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From: John Joseph Massey
Category: Other stuff
Date: 11 May 2001
Regarding May Day. I was really rather impressed by the tactics the police employed ; I am by no means the Met's most ardent apologist - and am only too aware of the excessive aggression police can, on occasion display,but I think it was an intelligent and effective way of protecting many Londoners (including protesters) and their property. I share the concern on restricting peoples movement especially regarding their right to vocalise the concerns many of us share about dubious/oppressive business practices. However, when it is made clear from the outset that they intend taking direct action against property in a manner likely to endanger lives(setting cars alight) then physically preventing them from doing this -by surrounding them- seems both a sensible and proportionate response. Indeed, it is far preferable to chasing groups around the West End all day and having spontaneous pitch battles where protesters are coshed and police petrol bombed. If anarchists, anticapitalists and socialists feel passionatley enough to want to attack the current economic and political structure then good luck to them; civil disobedience , ideological and physical opposition are, as we both know, perfectly healthy, necessary and, of course, totally unavoidable, in any society. However, protesters should not be so naive as to think that those of us who enjoy and embrace capitalism will not defend the existing structures just as passionately..it's a good clean fight, repeated ad nauseum, throughout history and whinging afterwards smacks only of sour grapes. I'm amusedalso when protesters bleat on about seeking redress in the courts for breachesof their civil rights. Anarchists suddenly so concerned for the protectionby the state of individuals' just democratic entitlements !! And as for employing the judicial system , ha ! Solicitors and Barristers are the finest and most successful capitalists there are! Just look at Fish's boss telly!
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