J18 - Actions Outside London
Ashton Court
Activists from the Ashton Court Quarry Campaign decided to target their favourite multinational Pioneer Aggregates, responsible for the destruction of a wildflower meadow in Ashton Court to expand Durnford quarry.
11 activists arrived at the offices in Harrow, Essex. Two, in suits, held the door open after a worker walked in, allowing others to rush through. Other activists climbed a fire escape to hang a banner from the roof.
Inside, much to the delight of the assembled mob, a board meeting was in progress, and duly disrupted. The directors were in conference with the West Country manager, Ian Wardle, who led the destruction at Ashton Court.
The local rapid response WPC turned up after half an hour, from the station next door! The activists left peacefully and there were no arrests.
Lincoln
At 11:30 a.m several dozen people infiltrated clothing stores in the local malls and inserted small flyers discussing the GAP sweatshop labour issues into the pockets of clothing and handing out flyers to passers by.
From 2:30 till 4:00 in the afternoon street theatre was performed in front of several downtown banks. More flyers were handed out. Following this an anti-capitalism demonstration was held in front of the Federal building at which a further 1000 flyers were distributed.
The day was rounded off with a critical mass cycle ride. All of this passed off without any serious confrontation with the police.
Lancaster
Activists from Lancaster J18 Collective occupied Freshfields, a city law firm at 11.00am. Despite heavy security they managed to rush into the central courtyard, unfolding banners and bunting as they went. Freshfields boast of representing the 'nuclear, aviation, road transportation, chemicals, mining, asbestos, tobacco products and drink industries'.
Information was distributed to interested onlookers and cheering building workers, while one man locked on with a pair of handcuffs.
Two vans of police arrived. One activist climbed the building and unfurled a banner reading 'Capitalism is killing the planet'. They all left of their own accord at midday.
Later that afternoon in Lancaster a large critical mass gathered in Market Square. Other activists visited Acordis Acetates, a company accused of polluting the air with carcinogens and the River Lune with Mercury. They found their way into a meeting between senior executives and disrupted it. The police turned up quickly and the protesters left.
Contact the Lancaster June 18 group at lancaster-j18@joymail.com.
Edinburgh
On the night of the 17/18 June, an unknown 'group of friends who are not involved in any formal organisation', paint-bombed and fly-posted a Reed Employment office and fly-posted a Reed Accountancy office, both in central Edinburgh. The group stated that 'we hate workfare, the companies who profit from it, and the whole exploiting system'.
They explained: 'We took this action as part of the ongoing opposition to Reeds running the New Deal in London and as part of the global day of action against the capitalist system.'
Glasgow
Between 400 and 500 people participated in a moving street carnival in Glasgow complete with two sound systems and drummers. The unauthorised march wended its way through the city centre for several hours, bringing shop and office workers to the windows to watch.
The demonstrators joined forces from 3 different meeting points, plus a contingent of cyclists who staged a mini critical mass.
Passers by were curious and intrigued and large quantities of flyers and leaflets were distributed. Various anti-capitalist banners were carried, one of which proudly proclaimed 'Capitalism Is Stupid'.
The march stopped at various sites, including the local Council Chambers, an Armed Forces Careers office where demonstrators hammered on the windows, a large Bank of Scotland branch, and the Pitt Street police station.The activity lasted for around 7 hours in all, with people departing from the Park at around 8pm.
There were no arrests, the only known attempt at an arrest, in George Square, being thwarted by determined demonstrators who surrounded the police and freed the handcuffed prisoner.
Contact: Autonomous Centre of Edinburgh. 0131 557 6242.
Aberdeen
A Reclaim The Streets party had been planned for Aberdeen but lack of numbers on the day meant direct action was impossible. Instead people leafleted the city centre and gave out leaflets at a branch of McDonalds.
Contact: Autonomous Centre of Edinburgh.
Cardiff
An event of some kind was planned for Cardiff. Unfortunately the EF!AU has been unable to find out what happened. Presumably something went ahead.
Cardiff J18 group: efmaxmania@hotmail.com.
Newbury
The Newbury Bypass again became the scene of direct action, when, in the early hours of the morning a car was dumped on the bypass, partly blocking it.
Later in the day six residents of Newbury demonstrated outside the local offices of Vodaphone against that company's plans to develop greenfield land on the edge of Newbury. (See EF!AU issue 59). Despite a small turn-out they had a considerable effect: The police not only sent 2 vans to police the protest but also hired a 'crane with a camera on top' especially for surveillance on the day! Even this over reaction was more than matched by Vodaphone who hired security guards for the day and employed contractors to seal nearby manhole covers in case any of the demonstrators went underground to cut their cables!