Mayday riots 2002!
Not as good last years in size and violence, but hey, this time i was closer in with it all with my video camera! Below are a few pics, but the video stuff has yet to be edited. As with last year the police caught lots of people in a corden so to stop the violence, i had to sacrefice footage and pics to stop myself getting caught in that net. It was a more relaxed one though, the police were not as heavy handed and the march and protest was well behaved. Playing footy in Mayfair and Oxford Street had to be the highlight. As per usual the press didnt show the real going ons even though they were present, just as many as last year, out numbering the actual protesters it seems. The hardcore violent eliemnet seemed very small too, only saw 1 Womble! well, here's to next year :) oh and lets hope there are some nice looking people again like this years!

Preview of Riot
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Ok, the day started off for me after leaving work early, rushed over to Green Park Tube. Got out of the station and saw the helicopter overhead! Walked down towards where i thought it was hovering was met by a load of people running, waving flags, and police hot on their heals.
The rest of the day was spent running around Central London followed by the police. There was a huge police presence everywhere just to make sure. They didnt know where we were going, nor did the bulk of us.
There were lots of signs and slogans where ever you looked. People caged in wondering what is going on
Businesess everywhere had boarded up the night before. They feared the trboule what had happened last year.
Afterwalking down from The Ritz we ended up at Picadilly circus for the first time, holding up the traffic where ever possible. Managed to get a copy of Hate Mail, will try and scan it in some time.
Lots of people were dressed up in fancy outfits, more like a carnival then anything else. Or just an excuse to take the day off work. I do agree with the cyclists, ammount of times i've nearly ended up under a BMW on Putney Bridge!
Dont kill the rabbit! Walking down towards Regent street again.
After walking miles, we ended up at the American Embassey A lot of groups seem to have met up here as the crowds seemed larger.
Loads and loads of people And of course plenty of press
Cyclists getting angry, should have arreested the tosser in the car! A Texan making his point! WEll Bush did steal the presidency
At least people didnt swear! lots of kids about too Bush's oil government destroying our plant and our lives
Everyone joined in making a racket. Even the football came out! Police presents was pretty big throughout the day.
All meeting up at Bond street. It did seem as if things were going to kick off. The ady was getting hotter as the sun came out, and everyone was drinking too.
Bush on a skateboard ALF doing thier thing
Running around all the back lanes now around Bond street and the back of Regents. Lots of coppers on the phone!
Not sure what the t-shirt said, if anyone knows then drop me a line! Back to the Ritz again, police blocking the road, but we didnt want to go that way anyway,
keep up if you can Normal consumours and workers going about thier buseness as this chaos goes on around them
Dodgy geezer! wot u listening too? Back to Picadilly circus, still playing footy as we go.
The girls are certainly interested well they are having a laugh anyway
going up C X Road where the riot police raced down last year towards me. Lots of people recording the events Stoping commercialism in its tracks
And helping us to cross the busy roads too Another shot
Playing footy now in Oxford street, wot a laugh. As we prgogressed down the street all teh shops started closing and putting down barries in a wave as we walked down, Some had prepared early!
Forever blowing bubbles Oh dear, reached McD's, again i thoguht it was going to kick off. Lots of jeers, swearing and general noise.
some nutter overlooking from the roof tops More workers looking on at the chaos
Boarded up and with cameras looking on and flash guns going off, i was preparing for a riot! People blowing whistles and banging drums, it was a great party atmosphere which does draw you into becoming a mob.
Bush on a skateboard! Police lines are drawn as they thought we were going to invade McD's
a huge variety of people. some, well, i aint sure what hes meant to be
Police following up the rear again Theres that Bush again!
A big meet at Bond street again by Selfrdiges. 2-3 large groups met up at once. Not sure on the numbers, but quiet a lot!
Loads of black flags, i guess the "follow me" flags Hmm a nice target, surprised it wasnt one though
Some people haing thier pics taken, some band or something
Bits and bobs from later on in the day!
OK, after walking for 4 hours we made it to Picadilly Circus where we sat down in the road from 4.30pm onwards till moving off at 5 for the sexworkers march. not that many people here, not sure where they all went. Throughout the day many of differnet 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.
Moslty just hippies about and tourists. Lots of the cyclists too had arrived to block the roads. I nipped to BK for a drink though! traiter. Banging his drums
hmm, still banging Police vans linned Regent Street waiting for the trouble to kick off. Again lots of tourists cought up not knowing what was going on.
Loads of differnent 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 arrvied 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, nto sure what the dummy was all about though. Down with Mc D's!!!! loads of booing and shouting at their Oxford Street branch, thoguht it was going to get stormed at one stage. I tihnk 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. Lods 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 didnt rain like last years until early evening, and even then it wasnt heavy.
1st aid was on offer for blisters and sore feat, god, must have walked 10 miles or more! um? something about cylcists i think
Coke and Mc D's, booooooooooo Not sure what hes 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
Simular shot as before After the mayhem after we moved on from Picadilly into Soho/Compton Street we got moved up Firth street. I didnt 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 unerving 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 dont know! Answers in a email please!
Something was written on the back of the signs, probably "Fuck da Police" finaly got pushed up and past Ronnie Scotts. Loasd of video to come, so watch out for that!
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