Wanstonia Mania

On the 16th of February in a scene reminiscent of a medieval siege around 800 police and bailiffs supported by cherry pickers and mechanical diggers besieged the independent state of Wanstonia.

After cordoning off the area the invaders preceded to storm the 5 houses and treehouses. The Wanstonian's had been preparing their defences in preparation for the attack, the houses had been barricaded, trenches were dug and many residents prepared to lock themselves to washing machines filled with concrete. Some TV crews stayed in houses as the bailiffs blasted in.

The police had to break through the barricades to enter and some then found that the staircases had been removed thus forcing them to get in through roofs or upper floors. Some protesters were on the roofs having chained themselves to chimneys, the contractors proceeded to destroy the houses while many people were still occupying them. They then went on to remove the tree sitters many of whom had d-locked themselves to the trees forcing the bailiffs to use hydraulic bolt cutters. Unfortunately they forgot to buy long enough hydraulic hoses from their local Destroy-It-Yourself shop!! It still took ten hours to remove 300 people with only six arrests. The action gained unprecedented news coverage, and a lot of it was favourable! Bringing direct action into the consciousness of couch potatoes everywhere.