05-02-2002, 12:25 PM
So, yesterday was May Day. Pretty interesting. I was stuck in work till 5:30 and then went back to my hotel. On the news, they were covering "the last of the protestors" who were in Soho. I immediately recognised where they were as the camera was right in front of one of my favorite pubs within walking distance of my hotel.
Looked like a real party, not a protest. Lots of college kids playing drums, dancing, drinking, etc. So, of course, I decided to walk down and take a look in person. I mean, co-ed protestors getting all excited? Who wouldn't?
But, by the time I got there, the cops had decided there were too many people there already, so they surrounded the area with cops in riot gear with the lexan shields and wouldn't let anyone in. Nothing like turning a corner to be face with a solid line of guys with shields, helmets, and ski masks.
So, I took a walk around the entire perimeter to see if I could see anything. Nothing but huge crowds of kids filling every street on the other side of the police line. Looked like the Village Halloween parade or the San Genero festival. The cops did the right thing by letting the "party" burn itself out peacefully.
I was a little pissed I missed the Sex Workers Pride Parade thorugh Soho till I saw footage on the news. Looked like a bunch of club sluts on their way to a nightclub. Nothing really kinky or anything.
From what I saw in person and on the news, the Brit cops did a great job yesterday. There were over 7,000 protestors who were allowed to protest peacefully while about 600 hard-core violent protestors were dealt with swiftly by a policy of containment and slow release, not arrest.
I major improvement over last year that saw hundreds, including tourists and shoppers, contained for hours in Picaddily Circus only to be released and cause £2 million in damages to stores and property.
Pretty cool day really.
Looked like a real party, not a protest. Lots of college kids playing drums, dancing, drinking, etc. So, of course, I decided to walk down and take a look in person. I mean, co-ed protestors getting all excited? Who wouldn't?
But, by the time I got there, the cops had decided there were too many people there already, so they surrounded the area with cops in riot gear with the lexan shields and wouldn't let anyone in. Nothing like turning a corner to be face with a solid line of guys with shields, helmets, and ski masks.
So, I took a walk around the entire perimeter to see if I could see anything. Nothing but huge crowds of kids filling every street on the other side of the police line. Looked like the Village Halloween parade or the San Genero festival. The cops did the right thing by letting the "party" burn itself out peacefully.
I was a little pissed I missed the Sex Workers Pride Parade thorugh Soho till I saw footage on the news. Looked like a bunch of club sluts on their way to a nightclub. Nothing really kinky or anything.
From what I saw in person and on the news, the Brit cops did a great job yesterday. There were over 7,000 protestors who were allowed to protest peacefully while about 600 hard-core violent protestors were dealt with swiftly by a policy of containment and slow release, not arrest.
I major improvement over last year that saw hundreds, including tourists and shoppers, contained for hours in Picaddily Circus only to be released and cause £2 million in damages to stores and property.
Pretty cool day really.
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