British police announced fears on Monday, over a “Summer of Rage” hitting Britain, apparently to kick-off as “Anti-globalisation protesters, environmental activists and anti-war demonstrators are all planning events before and during the meeting of world leaders” (Reuters) at PM Gordon Brown’s G20 meeting in London.
Is it just me, or is this not at all surprising? A year of financial meltdown, massive job cuts, and huge bailouts and bonuses for the financial sector has created a massive anger and resistance to a globalised capitalist system.
A police spokesperson also told Reuters “police do believe is that there has been a re-emergence of some known activists who may attempt to once again become part of the protest scene in London”. I personally believe that the biggest threat to the corporate system lies in the emergence of a new, unified movement, bringing together Trade Unions, student groups and thousands of workers who have either felt, or face, the prospect of redundancy and financial hardship.
The protests are to kick off on the 28th March, with a ‘Put People First!’ demonstration against the G20, called by the TUC. The march is for “jobs, justice and climate.” Following this event, are protests on the 1st-2nd April against the so-called ‘war on terror’, called by the Stop the War Coalition. This will cross over with an International demonstration and counter summit at the NATO meeting in Strasbourg, France, from the 2nd until the 5th of April.
Superintendent David Hartshorn, head of Scotland Yard’s public disorder branch, believes that “suddenly there is the opportunity for people to mass protest”, as he went on to outline banks, multinational corporations and London’s financial institutions as “viable targets”.
Resistance and protests can only bring positive outcomes in the long run, as the people unite to fight a system based on corruption, greed and mass profits for the minority.
