according to the mainstream news coverage the ‘black bloc’ who are so-called ‘anarchists’ were apparently protesting too!, they were fighting the governments cut’s to public services and wages as well! haha, stay with me this gets really good, these ‘anarchists’ were protesting against big business for not paying enough tax, hahahahahaha
Sorry I couldn’t keep it up to finish that sentence.
Anarchism is a political philosophy which considers the state undesirable, unnecessary, and harmful, and instead promotes a stateless society, or anarchy.
Citizenx103 . “What kind of anarchist protests against cuts, kind of defeats the object” Good point. #ukuncut#twats
Seriously? you can only come up with anarchists fighting to stop cuts to public services and wages? anarchists that have an ideology to have no government whatsoever? never-mind fighting tax dodgers; the media is trying to convince you these anarchist are were part of the peaceful protest against tax dodgers and cuts?, hahahahahahaha.
If not now more than ever people must now surely see these ‘anarchists’ for what they truly are, uninformed, misguided angry people being led along by agent provocateurs whos job is to incite violence so media coverage/propaganda, can be geared in the governments favour and away from the plight of the millions who are suffering.
Traditionally, an agent provocateur (plural: agents provocateurs, French for “inciting agent(s)”) is a person employed by the police or other entity[governments] to act undercover to entice or provoke another person(s) to commit an illegal act. More generally, the term may refer to a person or group that seeks to discredit or harm another by provoking them to commit a wrong or rash action.
As seen by myself on bbc news[2 videos are available below please leave a comment if they have dissapeared] a typical agent provocateur was seen dressed in black, face covered, pushing, punching protesters, inciting violence throwing things, who then walked over to the police line (while other police were brutally pushing, hitting and shoving back other people) this ‘anarchist’ dressed in black with face covered was let behind the police line for refuge, police sheltered him while he struggled to hide his badge and walkie-talkie which dropped out in plain view, he jumped behind a porta-loo out of view of angry protesters who saw him for what he was.
Video 1 of agent provocateur
Video 2 of agent provocateur
hughgreen Hugh Green You have to laugh at the police warning about the London march getting ‘infiltrated by extremists’ after the Mark Kennedy affair. #26march
Mark Kennedy the police officer who was undercover for 8 years in many campaign groups not only in Britain but in Europe and Northern Ireland.
It subsequently emerged that the Crown Prosecution Service had been forced to abandon the trial when police agent Mark Kennedy offered to give evidence on behalf of the six. Kennedy had been undercover in the environmental movement for eight years, posing as activist “Mark Stone”. During this time his activities, which covered much of Britain and Europe, included not only the gathering of information, but also acting as an agent provocateur. Involved in organising, financing and leading campaigns, witnesses say Kennedy played a role in instigating violent confrontations with the police. These confrontations were then used to bolster the powers of the police and clamp down on demonstrations and opposition groups.
There were also other reports that crowds of sensible protesters followed agent provocateurs pointing at and outing them to the crowd that they were undercover police officers.
GoldOccupation GoldsmithsOccupation
A group following a guy in hoodie, pointing fingers and shouting “Undercover cop!” at Oxford Circus. Even the police are laughing. #March26
Now bbc news being the state-run propaganda outlet it has always been, swung into full bullshit mode once this ‘blac block’ [of agent provocateurs] begun their rampage coincidentally at exactly the same time as speeches begun in Hyde park[which the bbc totally skipped apart from the very first one], beginning their own rampage to loop together the violent agent provocateurs with the peaceful campaigns of UK Uncut and thus justify the later crack down on them.
The media propaganda targeted against UK Uncut; coordinated with ‘black bloc’, police and reported by the media for full effect of discrediting the campaign.
UK Uncut were by my observation and many others, targeted by the so-called ‘black bloc’ in a premeditated campaign to cause violence, the UK Uncut campaigners would be portrayed as the unquestionable suspects by the propagandists in the media then subsequently arrested by police.
These claims were retracted by the bbc but after the damage was done to discredit the campaign, police still arrested them.
UK Uncut have been for months campaigning at many tax dodgers shops, banks and businesses around the whole country staging sit-ins, poetry readings, camping, crèches; and a lot more ingenious ways of campaigning and helping raise awareness of the double standards of the government who are crusading against the people with austerity.
The campaigns by UK Uncut have been conducted peacefully for months and have been so inspiring that the campaign has spawned offshoots around the world who are taking up the call to protest against tax dodgers in their native countries.
lets have a look at UK Uncut campaigns from inside fortnum and masons which the police say is a crime scene and also the reason police cite why they arrested all the protesters who participated in the peaceful sit-in; and might I add violently arrested.
