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Anarchists plan City demo for G20 leaders' arrival in London
Robert Mendick and Nigel Rosser17 Mar 2009
Anti-globalisation activists are plotting a mass demonstration against bankers in the heart of the City, the Evening Standard can reveal.
Police are on full alert ahead of the protest, planned for 1 April - the day world leaders arrive in London for the G20 summit.
Thousands of demonstrators, including anarchists and anti-aviation activists, are planning a series of protests, aiming to capitalise on disenchantment with City financiers blamed for dragging the economy into recession.
The event, dubbed 'Financial Fools Day', is likely to cause mass disruption as demonstrators try to block traffic and buildings by lying in tents and sleeping bags across the road.
One source suggested the protest would include a "spectacular action". Organisers said on the Climate Camp website: "Join us for camping, workshops, protest, positive alternatives, direct action and community.
"We need to stop this foolishness... Bring a pop-up tent if you have one, sleeping bag, wind turbine, mobile cinema, extra shoes, action plans and ideas... let's imagine another world."
Protesters hope to mobilise "anti fat-cat" sentiment among students and workers affected by the credit crunch as they demonstrate against the financial system, and are inviting activists to "set up camp" in London's financial centre.
One environmentalist source said: "People are angry about losing their jobs and bankers still getting their bonuses. People are also up in arms about the Government bulldozing anti-airport legislation through as we saw with the third runway at Heathrow."
Despite police becoming adept at controlling such demonstrations and preventing widespread disorder of the type that occurred during the May Day and poll tax riots in the Nineties, there are fears small groups will wreak havoc.
Police sources said: "Angry activists and aggressive City trader types are a volatile mix, as we have seen before."
During the 1999 City Riot, which left 46 people injured and caused up to £2 million damage, fights broke out between City workers and anarchists protesting in the streets and in private premises.
The April protest has captured the imagination of anarchists. Some are plotting further demonstrations against the G20 on the day of the summit on 2 April.
One protester said the example of Athens, where young Greeks have been rioting for several months since police shot dead a teenager, could provide further inspiration.
An anarchist blogged: "The combination of the recession, the inspiration of the Greek anarchists and the G20 summit being in London on 2 April gives us the opportunity to mobilise far larger than usual numbers on to the streets... Seize the time."
Reader views (62)
In today's world there does not seem to be anything wrong with anything. Ministers spend our money on pornography, start wars in foreign countries in non accordance with international law, whale and wildlife murder, deforestation, whats wrong with a riot? whats wrong with watching eastenders 5 times a week? Whats wrong with everyone and everything? If i could be bothered I would shot a brick just for the hell of it, wouldnt care who it hit really.
- Anth, Middlesbrough uk, 03/04/2009 14:45
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Time to get a leader who is interested in defending the interests of the people of the UK, rather than one who is continually spouting about globalism. Anyone think of that ??? Such a leader does not exist in any party at Westminster. End of Story.
- Robert, London, 01/04/2009 12:43
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All i say is i am homeless using another persons computer and our goverment spends more on foreign countries instead of helping there own people so yes we should stand up and be heard so lets let ourselves be heard now and not later and if violence is needed so be it but i do hope it is peaceful so let's wait and find out.
- Sy Techno, north london, 01/04/2009 12:29
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Personally I agree the recession is obviously the fault of fat greedy bankers. However is increasing the police cost a few millions and causing millions in damages the way to solve an already downward spiralling economy? When you don't have much left breaking what you do have doesn't seem very logical. Nor does showing the rest of the world (again) that you are violent and savage in the face of hard times. P.s teelz i grew up on a council estate but you grammar and speech is atrocious!
- Joe, london, 01/04/2009 07:16
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I'm all in favour of protests and freedom of speech but this is something different. A group of Anarchists who survive off the back of the taxes paid by those Banking types and the ordianry man in the street should be grateful that we fund their pathetic way of life instead of bringing violence to our streets. If they really wanted to protest then they should do it at the ballot box.
- Tj, London, 31/03/2009 17:09
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THESE PROTESTS ARE GOING TO BE VERY DETRIMENTAL TO THEIR CAUSE AND MAKE THINGS WORSE FOR EVERYBODY ELSE. I FOR ONE WOULD LOVE TO MARCH BUT WILL NOT BE GOING UNTIL IT IS DONE OUTSIDE PARLIAMENT + DOWNING ST. SOME OF THE PLANS ARE JUVENILE AT BEST. THE BANKERS HAVE DONE NOTHING MORE THAN MOST OF THE PROTESTERS WOULD HAVE DONE FOR THEMSELVES AND FAMILYS . YOU ARE NOT AS ETHICAL AS YOU PURPORT TO BE OR ACT..SO GO FOR THE JUGULAR, THE GOVERNMENT.WHERE YOU WILL FIND ALL CORRUPTION,LIES AND THIEVERY..DONT WASTE THE DAY.....
