Tower Siege!

For a number of months now, Oxford EF! have been running "Oxford Is Choking", a direct action-based campaign to get cars and buses out of the city centre. Past actions have seen a growing number of people cycling round and round the lain, the major roundabout in Oxford, causing traffic chaos.

On 3rd May four 'tourists' paid £1.20 to enter Carfax Tower, a city centre landmark in Oxford. Using pieces of wood, they wedged the doors closed then attached banners to the top of the tower and flagpole. The protesters refused to come down again until the air below is clean enough to breathe safely. Below, protesters dressed in white suits and gas masks held placards banged drums and handed out leaflets to passers-by. About 1000 leaflets were handed out to general approval. The action was designed to coincide with the local elections.

The protesters spent the night sleeping in hammocks and came down at 9.30am the next day. The Green Party took Central Ward and narrowly missed St Clements ward by 100 votes.