RosieMKane Rosie Kane Aye Fortnum & Masons is a crime scene alright…….. TAX DODGERS arrest the boss.#m26#ukuncut
So, violently arresting the peaceful protesters and completely letting go the ‘black bloc’ who were outside causing the violence, the peaceful sit-in was one of many action targets for yesterday, some of the others included sit-ins at boots, tesco, BHS, barclays and more, all targeted with peaceful campaigns to raise awareness of the tax dodging the owners are doing. Also of importance is why the police didn’t arrest the campaigners earlier if they were the criminals they say they are.
gralegav Gavin H “ @S_R_Morrison: Every person coming out of #ukuncut F&M told will be arrested by police #march26” Police didn’t do that when it was Boots
The peaceful occupation of fortnum and masons was completely overshadowed by news coverage of the ‘black bloc’ out-side the building that showed up later to cause trouble, at the dismay of UK Uncut peaceful protesters inside who were getting word of the internet that they were being labelled as the trouble-causers.
Tiresias23 Tiresias bbc are trying to connect #ukuncut to #blackbloc – ridiculous. clearly the black bloc have their faces hidden, ukuncut dont. #26march
The armchair army of which I was proudly apart of, were tweeting and re-tweeting to spread word that the ‘black bloc’ were nothing to do with UK Uncut.
Starting with bbc news these rumours spread over twitter and with in a blink of an eye, uninformed and mislead people as well as trolls begun to wrongly spread hate messages against UK Uncut which were peacefully staging sit-ins, sing along’s and truly exorcising democracy in debating the length of time to occupy fortnum, something which not even out government can do without outright lieing and acting childish by shouting down opposition.
Here below are some photos and tweets I collected yesterday about UK Uncut and the occupation of fortnum.
AdamRamsay AdamRamsay Mass occupation of a shop full of high value goods. Nothing broken at all – amazing. #ukuncut#March26
bellamackie Bella BBC leading on violence. Skimming over true majority of protest. Sensationalist. #march26
NJGard Nigel Gardner Police evidently going for the easy non-aggressive targets ie #ukuncut and responding to good humout with provocation – don’t rise to it
We left F&M of our own accord and are now being kettles by police. They are arresting people, including legal observers #ukuncut
The bbc Discrediting the Whole Campaign
Well apart from ignoring the real protesters who were marching through London, [reporters looking as if the roads were the protesters were walking down was hot lava], the bbc kept replaying a disgusting interview with someone from the taxpayers alliance who claimed which was unfounded that the protest of [in my opinion over a million just in London and thousands more around the country]; only represented 8% of the population.
Also as was pretty evident all day, not only to me but many who were watching the bbc coverage that the numbers given by the bbc, taken from the police but quoted religiously as fact, grossly underestimated the turnout; even a child could see there was over 500,000 people on the streets. Despite this I myself think there was more, but for the sake of this even the bbc kept for at least 12 hours+ stating only “tens of thousands were on the streets”, as with the other grossly inaccurate information the bbc kept repeating this falscity and claiming it as fact. It was not until the violence started was the TUC’s 500,00 figure quoted and even then for a while after “tens of thousands” was repeated again and again.
This disgusting propaganda was repeated every 10 to15 minuets or so, the malicious intent is to try and demoralize the people at home who are in solidarity with the protesters on the streets, trying to demoralize you from taking to the streets.
Il tell you what it actually did, it awakened a lot of people to the disgusting nature of the bbc reporting techniques that serve only the agenda of the government. It spawned almost instantly a response by untold amounts of people who are now spreading on twitter a campaign to complain about the bbcs coverage, if you can call it that.
bellamackie BellaBBC leading on violence. Skimming over true majority of protest. Sensationalist. #march26
Reiver_girl Fiona BBC get your camera’s off the minority of trouble makers and let’s concentrate on the speeches and peaceful demonstrators #March26
More grotesque techniques that were used by the bbc was the peaceful protesters who were marching through the streets and the ones in hyde park were splashed in split screen with the ‘black bloc’ ‘anarchists’ who were by this time in full swing smashing up properties.
The split screens with the ‘black bloc’ started with another stooge of big business, ed milibands’ speech which many have cited was booed heavily but you wouldn’t have known when watching any news coverage, the bbc stated last year about the vuvuzela in the world cup that they “could remove the noise”. I will let you ponder on that one.
The claim that ammonia was thrown in light bulbs at the police is another very dubious story, protesters who were on the ground when this was supposed to have happened said they could smell nothing, if you have come across ammonia you will understand what I mean.
