John Ashtead. Mayday Monopoly In London: Chaos

Anarchist and anti-capitalist demonstrators congregated in London on International Labour Day to protest against globalisation, capitalism and privatisation of state companies, trying to deliver a message that the global economy is not a game of Monopoly. As this article is being written, the chaos on the streets continues, with 6.000 police trying to contain mass movements of demonstrators. It is reported that 1,000 hard-line anarchists are orchestrating the public disorder campaign, involving tens of thousands of people. Attempts to occupy buildings belonging to multinational companies, such as Price Waterhouse, were foiled by the police and thousands of demonstrators are penned into central London’s Oxford Circus area. The police do not want the demonstrators to leave as a group, because they fear that generalised violence may occur around London later on, when alcohol becomes an added factor. There have been 42 arrests to date and shop windows have been smashed in the area where the demonstrators are being held. The cost to date is 30 million USD in lost business and damages. As dusk falls, and as this report ends, the situation is far from controlled and fears are being expressed about a night of extreme violence in London.

PRAVDA.RU, LONDON