- Anthony B, ST ANNS ON SEA, 31/03/2009 14:23
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LOLZ u bankers dont know what you have coming 2moro!! I am protesting because it aint right that i am broke and i blame all u lot in ur ivory towers an pin stripe suites for this. UR all out of touch with the UK and the working man
My slogan is: "LMFAO OMG! We want anarchy!!"
- Deels, Whitechapel, 31/03/2009 13:13
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The people who critisise any political activism are meaningless !,they enjoy the freedoms that have been won for them by people who actually care for thier sorry selves.
- Colin, grays essex, 30/03/2009 13:00
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Amazed at how banal some comments are (some like Paul, London, show not only a fundamental lack of knowledge of the geography of London, but also ignorance of golf ... the Thames is a bit far to putt even the lightest 'crusty' and you drive with an iron and putt with a putter FGS!).
As a 40-something ex-City worker I'm going to try to be there and will be on the lookout for idiots in plus-fours haha.
There are, of course, many types of demonstrations happening that haven't had much coverage by the media. I think I owe it to future generations to stand and be counted. It seems self-evident that unrestrained capitalism isn't working for the majority of people in the world and national and global governments are making a bad situation worse for everyone (except themselves and their elite friends), perhaps irretrievably.
- Id, Essex, UK, 30/03/2009 11:38
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Some of these comments are fairly incoherent and closed-minded, perhaps this says more about the readership of the Evening Standard than either of the two arguments.
I for one shall miss the protest on april 1st, i traded my freedom and right to protest many moons ago for an Audi in my driveway and a plasma in my front room. Besides the train is overpriced, i'd have to pay a congestion charge if i took my car, and franky since they haven't made the 3rd runway yet, there's just no way i'm willing to queue for ages at heathrow!
On a sidenote, i seriously believe our generations will be looked back upon with the view that we had the chance to promote actual proper change, but our "conditioned" greed, selfishness and consumerism with a touch of general apathy will, i fear, be the legacy of our time.
- Marc, Scotland, 28/03/2009 02:04
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This will be the usual storm in a tea cup. Give it a day, a few broken windows and no one will care.
At least it should be a laugh and something to look at while getting a sandwich at lunch time. Cant wait to see them outside what they think is the RBS building again in Bishopsgate. They cant even get the right building let alone get their facts right. Good luck out there.
- Dru, Essex, 27/03/2009 22:49
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Well, isn't this nice, we're all joined up against them. I expect it'll be a little different on the day though, won't it, and all our smarmy little soap dodger comments will be sealed neatly inside our smarmy little mouths, becasue although we seem to have our tremendously pompous and useless opinions, we arent willing or even able to do anything about them. Good luck to the people that are, eh? 
- ellen, LDN, 27/03/2009 12:57
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I have decided that the frustration many 1000's are feeling in trying to find work could be worked off on these crusty soapdodgers.
I believe we could try real city golf.
Meet Liverpool Street 08:00 with suitable golf attire and your biggest, heaviest iron you can find.
We can then enjoy several hours of fun by trying to putt each crusty into the Thames.
Unfortunately just another prime example of the pathetic weakness that Gordon and his girls are showing in running this country.
Has anyone thought of saying 'No' to the troublemakers. If they come to London to demonstrate on the 01/04 then they will be arrested, beaten and disposed of in an environmentally friendly manner. see easy! Problem solved.
- Paul, London, 27/03/2009 12:01
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I've brought extra string for my dog already!
- Neil M.,, London UK, 27/03/2009 11:52
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A bit of history for you. Communism failed because it couldn't factor in the human condition. People like nice things, are intrinsically competitive and aspirational.
Rverting to a communal one love world will fail. There'll be a vacuum for fat cats to fill again. Nothing wrong with Money, reward for success or being brighter, more attractive, or not wainting to grow dreadlocks and dodge a hot shower. Grow some ambition and create your own luck you tree hugging, bypass protesting anti social little louts.
- Gerry, London, UK, 27/03/2009 10:52
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best way to solve a problem?
go mental and ruin everyones day.
productive? of course not!
well thought out? NO!
relevant? Don’t be silly.
it’s hardly any wonder that these people you so despise are the ones running things, when the best you can come up with is embittered, childish and downright nasty pomp with no intent, purpose or intellectual grounding.
see you in april. fools.
