UK Uncut have occupied target 1 : Fortnum and Masons

international | anti-capitalism | news report

Saturday March 26, 2011 17:00

by Ukuncut

(Guardian updates) 4.29pm: Ukuncut say that hundreds are now occupying their target, Fortnum and Masons, which they revealed half an hour ago on Twitter.

3.36pm: Here's a mid-afternoon round-up of the huge protest in London against the government's public sector spending cuts.

•Around 500,000 people have joined the TUC's rally against the government's public sector spending cuts in central London.

•The main group of the marchers demonstrated peacefully and walked along the pre-planned route from Embankment to Hyde Park.

•Anti cuts and tax avoidance protesters closed down more than 13 shops on Oxford Street whilst many more shut their doors

•The protest has been largely without violent incident but a breakaway group of protesters attacked shops and banks in the Oxford Street area. A scuffle broke out between a handful of activists and police in New Bond Street.

Press release: UK Uncut

UK Uncut have occupied target 1 : Fortnum and Masons

Occupy Tax Dodgers Fortnum and Mason
http://www.ukuncut.org.uk/blog/press-release-uk-uncut-o...mason

March 26th - All out against the cuts (IMC-UK)
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2011/03/476285.html

March 26th Reports (IMC-LONDON)
http://london.indymedia.org/articles/8096

March for the alternative (Guardian live updates)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/blog/2011/mar/26/marc...dates

Anti-cuts march swells to 400,000 (Guardian)
London hosts largest protest since Iraq war as workers and public demonstrate against government spending cuts
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/26/anti-cuts-m...00000

500,000 join UK cuts protest (Irish Times
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2011/0326/....html

The protest was largely peaceful but a breakaway group of hundreds of protesters attacked shops and banks in the Oxford Street area.

Topshop and HSBC had their windows smashed, while paint and glass bottles were thrown at a Royal Bank of Scotland branch.

Fireworks and flares were set off and a handful of activists scuffled with police.

Day of action TWITTER tag: #ukuncut
http://twitter.com/search#search?q=%23ukuncut

UK Uncut on Newsnight Dec 2010 (earlier vid)

protester tries to break a window in Oxford Street during the anti-cuts march

Paint-splattered police officers look on as protesters attack Topshop on Oxford Street during the anti-cuts march in London

Caption: Video Id: ODNbioL7UGg Type: Youtube Video
UK Uncut on Newsnight

save preference

Comments (4 of 4)

Black bloc: 'Only actions count now'

by Black bloc

Thu Mar 31, 2011 15:34

Two participants in the black bloc protest at Saturday's anti-cuts rally tell Stephen Moss why they're the true face of protest
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/mar/31/bla...otest

Images from londons day of action

by Londons Burning

Sun Mar 27, 2011 12:59

Londons Burning

CAPITALISIM IS CRISIS - Squatted support space for Day of action in London

Sun Mar 27, 2011 12:56

(Guardian Timeline) 12.15am: As the trouble in Trafalgar Square seems to be calming down, here's a summary of the day's events:

• About 500,000 protesters marched in what is believed to be the largest demonstration since the 2003 Iraq war march. Police said the protest had been "peaceful and well-stewarded", but there were at least 214 arrests and 35 injuries, including five to police officers. Police have said that they expect the arrest total to rise significantly.

• UKUncut occupied several shops on Oxford Street as well as Fortnum and Mason. Activists targeted Lloyds TSB, Porsche, the Ritz Hotel and Santander, and fires were started in several locations.

• Violence broke out in Trafalgar Square later in the evening with reports of more injuries sustained by both police and protesters. Officers set up a containment "kettle", and have been releasing protesters in small groups.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/blog/2011/mar/26/marc...dates

Anti-cuts march draws hundreds of thousands as police battle rioters (GUARDIAN main article + 13 min vid of day)
Turnout for generally good-natured rally exceeds organisers' expectations, but mood marred by violent minority
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/mar/26/anti-cuts...oters

A peaceful protest. The inevitable aftermath
Up to 500,000 people marched in London yesterday against the Government's cuts. Should we allow the violence of a tiny minority to detract from Britain's biggest demonstration in eight years?
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/a-peacefu....html

There were two demonstrations in London yesterday. The first, and most enduringly important, was that by half a million people against the cuts that are falling disproportionately on vital public services and those who provide them.

