Occupy, Jarrow & Syria: On Saturday 5th November 2011 I began my work with Occupy at St Paul’s Cathedral where protesters were confronting an evangelical preacher who was calling on them to leave and repent. I went on the Temple to cover the final stage of march by jobless young people from Jarrow to London. At Downing Street Syrians were calling the British Government to show solidarity to peaceful protesters who were being shot at by the Syrian Army. Finally I went back to St Paul’s to march with protesters to a general meeting in front of the Houses of Parliament in Old Palace Yard.
Occupy London Respond to Preacher
St Paul’s Cathedral Steps
An evangelical preacher had come to the steps with a head set and amplifier preaching to the camp, calling on them to repent their sins, turn to Jesus and rely on His grace to achieve salvation rather than taking any political action.
There response was to stand in front of him holding up cards on which were written ‘What Would Jesus Do?’ and some of the answers, ‘Jesus Would Feed the Poor’, ‘Jesus Would Wash Our Feet’.
The preacher accused them of being ignorant of theology. As I commented, “I would be willing to bet that OccupyLSX has more than its share of theology graduates, and it would not surprise me to find the occasional theology lecturer or professor hanging around.”
Occupy London Respond to Preacher
Jarrow March Ends in London
In 1936 the Jarrow March stirred the nation’s conscience, but 75 years on the march by 50 jobless young people from across Britain in the Youth March For Jobs went almost unnoticed in our right-wing dominated media.
The marchers had set out on the 330 mile march from Jarrow five weeks earlier, campaigning on route at many towns calling for action over youth unemployment.
They called on the government to:
- Create jobs
- Bring back EMA & scrap university fees
- Save youth services
- Scrap workfare
- Build affordable housing.
The march was backed by national trade unions – Unite, PCS, RMT, Bectu, TSSA, FBU and UCU – as well as various union branches, students and anti-cuts groups across the country.
Around a thousand people of all ages turned up for a rally at Temple and to march with them on the final stage to a rally in Trafalgar Square. Among them was 106 year-old Hetty Bower, who had met the 1936 Jarrow marchers when they arrived in London 75 years ago.
More at Jarrow March Ends In London.
Syrians Protest At Downing St
Syrians from the UK were at Downing Street calling on the government to galvanise the international community into action after yet more reports of Syrian government forces opening fire on peaceful protesters.
They called for freedom for Syria, with posters ‘Freedom lies in being bold – Our Syria will forever stay free.’
OccupyLSX March to Parliament
I returned to Occupy at St Paul’s were many were getting ready to march to Westminster. A rally was in progress with speeches from a wide ranger of supporters of Occupy but particularly focusing on privatisation and cuts we were suffering in Britain.
Among the listeners was Green Party MP Caroline Lucas – the only MP I saw in my various visits to Occupy despite it only being a short tube journey from the Houses of Parliament.
There were a lot of police around and before the march started there was a very loud but completely inaudible announcement from loudspeakers on one of the several police vans parked close by. We had no idea what it said, though I guessed it was saying that the march was illegal.
At first police simply concentrated on getting the march to move towards Westminster as fast as possible and it moved at a fast walking pace as far as Trafalgar Square. It was as usual an entirely peaceful march.
Things changed as the march tried to go down Whitehall. Police had decided to completely block the street with a large number of officers and a police van. A few marchers tried to push their way through but most just stood and chanted that this was a peaceful protest.
After a few minutes standing still the march turned up Pall Mall and then down the Duke of York Steps and into St James’ Park. Police stopped them again as they tried to go down Great George Street to Parliament Square.
The march then went on another long detour almost to Buckingham Palace, but I took a short cut. They tried again to reach Parliament Square along Victoria but police again blocked them. Another detour and they came back towards Parliament Square along Millbank, reaching Old Palace Yard opposite the House of Lords before they were again blocked. They decided to stop there and held a General Meeting there.
After a few minutes police sent a message that they would be free to leave along Millbank. I left to do so while the meeting was continuing and was stopped by police, but allowed to go through after showing my Press Card. Police had again lied to the protesters who were being kettled in Old Palace Yard.
I fail to understand the police actions during the march. As planned by Occupy it would have caused only very minor traffic disruption for a few minutes along its route, but the game played by police caused traffic disruption across much of central Westminster for an hour or two. Did they do it for the overtime pay? Or was it as I suggested in 2011 “some political paranoia … that Occupy LSX would come with tents and settle instead in Parliament Square, still closed off to the public many months after the grass has recovered from its previous occupation.”
Many more pictures on My London Diary at OccupyLSX March to Parliament
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