NEWS
EVENTS
#GrantsNotDebts march shuts down London
After getting out of Russell Square tube station this afternoon, we asked a police officer where the march was starting. He pointed us in the right direction, and snidely remarked, “bit of a low turn out today, only just over a thousand of them, not expecting much trouble”. How wrong he was.
A peaceful beginning: It was an inauspicious start to the 'Grants Not Debts' march in London today as rain lashed the demonstrators who flocked to their rallying point on Malet Street. Banners flew – songs were sung with gusto as protestors from across the country gathered to display their unhappiness with the spiralling costs of higher education and the government’s wider spending cuts.
The police stood by watchfully as marchers passed in their thousands; snaking their way towards Trafalgar Square as the sun belatedly shone. Blaring megaphones and repeated chanting accompanied protesters as they neared Downing Street – where a general chorus of boos erupted.
A chaotic middle: As numbers grew and grew the atmosphere of the march subtly began to change. Everywhere you looked people were quickening their stride, their voices becoming louder and their songs more purposeful as they were funnelled down the narrow streets around Westminster.
Events came to a head in the early afternoon outside the Department for Business, innovation and skills (BIS) on Victoria Street. Police – attempting to take the sting out of the day by kettling the march – were faced with throngs of angry protesters. One group, dressed almost entirely in black and leading the “Anti-capitalist!” chants, seemed to be the target of police tactics.
Brawls broke out, with flares and bangers thrown at police, who responded with equal ruthlessness as marchers were tackled to the ground at random. It had the hallmarks of a full on riot. After minutes of tense stand-off, protestors broke through the cordon – streaming down Victoria road with the coppers in pursuit.
A confused end: Here the momentum somewhat stalled, as marchers veered off in various directions down the quiet side streets. More minor scuffles with the police were overshadowed by a lack of direction and, by the time they had returned to Westminster with darkness falling – this fizz seemed to have vanished.
A memorable and eventful day but one – that perhaps lacked a landmark achievement.