The other one was a demonstration of just how easy it is for a few hundred people to steal the occasion with sporadic acts of violence. Last night, it the latter one which was taking the headlines as police and protesters clashed in Trafalgar Square.

From the main thread on IMC-UK: Disillusioned Anti Capitalist
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2011/03/476285.html?c=on...66804

What a shambolic display by anti-capitalist protesters yesterday. You had a chance to make real change in Britain but you fu@ked it up.

Whose idea was it to start violence and damage shops? Was there no-one with the commonsense to remain peaceful. You should have marched straight to Trafalgar Sq and set up camps. No violence, greet the police officers with hugs, ask them to join you. With that amount of people in London, you would have been guaranteed a large amount of followers. Even those following the drumbeat of the establishment unions would have been swayed.

But no, spoilt toff kids would rather attack their fathers wealth and fu*k up the only real chance the decent people of this country had. People from all over the Western World had their eyes pinned on London yesterday in the hope that we could show them how to go about things.

Instead we fanned the flames and gave State TV all the footage that they required. Boy, there are an awful lot of dissillusioned people in the World this morning.

Damn, don't we look stupid now. Congratulations.

Disillusioned

Activists squatted the former offices of the Readers Digest in Mayfair have erected this banner outside the building, which is being used as an HQ by radical protesters, called THE BIG SOCIETY, below is their press release
pics at http://london.indymedia.org/articles/7993

The Big Society Headquarters Press Release

This is for journalists interested in The Big Society Headquarters convergence space. Please do not ring us.

The BSHQ is not affiliated to any organisation. We have squatted the building at 61 Curzon Street legally to support the anti-cuts demonstration on the 26th of March.

We feel that at a time when the government's cuts are threatening increasing numbers of people with homelessness, the upcoming attack on squatters rights is inhumane. The BSHQ is a good example of why the squatting law should not be changed. This building has been empty for a number of years; we are maintaining it, cleaning it and providing a free place to stay for people who need it, especially participants of the demonstration on the 26th.

We have a "Safer Spaces" policy which aims to create a positive environment free from sexism, racism, homophobia and other forms of oppressive behaviour. Illegal drugs are not allowed and alcohol consumption is limited to a designated area.

We have chosen the name 'The Big Society HQ" as a joke, because David Cameron's concept of "The Big Society" IS a joke: it has no substance. This is what real self-organised community empowerment looks like!

MARCH 26TH PROTEST CENTRAL LONDON (vid of some action from londons streets yesterday)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JLntzkLZrRI

Daily Mail

200 arrested as hardcore anarchists fight police long into night in Battle of Trafalgar Square after 500,000 march against the cut
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1370053/TUC-ant....html

SKY NEWS (vids)

HSBC Bank Attacked By Activists (sky news vid man enters occupied bank)
http://video.news.sky.com/skynews/video?videoSourceID=0...e.flv

- London's Cuts March Tainted By Violence
http://video.news.sky.com/skynews/Home/video/Violence-H...+News

Caption: Video Id: JLntzkLZrRI Type: Youtube Video
MARCH 26TH PROTEST CENTRAL LONDON

UK Uncut - images from an occupation

by UK Uncut

Sat Mar 26, 2011 17:39

web - http://www.ukuncut.org.uk/
facebook - http://www.facebook.com/ukuncut
twitter - http://twitter.com/UKuncut

UK Uncut - Occupy For The Alternative (vid) - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRGvSAgg3DE

pix via http://yfrog.com/h7fwdvej + http://plixi.com/p/87055112

March26 TUC Timeline (IMC-LONDON) - http://london.indymedia.org/action_timelines/17

March 26, 2011 17:10 - x26radio - Update: Horse's head is finally on fire. Excellent atmosphere. F&M have been occupied by hundreds of people in protest against tax avoidance, peaceful sit-in. Live video on BBC of riot police punching woman in face. 13 arrests so far.

March 26, 2011 17:10 - One protestor is being treated for head injuries outside Fortnum & Masons after heavy clashes with riot police took place when people tried to push their way into the store's doorway. Police responded with heavy truncheon blows as people fought to defend their ground. There are reports of missiles being thrown. Meanwhile the occupation ot the store continues with at least 12 people still in the first floor cannopy.

x26radio - live radio on 26 March (LIVE RADIO STREAM)
http://london.indymedia.org/articles/7941

Tents occupy fortnums &masons