Protesters continue to occupy London square
Inspired by the US Occupy Wall Street movement and Spain’s “Indignants“, the protesters set up camp on Saturday when about 1,000 people were involved in scuffles with police. But the scene was far calmer yesterday as the ragtag group of protesters huddled with cups of tea in the autumn sunshine as bankers, lawyers and business people flooded into the area for the start of the working week.
Sitting on the steps of the cathedral near a 20-metre banner reading “Capitalism Is Crisis“, unemployed teacher Danielle Allen said the protesters would stay “as long as it takes” to get their message across.
“We’re trying to educate people and to show how corrupt the banking system is,” said the 25-year-old from Surrey.
The messages coming from the protesters were far from unified — some urged freedom for Palestine, some condemned globalisation, and one tent filled with books was intended to highlight library closures.
Meanwhile, Italian police raided suspected anarchists yesterday following the Rome riots. Homes and youth centres used by extremists in cities including Florence, Palermo and Ancona were targeted. Six people were detained, along with the seizure of gas masks, ski masks and other gear used by rioters.
