Focus E15 Mothers and Andy Greene of DPAC block the Vodafone doorway
Focus E15 Mums were again to the fore a few of days later, along with a disabled activist from DPAC, Andy Greene, when UK Uncut, a group who seem to have been rather less active recently, renewed their protests against tax dodgers with a party at Vodafone in Oxford St.
The UK Uncut group that met up in Cavendish Square before marching the quarter mile or so to Vodafone were in fact a diversionary tactic, though they actually failed to draw much if any police attention. I’d realised this as we hung around in the square, but hadn’t come to the decision to trust my conclusion and head in advance to Vodafone in Oxford St. I’d checked in advance and we were also within easy walking distance of their Marylebone High St store and I could have missed the action if I’d made the wrong choice.
It was also important not to alert the Vodafone security or the police to what was about to happen. With a largish camera bag and a couple of cameras around my neck I am a little conspicuous.
As we set off and it became obvious where we were heading I did wonder about running ahead – and one of my colleagues did so – but I decided to keep with the leading UK Uncut protesters and to photograph their attempt to get into the store.
I was just ahead of them as they reached the shop and moved to the right as they were stopped in the doorway so I could take pictures. It turned out to be the right decision as I watched the shutters coming down on the door being stopped as a wheelchair protester moved underneath them. The shutters had to stop, and as they did other protesters from inside the shop, several mothers from Focus E15, one with her daughter, came forward to stand in the doorway facing me.
The situation outside the shop got rather confused, not helped by the security men employed by Vodafone appearing to be rather amateur – and they had no uniforms or ID. When one of them threatened a protester rather graphically I got into an argument with him and he denied having made what was a very clear threat. Fortunately after a few minutes couple of police officers came and quietened things down, though there continued to be some friction between protesters (and photographers) and security over the small area in front of the store doorway which was private property.
I was on the very edge of that private space (and occasionally straying a foot inside it) , close enough to Andy Greene in the wheelchair that I could have reached out and touched him. I would really have preferred to be a little further back – the situation was tight even with the 16-35mm, but if I had moved others – protesters and photographers – would have got in front of me and blocked my view.
After a few minutes of this stand-off, I did move away and photograph the protest party that was taking place on the wide area of pavement outside the store, before going back and taking a few more pictures of those in the doorway. I needed to get down low to get a clear view between two of the security men, which put me at the right kind of level for Safia, Jasmin’s daughter.
The protesters outside the store continued to have something of a party, passing around non-alcoholic drinks, holding balloons as well as placards and banners, and with the few small children present playing games. There was some music, and people sang a song urging Vodafone to pay the tax it owes, and flyers were handed out on the busy shopping street.
Finally, the protesters inside the store decided it was time for them to come out and join in the party outside and they came out celebrating, with Jasmin coming to the microphone to speak about Focus E15 and their now much wider protest over housing. Many of the photographers had left by this time, rushing away to file their pictures and missed this part of the protest.
Shortly afterwards it began to rain, bringing the speeches, picnics and childrens’ games to an end as most people found shelter. It soon eased off, but the protesters were beginning to drift away, and I decided it was time to leave too.
More at UK Uncut Party at Vodafone.
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My London Diary : Buildings of London : River Lea/Lee Valley : London’s Industrial Heritage
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