- Gregg, london, 24/03/2009 09:02
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Re Stuart uk
you have the right to free speech
as long as your not dumb enough to actually try it!
- Dj, england, 24/03/2009 08:37
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"Soap dodgers?" You display a rather naive attitude towards the modern day unemployed, many of whom are skilled workers and white collar workers. However it might be reasonable to assume that the people you're talking about Mike from Bristol, won't be demonstrating because they won't be able to afford the fare to London. However the people who will be going are the people like me - low paid civil servants who deal with the "soap dodgers" at Jobcentres on a daily basis. Something tells me you just don't get it.
Sid, Southampton.
- Sid, Southampton. UK., 22/03/2009 01:03
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I believe we should all stop complaining retreat to our homes stick on a bit of x factor to dumb us down a bit. Why should we want to demonstrate? All is good, the global elite have a brave new world planned for us. All hail the new world order.
- Nick, milton uk, 10/03/2009 10:37
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@Mike, Bristol:
Moronic protestors? Have you spoken to any? How did you arrive at this assessment?
It's interesting that you think Gordon Brown has passed the blame onto poor old bankers. (like you, perhaps?) Yes, lack of regulation lead to a situation where banks could run wild, but it was still the banks - made up of people, real people, that ran amok. Each grinning CEO, every "barrow boy" knew exactly what they were doing. Or are they all morons?
- Agent, London, 04/03/2009 19:21
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Hope all the soap dodgers remember to say they weren't looking for work that day when they go to sign on. ( Like they're looking for work on any day )
Nice job from Gordon Brown blaming it all on the bankers - shame the media parrot his view rather than ask about failures of regulation, or irresponsible borrowing, or the government policies that have left the UK worse placed than any other major economy to survie a global downturn.
Welcome to Gordon Brown's recession - a country bankrupted and ruined for the next thirty years and thanks to moronic protesters and gutless media everyone's blaming the City. Divide and conquer...
- Mike, Bristol, 27/02/2009 23:02
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i used to think these people were morons but i am starting to wonder now.
fair play to them.
- Paul, croydon, 26/02/2009 15:13
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Evil triumphs when good men do nothing.
- Ed, London, 26/02/2009 14:12
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This is a massive inconvenience. I won't be able to take the Ferrari in on that day due to you idiots clogging up the streets.
I think I'm going to start a violent protest outside a Job Centre - after all, you lot take my taxes most weeks; it's a little childish to get all antsy when we need some back.
- Resh, London, UK, 25/02/2009 16:59
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I'll be down there for that!
Show the stupid drones whats right!
Were not "workshy" we can't get the jobs becasue the banks and corporations are wasting our money giving out loans!
Squiz your just a little worker bee get back to work and make money for your fat cat bozz
- Chunk, Yorkshire, 23/02/2009 16:46
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squiz; you have no idea what's planned for your 'rugby playing city types', this time the proper firm are coming.
- Brian Jones, London, 23/02/2009 13:34
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"The normal little man on the street has had enough !"
Brian Grays you are awesome!
- Scott Pearson, Sydney, Australia, 22/02/2009 23:46
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bring it on...a pack of skinny soap dodging workshy punks will get eaten alive by a couple of rugby playing city types. They did last time as i recall.
- Squiz, Islington, 22/02/2009 19:31
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I'm a normal working 50 year old man who has never protested before but I'll be there on the day. The normal little man on the street has had enough !
- Brian, grays, 22/02/2009 17:31
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A peaceful protest has more sting than a violent one,a walk to Downing st for a sit down,same goes with Bank of England a walk there peaceful no sound just placards,that will do there heads in, the Police state and politions,you lot down south especially the bankers dont understand what comptempt we have for you,with mess you have created with your gambling on the unsecured markets with are money that was put into the banks in the firstplace,we dont Even have a proper rail connection up North connecting to major cities Manchester and Sheffield because all the money has been spent down there as usaual.Its still Grim up North.
- Haw Haw, Sheffield, 22/02/2009 13:33
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There are few countries that successfully adopted anarchy as a form of "governance". Somalia and parts of Afghanistan spring to mind... Anti-aviation activists focus on the wrong targets. The main contributor of CO2 emissions is agriculture then industry. That is probably too much hard work to tackle so let's go for easier targets.
- John, London, UK, 21/02/2009 16:16
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To all the city workers complaining about demonstration in the front of their building.