Police were seen with paint on their faces, still walking around as if they have been dipped in a paint bucket, if that was really ammonia then i can assure you it wouldn’t be on their faces still they would be letting people piss on them to get it off.
The fact that the claim wasn’t found to be fact didn’t stop the bbc and generally the media repeating this.
The same is for the fireworks that were and still are repeatedly being called ‘military grade’.
Conclusion
Yesterday was a step in the right direction, one protest can’t fix what is systematically being destroyed, not only by domestic treasonous individuals and organizations but foreign as well, we need these protests daily, just as the online campaigns are daily, we need feet in the street, we need to show solidarity with all causes as we are all ultimately fighting for the same cause, freedom.
Freedom from tyrannical austerity policies that is enforced poverty.
Freedom from the tyrannical parasitical banks who CAUSED the 2008 fninancial crash/massive transfer of wealth from the poor to the rich.
Freedom from the tyrannical and treasnonous governments that have deregulated these parasitical banks and this massive fraud that has destroyed most countries of the world and sent them crashing into poverty.
Freedom from oppression of our rights by the gestapo we call police using the legislation handed down by past treanous govenrments and off course the EU that has written 80% of our laws for 40 years.
Freedom to protest what we want, when we want, and where we want, official protest “routes” and nothing more than free speech zones which are NOT free at all.
Below is the rest of the tweets I collected yesterday which I could not fit into this article without another 6 and half hours of reading through.
Pass on information you feel compelled to tell others, educating yourselves and others is really how we can beat tyranny, ignorance is a tool of oppression.
emily_arm Emily Armistead: On the bus heading to march. Baby kicking lots – a not-yet-born agitator #26march
pinstripeowl D: Chock a block with people, being lead up the strand. People started singing #26march
monstertalk socialworkukWe are marching with Blackpool Unison. They are very friendly.#26march
UnionKatie Katie WhittamJust coming to big Ben, fantastic atmosphere #26March
UnionKatie Katie WhittamJust coming to big Ben, fantastic atmosphere #26March
bekki Bekki TordoffLots of love to everybody in London today protesting against the cuts. I’d be there if I could! With you in spirit! #26march#solidarity
thehappysalmon Natalie SalmonSeeing pics on BBC of #26march protests looks very big. Glad I’m part of the #armchairarmy those crowds are way too big for me.
60goingon16 60 Going On 16Watching the #26March tweets come in almost – but not quite as good as being there. Big cheer for NUJ members & pensioners marching.
ChristyQuinn Christy QuinnCrossing westminster bridge with kennington feeder march. Very chill and good natured. Lots of pensioners and prams. #26march
nigelhuddleston Nigel HuddlestonVery difficult to get *in* to this march from Parliament Square. The old reverse kettle trick #26March
mike14780 Michael NguyenI hope all of them are home for tea by the time i get in. RT @March26March Media saying 400,000. We’ve been too busy to count! #26march
Bethemediauk Chris Butler@anubeon yep totally. We should be talking about closing the Houses of Parliament down and getting rid of the Monarchy #ukuncut#march26
bobbob5482 Robert RobertsAgreed “@PhilipGlanville: ‘Fight like an Egyptian’ is best slogan so far at #26march but where at Bangles? Plus ‘Don’t take away our EMA!’”
catjharrison Cat Harrison6 police vans crammed with officers just off drury lane #march26
catjharrison Cat Harrison6 police vans crammed with officers just off drury lane #march26
Tiresias23 Tiresiasbbc are still saying the number is ‘at least 100 thousand’ – i think its time they updated their figures! its ridiculous! #march26#26march
barbaric_barb Barbara WeekesRT @wackywace: One policeman joined the rally, holding sign reading, “I’m choosing the people. Whose side are you on?” #march26 -good on him
PennyRed Laurie PennyAll the way to trafalgar square. Thousands here dancing, eating, talking. Bands playing. #march26#solidarity
PennyRed Laurie PennyAll the way to trafalgar square. Thousands here dancing, eating, talking. Bands playing. #march26#solidarity
thetiniteblog jadedSign reads: I wish my boyfriend was as dirty as your policies. #march26
piecebypiece Despina MavrouJust approaching embankment tube. #march26#newvic#demo2011 AND we are nowhere near the back which is still at least at blackfriars.
