80
of Scotland. Mesmerizing rhythms of
resistance are thrown out by the Samba
band and we surge forward as one
body, as if guided by invisible forces to
break through the newly forming police
line. A pigeon flaps desperately to get
out of the way of a policeman who is
being pushed backwards by the force of
the people. Suddenly, an impassioned
cry rains forth from the centre of the
crowd, “WHO’S STREETS?!’” Everyone
responds in unison, “OUR STREETS!”
This sentiment is chanted repeatedly.
It feels like a revelation! The streets do
belong to us, not the government, the
police, the royal family, or the banks.
The police line is weakening, the officers
lunge violently into the crowd with
batons making contact with several
heads, blood splattering onto Ultra
Violet jackets but the will of the people
will not be broken by Police violence!
We chant “4, 3, 2, 1…PUSH!” There
is an almighty surge forward by both
sides of the split protestors and the
people are again united, finally! The
police are now pushed out of the crowd
and surrounded. There is a triumphant
feeling in the air! Chants of “shame
on you!” echo around the side street.
My stomach is now aching with all the
emotional tension so I decide to take
a break from occupying the protest
edge and head for the centre of Bank’s
junction.
I arrive to the sound of Madness’s
“Baggy trousers” blaring from a
sound system that’s been hauled up
onto a concrete block brandishing the
underground sign for ‘Bank Station’.
suddenly, an impassioned cry rains forth
Everyone is dancing and the mood is
peaceful, joyous and free. The tension
from the centre of the crowd, “who’s
in my stomach begins to subside and
I temporarily let go to this relaxing
streets?!” everyone responds in unison,
interlude of what is going to be an even
more tense protest.
“oUr streets!” this sentiment is
After a while, I wander back to the
point where I was just before to find
chanted repeatedly. that the ‘Met Police’ have been replaced
with ‘Riot Police’. I head towards the line
with my camera phone and there is a
man in his 60’s with blood pouring from
avantoure
|
homo ludens
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