Liberal Democrats would prefer anarchy over Nick Clegg

Yesterday Nick Clegg gave a talk in Bristol to some lucky ticket holders. Around 30 people had responded to a call out from the anti cuts alliance and were there to greet him. However they’d hardly even started chanting “shame on you” before he scurried inside surrounded by security. His exit 90 minutes later was more eventful, as people got in front of his car before litterally chasing him out of Bristol, one person caught up with him in traffic and managed to throw an egg at him before the car sped away on the wrong side of the road.

He probably relaxed a little as he arrived in Cirencester later that evening for a meeting of libdem councilers, candidates and supporters. However even the cotswolds aren’t safe for clegg, and a small group of anarchists gatherd outside with bannners to proclaim their hatred of him and the system he represents.

As people left the talk, ten showed their support for the protest, with only two declaring support for their leader. This incredibly unscientific survey reveals that over 83% would prefer anarchy to Nick! Whilst waiting for Clegg, protesters were entertained by security and two vans of police who threatened to arrest anyone who crossed the road (yes, really). The police also attempted to get everyone’s details via an incredibly inaccurate quoting of Section 50, after being quoted it correctly they responded with “we don’t care what you quote” but eventually gave up after a protester retorted “but its the law?“.

When Clegg himself did appear everyone present was treated to the site of him looking back shocked over his back seat as people shouted at him, hopefully he’ll think twice before coming back to the west country!

Beyond Broken Windows: Anti Cuts Action in the West

On January 15th & 16th some anti-cuts activists from Bristol headed up to Manchester for the first Network-X gathering. The aim was “to establish a network that will allow libertarians to co-ordinate and support each others struggles” as part of the wider anti-cuts movement.

The decision was taken to form regional networks of anti-authoritarian groups fighting the cuts. As Bristol Anarchist Federation’s Anti-cuts Action Campaign has already been working on this for a while we hope to further this network. At present we have built links and are in contact with groups and individuals in Bristol, Bath, Gloucester, Stroud, Taunton, Hereford, Wiltshire, Cardiff, Newport and slightly further away in north Wales and Northern Ireland.

We don’t look to replace groups like Bristol Anti-Cuts Alliance and our affiliation form is winging its way to their secretary as I type. Our simple aim is to network with groups and individuals in the west to share ideas and mobilise for actions.

We support alliances such as BADACA and believe there are some great individuals working in them, their strong union links and ability to organise large scale mobilisations are vital to the anti-cuts movement. However they are all to often stifled with bureaucracy and party politics making them unable to mobilise at short notice and some within groups such as these abuse the platform to push their party line and show little interest in actually taking action.

The Facebook revolution has made it almost too easy to call demos, although it is great to level the playing field in this way, people are calling events and then not providing and propaganda/placards/banners etc needed, and as a result (like the recent Bristol EMA demo) protests are failing. Conversely where materials are provided and a demo properly organised the group calling the demo can take the opportunity to push their particular brand of politics and puts newspaper sales before fighting the cuts. We are also concerned about certain political parties who are moving to build power by hijacking organisations such as the NSSN and NCAFC.

Radical Workers, Unionist, Anarchists & Students on Bristol demo October 23rd

The kids are united : students take the streets of Bristol

On wednesday the 24th, as part of the national day of action against cuts & fees anywhere upto 4000 students, lecturers and supporters took to the streets of Bristol. They planned to voice their anger at the coalitions plans, and the result was one hell of a good start. Heres how the kids in school unifrom taught the uniformed officers of the law a thing or two about demonstrations…

The morning began with a few hurried phone calls between different groups arranging to meet up, very quickly fears that today would be a washout were quickly aswayed.
“Where are you?”
“Still on college green, there are hundreds of people here seems like most of CoB college is about to march up park street!”

Callout for Bristol Vodafone Picket

Last Saturday a group of activists shut down the central bristol vodafone store in protest at their tax dodging ways, this was one of over 20 stores successfully targeted around the country.

This is a great way to spread the belief that these cuts are truly unnecessary, and that we are definitely not ‘in this together’ since whilst we pay with our services and our tax bills the richest in society pay nothing.

Although there has been some debate about the accuracy of the initial reporting (see http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2010/10/467056.html for example), it appears pretty conclusive that they (like most of their corporate peers) have been tax dodging to quite a large extent. They owe us at the very least around £1billiion, and the Indian government are chasing them for around £2.5billion in unpaid tax there!

Meet up either at castle park at 1pm, or outside the vodafone store in central broadmead at 1.30pm. If there are enough of us we can consider picketing Vodafone’s other Bristol stores.

There will be a few placards, and some anti-vodafone/anti-cuts leaflets, Bristol AFed are in debt and crafty photocopies at work only get us so far. We encourage others to bring their own but request this is kept as a ‘non sectarian’ protest, i.e. you don’t use it to promote your specific group (just the general anti-cuts movement).

Lets show the capitalists that they can’t get away with it!

Download the flyer here – Vodafone leaflet

Make The Most Of Now – Fight The Cuts

On Saturday October 30th activists demonstrated against vodafone due to their tax dodging ways, and successfully shut their main central bristol store for the day.
This was part of a national day of action which saw vodafone stores closed from London to Leeds!