MJDoughty Matt Doughty”The coalition government has turned out to be a demolition government” – Brendan Barber #26March#March26
darkamberwolf AmandaJust as Ed Milliband starts his speech, everything kicks off in Oxford Street. #march26#BBC
Reiver_girl FionaBBC get your camera’s off the minority of trouble makers and let’s concentrate on the speeches and peaceful demonstrators #March26
nigelwUK Nigel WhitfieldPolice on BBC News seem to be scuffling outside a branch of TopMan #march26
per_nyberg Per NybergReports of scuffles on Oxford Street, here in Hyde Park demonstrators cheering. Organiser says half a million have turned out for #march26
NemesisRepublic Nemesis Republic Huge peaceful demo, naturally media covering small protests using more direct methods. Suffragettes: Deeds Not Words #Mar26
Tiresias23 Tiresiasbbc are trying to connect #ukuncut to #blackbloc – ridiculous. clearly the black bloc have their faces hidden, ukuncut dont. #26march
GoldOccupation GoldsmithsOccupationA group following a guy in hoodie, pointing fingers and shouting “Undercover cop!” at Oxford Circus. Even the police are laughing. #March26
RT @jessworth: If media saying there’s any trouble inside Fortnum & Mason they’re making it up. All calm and friendly in here! #UKuncut
ChristianJMay Christian May”@PennyRed: Gangs of riot cops moving down regent street. Going in to see what happens #march26” < Outstanding
rpxadair Richard Paul AdairWell done to all the decent 99% of #march26 protesters, hope the government pays attention. I think cuts are necessary, but not this deep.
bieneosa bieneosaProps to the TUC for organising today’s march, enabling people from all walks of life to UNITE in one voice against the cuts #march26
bellamackie BellaBBC leading on violence. Skimming over true majority of protest. Sensationalist. #march26
LiamJordanDyer Liam DyerPolice should go all out against the renegade protesters who want to destroy the message of what the protest is all about. #march26
ElTravo Top TrumpIf you’re protesting for something you believe in then you should be proud to show your face… Those who cover theirs are cowards #march26
KevinJRawlinson Kevin RawlinsonAt Trafalgar Square, there’s a lot of singing and dancing going on, no trouble. But, parked around the corner, are 6 riot vans #march26
Demontrout Simon DaviesAre Black Bloc a *real* organisation or just a catchy media phrase which has caught on? #march26
Mr_Neurosceptic KrisThere’s a carnival atmosphere in London now. When Kay Burley turns up, they’ll have a clown to complete it. #March26
PennyRed Laurie PennyBeing intimidated by cops. Pushed back by a cop who said I had a weapon on me. Harrassed by 3 cops so far, they don’t want me here! #march26
jonkraw Jon K#mar26#ukuncut I asked 4 police soldiers today if kettleing was legal, their response – “don’t know what your talking about mate”
NJGard Nigel GardnerPolice evidently going for the easy non-aggressive targets ie #ukuncut and responding to good humout with provocation – don’t rise to it
NJGard Nigel GardnerPolice evidently going for the easy non-aggressive targets ie #ukuncut and responding to good humout with provocation – don’t rise to it
hughgreen Hugh GreenYou have to laugh at the police warning about the London march getting ‘infiltrated by extremists’ after the Mark Kennedy affair. #26march
TomScorza Tom Scorza”We got drunk, trashed the Ritz & then went down Piccadilly to loot a few items from Fortnums” Boris Johnson, Bullingdon Club 1986 #march26
SimplyBruno Bruno MurraHow ironic, there was no violence until the police turned up? #march26
gralegav Gavin H“@S_R_Morrison: Every person coming out of #ukuncut F&M told will be arrested by police #march26” Police didn’t do that when it was Boots
kmflett keith flettRT @danhancox still kicking off in piccadilly but traf sq there’s a party atmosphere, few thousand protesters, dancing round fires #march26
RegularCash Reg CushtyBoycott Phillip Green and Top Shop and all other Tax Dodging millionaires like Vodaphone DONT BE WEAK…DO IT. #march26
#bbcn saturday kitchen, meat glue is absolutley disgusting, what in the hell is it doing on a cooking program.... - 3 months ago
RT @stopimperialism: Fierce fighting reported in Bani Walid. Green resistance to Western imperialism alive and well in Libya. #Jamahiri ... - 4 months ago
RT @stopimperialism: Pak mil rejects US report blaming Pak for Nov 26 bombing of Pak officers. Kayani faction refuses to be smeared by N ... - 4 months ago
RT @stopimperialism: Romney: Obama not enough of a war-monger. Considering Obama has a minimum of 6 concurrent wars, it's a telling comm ... - 4 months ago
RT @stopimperialism: Baluchistan violence designed to destabilize both Pakistan and Iran. US imperialists use Baluchi terrorists as prox ... - 4 months ago