Mayday riots 2002!
Page 2

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Lots and lots of noise trying to control the noise! Still going their sex dance

glammed up

 again, lots looking on Great views from up there though
dancing the afternoon away, not sure what they were marching for. Aha, a womble! at last, the only one i saw this year! a dying bread, or all in zoos? certainly don't like to be filmed
Tons of press turn up, and as with last year, there are more press then protesters. Back to Compton street again. press having a field day.
still a party atmosphere. God knows what this was around we go again, taking the same route as before.
Still playing footy got to McD's just as it starts to kick off. What started it was McD's windows going in. loads of missiles flying through the air, no idea which side to stand, the police and get hit by a bottle, or the protesters and get hit by a baton!
It was in the back of my mind not to get cornered again like what the police did last year, so i tried to keep out the main mass of people if i could. Meant i could not get the best footage though. Someone threw a fire extinguisher and hurt some copper.
Riot police are there in force. you always knew when something happened as all the flash guns and cameras went up in the air. Trying to get in closer, but hard when things are being waved around or thrown threw the air.
Lots of little scuffles going on bored of staying back, i go to move in The police are just as scared as everyone else, you can see it in their eyes.
Some poor guy gets grounded, more pics of this on next page Continuing to be held on the floor baton out, didn't seem him hit him, but he was laying the boot in
surrounded by other coppers it was hard to see what was happening you can just see his face there Some other dude is dragged away
and then man handheld to the police vans where ever you turned it was kicking off, the police where kinda surrounded and out numbered as attacks came from all sides Sure the shot of the copper with his mouth open is the one on the front page of the Metro
Batons drawn, loads of people filming and taking pics, the police had to be careful The main problem was the amount of push bikes that got in the way as u tried to move out the rang of the batons some other guy being dragged off while its sill mayhem in the background
Loads of things being thrown, a fire extinguisher injured some copper. Riot vans blocked off Shaftsburry Ave'. Police helicopters everywhere, the noise was amazing, it was like something from a future film. The TV crew above the police caught me on cam!
The mood did change from a party happy one to a darker more violent attitude, fuelled by the police too. Riot police get ready to move in! Snapping away
police camera crews everywhere and seen here getting into the thick of the action was hard to know where it was the safest to stand at times. behind the cops where things were being thrown, or the other side where you could be cordoned in or hit!
Maggie and Tony out together Shit kicked off in Costa coffee, didn't see what exactly happened The guy from Ali G' on the guitar
And again with the police pushing us back. I had to be careful not to get caught up with the penned in people. I was always aware that the police were going to do it like last year. So i had to give up on good camera shots so i was not trapped. And you knew when things kicked off as all the flash guns of the press went off
loads of press again, not sure how he stayed up on that ladder! hopefully the press put off the police from being too heavy handed Pushing us back further from the main cordon
Every street had riot police blocking it off, maybe Soho isn't too good for this kinda protest, too many blocks that the police can control easily Dodgy geezer i saw earlier, copper? Helicopters kept buzzing really low
we are moved up from Old Compton street up through Greek street, i think. one female copper there! pissed up guy is given a little push
They didn't take any shit, very well organised and rehearsed Dancing in the streets to Imagine by John Lennon, pretty funny considering all the crazy stuff going on Outside Ronnie Scotts
mad chap from Ali G again Someone has a go at the police, not sure why, he aint got a chance being pushed back
the whole line joins in pushing him back and off he goes pushed right back now from the main bulk of the protesters who are being held in soho.
What can i say? Its a riot for sure Check out the video
Eventually the guy and the Anti Nazi league flag is dragged off. Cops with the go faster strips on their helmets are snatch squads. getting late now, have to use night vision. The police describe it as peeling away layers, taking a few people out the captive crowd at a time.
Other pics taken from the tape, not in correct order
OK, after walking for 4 hours we made it to Piccadilly Circus where we sat down in the road from 4.30pm onwards till moving off at 5 for the sex workers march. not that many people here, not sure where they all went. Throughout the day many of different groups came together to make bigger groups, this went on till I guess all were in one large group. This group came here but dispersed. Not many police, but lots of people hiding faces from the police cameras that were there. I was even accused by some drunk of being Ci5! LOL
Everyone is filming everyone else. the police were pretty relaxed though. 1 guy climbed Eros and put his flag up, which quickly fell down. Mostly just hippies about and tourists. Lots of the cyclists too had arrived to block the roads. I nipped to BK for a drink though! traitor. Banging his drums
hmm, still banging Police vans lined Regent Street waiting for the trouble to kick off. Again lots of tourists caught up not knowing what was going on. Loads of different film crews there all taking in the activities, not sure who these guys were.
Loads of police vans, a typical Yank who got in the way of my pictures and some mad lady Not sure what she was about. There was another guy dressed like Jesus too earlier on in the day. I arrived at about 1pm at Green park and followed throughout the day till about 10pm, loads of walking and running. Lots of tourists and skateboarders too on the day, 1st March 2002.
Everyone had something to say, not sure what the dummy was all about though. Down with Mc D's!!!! loads of booing and shouting at their Oxford Street branch, thought it was going to get stormed at one stage. I think if someone had smashed or thrown something then it would have. People look on at the mass demo. not sure what was happening in Traf' Square though.
Loads of police bikes and more Yanks, traffic was at a stand still. Seemed more like a student day out, a day off work for many, cough and me! Nice pic of Eros, luckily it didn't rain like last years until early evening, and even then it wasn't heavy.
1st aid was on offer for blisters and sore feat, god, must have walked 10 miles or more! um? something about cyclists i think Coke and Mc D's, booooooooooo
Not sure what he's on about either. anyway, sat down and ate some dinner in the middle of the road, well it seemed the thing to do at the time. and again too More people turned up and so did more police
Similar shot as before After the mayhem after we moved on from Piccadilly into Soho/Compton Street we got moved up Firth street. I didn't take any pics of the violence, instead capturing it on video instead. Again after we got pushed back, things were a little more light hearted and relaxed, the odd pissed person tried it on with them, but with not much success.
Looking down to Shaftsbury Ave'. A few good looking female cops too who were chatted up and made to blush. They looked pretty full on, i certainly would not want to mess with them. What was more unnerving was the constant sound of police helicopters overhead, 3 in total Every road has been blocked off with lines of coppers, so there was no way we could get down there, even if we just wanted a drink!
I really don't know! Answers in a email please! Something was written on the back of the signs, probably "Fuck da Police"
finally got pushed up and past Ronnie Scotts. Loads of video to come, so watch out for that!       << Page 1
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