Remember you have the choice to work for organizations with ethics. Your skills will be far more appreciated, and will contribute to a better world and peace.
But if you prefer supporting banks, corporation, drug money laundering, and mass murders, it is your choice.
But, don't complain, if a growing opposition to your support of fascist organization exists.
I have chosen my camp many years ago, and while I do not earn as much as you guys , I sleep well at night with a clear conscience.
Although I have to admit that sometime I get very angry and stressed, specially when I get ripped off by banks, witness the corruption and atrocities that you generate across the globe, and see my liberties fading in fin air.
- Lauren, London, 21/02/2009 15:02
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Who said Neanderthals were extinct?
With apologies to our ancient ancestors!
GERONIMO
- Geronimo, LONDON MIDDLESEX, 21/02/2009 03:13
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You British Folk been Con by the Bankers since we did the STOP THE CITY DEMO'S IN THE EIGHTY"S,ordinary folk need to get off their backsides and protest to this sham government,and the rip off bankers where their profit before people has got us.
- Haw Haw, Sheffield, 21/02/2009 00:07
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I don't know what Neil M from London is on but maybe we all need some ! This is not our chance - we don't have a chance of ending the establishment or system as you call it.
- Kathy Doyle, London, 20/02/2009 21:35
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Why are they going to protest, with each passing day, Brown and Co bring us closer to the Utopia of Soviet Britain.
- Frank, Dorchester Dorset, 20/02/2009 17:18
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Go, Anarchists! What a relief that there are still a few people left in the world prepared to challenge the arrogant, corrupt, near police state England has become. Of course their motives are dubious, but we need some protests! What a pathetic bowed down nation we've become. The blatently dishonest Home Secretary has not one iota of common decency, so why should anyone else, from welfare cheat to ordinary taxpayer, continue to respect the "legal system." Vive l'Anarchie!
- Nick (Expat), Hong Kong, 20/02/2009 17:17
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I am going to say it again, there is nothing wrong with a protest as long and it doesn't descend into an orgy of violence.
We have free speak but we need to use it wisely
- Stuart, UK, 20/02/2009 16:50
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Good luck to them! This country has turned to a bunch of wimps! There was a time when people use to stand up to the government when we were not happy with what was going on.
- Serox, London, 20/02/2009 16:30
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reading the comments by people who think this is good had made me think. This is perhaps why we are seen around the world as sad little Islanders, these things have happened and we are all to blame in some way, laons, credit cards, a sofa on HP. The bubble has burst and it will take some time to re inflate. If it hasn't changed when we do re inflate it then we have learnt nothing from this, and throwing all our toys out of the pram when the rest of the world is looking will only make us look even more ridiculous.
- Mike, London, 20/02/2009 15:42
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can we have a riot against anarchists please.
- Hohoho, london, 20/02/2009 15:10
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These "protesters" should be arrested for the vandals they are. Why the police put up with this every year is beyond me. And as for the comment about "the Government bulldozing anti-airport legislation...third runway at Heathrow." That's just ridiculous. The government should have given the go ahead for a third runway years ago and should have started building the 4th by now. If they don't get their act together then London will be over taken by other cities as the travel/freight hub of Europe.
- Steve, London, 20/02/2009 15:02
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The organisers of these riots are no more interested in the good causes they claim to espouse than the corporations they try to damage. They are grubby, unwashed wastrels and scroungers who get their kicks by fighting the police and assaulting office workers going about their business. They do this partly because they like the violence and partly because they are jealous of those who have achieved more than they have, while they themselves have done nothing but draw benefits and take drugs. I would not mind their antics if they were sincere but they are not. Everything they do is a massive and very lazy lie.
- D Woodstock, London, 20/02/2009 14:54
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Helen, Norwich: Did you get that out of a Christmas cracker? A few middle-class soapdodgers chucking paving slabs about? Laughable.
- Pen, london, 20/02/2009 14:51
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About time. Everyone has had enough lies, spin, broken promises etc. Crowded & cancelled trains, inexcusably high train fares. Taxes for everything under the sun. Little or no worthwhile financial help for hardworking citizens. Benefits given out to people too lazy to work, while pensioners go cold & injured servicemen get pittance.
All the while MP's claim ridiculous expenses atop salaries (far above the national average). This champagne lifestyle has to stop.
Hopefully at the end it won’t be a G20 it will be a G11!
- Freedom Fighter, Wimbledon, 20/02/2009 14:27
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Remember that not everyone living and/or working in London is in the financial sector and responsibile for the mess we're in - far more of the 'average person' are going to be inconvenienced by this action than those that aren't.
