You say cutback, we say fight back!

I was planning on making today’s post about both actions this weekend- the National Demo yesterday and UKuncut action today. However, the behaviour I witnessed today was so shocking and so terrifying I felt that it deserved a post of it’s own.

For hours, everything was going to plan. We got Boots shut down with us inside to pose for photos and sing tax-themed songs. We then moved outside to greet our fellow protesters and media before moving down to shut vodaphone, BHS and Topshop. We then headed back to Boots, which is where the problems started.

Splitting up to close as many shops as possible, I found myself outside Vodaphone. We were singing and joking around; running back whenever they attempted to reopen. We were, at least, until the police warned us of arrest for ‘Possible Breach of the Peace’. Simply for running on a pavement and singing? This is what our country has come to.

It was when we headed to Boots, though, that I was truly shocked. The girl who I had been speaking to inside the shop was speaking to police. I would like to explain now that this was the same girl who had expressed worry for being stuck inside. Hardly a criminal anarchist. They then arrested her for criminal damage.

Of course, this caused outrage amongst us. Protesters followed the police as they lead her away, chanting ‘Shame on you’ and ‘Let her go’. I stayed back with several others, yelling to the public and media and explaining what was going on. This was when I started hearing screams, and call for water. When I turned around, I found a sight I never thought I would see on an English street at a democratic peaceful protest.

People were sitting on the ground desperately trying to wash water into their eyes and milk (given for free by Ben’s Cookies, to whom we are all incredibly grateful) onto their skin. I went over to find out what had happened to be told that a certain police officer (Cw2440) had sprayed pepper spray directly in people’s faces. There was no violence, other than this.

After this, all you could hear was yelling and sirens.

70 riot police in vans showed up, for what reason I do not know. All that was happening by now was chants, flyering and attempts of treatment. Those affected worst were then taken into Boots where they were treated for free. By the people we were protesting against! 30 minutes later, we finally have an ambulance on the scene which took three who were got in the eyes away.

And the damage? http://yfrog.com/h5oapkrj Rubber is slightly displaced from where a leaflet was posted through. It was pushed back into place.

This hasn’t been a particularly coherent post but I felt the need to get this out quickly.

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