Time marching on
The G20 march today started off a bit grimly. When I first arrived, there seemed to be very few people around, it was grey and cold and everyone looked pastily like they had just been through the long cold English winter that of course they had. Soon though, the sun came out, I got a proper view of all the tens of thousands of folks who had turned up and the carnival fun began. It was a really good day, I thought. The unions including some from abroad made a good show of themselves including notably the RMT's brass band and the singing Italians. I found the militant workers bloc straightaway - IWW, SolFed and various boys in black masks. As usual, I'd made my own sign - 'Capitalism is over'. Coco the dog came with me since she needed the exercise. She didn't like all the whistles, sound systems & samba but was very happy once we got to Hyde Park where the rallies were taking place. The first speaker I saw on the main stage was a trade unionist and former dinner lady who said the bankers etc. who caused all the trouble should be put in jail and have their assets confiscated like drug dealers. The anarchists had actually organised a separate rally in Speakers Corner. When I got there, a crowd with red & black flags were around Ian Bone who was speaking too quietly to hear and being photographed by several dudes with big cameras. I've been enjoying Ian's blog very much this week. Another highlight was a preview outing of the Four Horsefolk of the Apocalypse who will be gathering points on Wednesday's action in the City of London. They were rather beautiful and impressive. I get a bit high on all the wit & creativity at demos including a sign saying 'your party, your hangover' and a May Queen handing out flyers for a May Day event. Here's a photo of some of the very fun fake bankers. One of them said to me, 'that dog should be working!'.



What I didn't see was the Whitechapel Anarchist Group's wonderful free news sheet. They said at the very beginning that they had run out, rather improbably. Also, I didn't see Veggies catering, or any copies of Schnews (last week they had printer trouble, so that may be ongoing). Overall, though the turnout was good it wasn't very diverse like the anti-war & Gaza marches have been - not many green or women's or religious groups. It was mainly unions and the militant workers bloc. I would have expected this march to have had a broader base of representation.

After the march I went to the new Secret Society of Vegans shop and got dinner from the vegan burger place at Camden Lock Market. Coco & I are now very tired.