My suggestion to the protesters? It's the government's fault, so storm Parliament and get yourselves shot. Preferably do it early in the day then you won't be messing up the whole day for normal people.
Protesters, your actions are neither necessary, or wanted. You do not speak for me, you do not represent me, so don't try and make out that you do.
- Marc Abfleet, London, 20/02/2009 14:18
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This will be our best chance to give a bloody nose to the suited crooks and thieves who are reducing the world to beggary through their greed, their wars, their lies. Let's take some serious action on 1st April and take back our power.
- Neil M., london uk,, 20/02/2009 14:09
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As some one else has already commented, I bet the police won't be running away from them.
And I wish the protesters the best of luck, some thing needs to give.
- P Staker, London, 20/02/2009 13:31
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Good, the damage these protestors do is far less and far shorter lasting than that being done t our world by globalisation. Overall, globalisation is like a huge stretched rope on whic we are all balancing, break it at one point and the whole thing collapses. No safety backup, no spare supplier, no new ideas, etc. A travesty of all for one and one for all.
- Helen, norwich, 20/02/2009 13:29
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As someone who was held up in a building in 1999 until midnight as 'protesters' were trying to get in and continue to riot in my building sorry protest I for one will be booking this day as holiday. Unfortunately, I have very little time to listen to their 'cause' when in actual fact they just want a fight. They seriously injured my colleague walking home from work! How can they possibly expect the workers in the city ( these workers who don't earn £100,000 plus but still work 60 hour weeks and are not accountable to the financial mess that the government have allowed I might add) to listen when all they do is attack and vandalise. No better than football hooligans.
- Jo, Kent, 20/02/2009 13:20
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Someone is trying to give the anarchists a bad name. It is usually meant as someone that doesn’t accept the socialist order as preached by Gordon Brown and his ilk.
Yet these demonstrators are of the left and have the same common beliefs as Gordon Brown., so what are they demonstrating against. Gordon is giving them the state control they plead for.
- Ian, Reading, England, 20/02/2009 13:14
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They would be better protesting outside 10 Downing Street for the removal of the cause to Britain's economic woes. Yes, for the removal of boom & bust Brown and the incompetent Labour Government.
- Joe, Thornton Heath, UK, 20/02/2009 13:04
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Good idea Daniel, London. Considering your taxes(I assume you are a taxpayer ?) are being used to bail out the most catastrophic failing of unfettered capitalism to date without parallel, presumably you'll be the first to flee to a nation where the taxpayer is treated with equal infra dig ?
- John Bloomfield, Twickenham, 20/02/2009 12:58
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Anyone who was working in the City in 1999 will remember how awful those riots were. There were riot police banked outside my office and all the tube stations closed so I had to walk for miles through what was effectively a war zone. It was absolutely terrifying and I'm afraid I can't believe there is anything more behind it than a desire to cause as much damage and mayhem as possible. The mindset is no better than that of football hooligans, if not worse. I for one will be taking April 1st as a day's holiday rather than risk putting myself through anything like that again.
- Sarah Bradshaw, Enfield, Middx, 20/02/2009 12:39
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how about they relocate at least part of the protest to Downing Street - or as close to it as they can get, considering the big gates? Crash isn't entirely blameless, either!
- Marianne, SW France, 20/02/2009 12:13
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No doubt jackboots Jackie will try and ban this demonstration.
- Tom W, London, 20/02/2009 12:11
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I bet the Police don't run away from this lot of protesters - unlike the one in Kensington.
No wonder many people believe the Police have failed them
- Cap, London, 20/02/2009 12:09
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'Let's imagine another world' - that's the most exciting thing I've read in the news for months.
- Charlie, Soho, London, 20/02/2009 11:51
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The UK is, and will remain, a capitalistic societey with all its ups and, currently, all its downs, live with it. If you dont like it or it upsets your feelings then I suggest you move to the alternative such as China, North Korea or what's left of Cuba or Albania.
- Daniel, London, 20/02/2009 11:50
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This sort of behaviour, should it change from good natured protest to violence, is the biggest threat to freedom or speech than anything else.
Don't abuse it and you wont lose it!!!!
- Stuart, UK, 20/02/2009 10:46
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good - about time direct action was taken instead of the Brits sitting on their bottoms just taking it. Lets hope they reach parliament.
- Fly, london, 20/02/2009 10:34
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This is our chance to end the feudal system we live under. We can remove the regime and seize our freedom!
- Neil M., london uk,, 20/02/2009 10:31
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