We are in for a day when our MPs strive to outdo each other in hysteria and ramping up reaction. Boris Tally ho Johnson has already set the tone – stop benefits, evict people from social housing. Johnson is the outrider of class terror on the Chavs.At such times few will speak up for those at the receiving end of our new and repressive and chaotic all night courts. Yesterday we had good ol’ PLAN B denouncing the rioters in THE SUN.To date only DARCUS HOWE gets an hounourable mention. What’s happened to all them radical musicians, rappers? Someone needs to seize the time. Resonancefm offers one of the few media spaces where contrary views get an airing. Here’s a link to lsast night’s Circled A show where members of ALARM and the local community speak up:
http://thecircleda.com/2011/08/10/show-15-10-8-2011-london-riots-special/
Happy to post any other links or news of anyone having the bottle to stick their head above the parapet.
from interview on Tower Hamlets ALARM here: http://towerhamletsalarm.wordpress.com/2011/08/10/voice-of-reason-london-riot/
Here’s the excellent regular show ‘From Bristol with love’
http://frombristolwithlove.wordpress.com/ and first musical response here:
‘We don’t like the police’ here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUYnA2k7c40
well i aint a big fan of tariq Ali but……….http://tariqali.org/archives/2108
Ian Bone 
This guy I posted on our blog – http://towerhamletsalarm.wordpress.com/2011/08/10/voice-of-reason-london-riot/ whoever he is, he talks sense and ppl should listen!
The media, pundits & politicians will be desperate for daughters of millionaires & people who drive up from Winchester. They can then diagnose a sickness in society combined with a diverse conspiracy against our British way of life. I have a vague memory of the time of the Rote Armee Fraktion, early Provo IRA & Brigate Rosse, The People newspaper tracing all the organisation to the Go Go Queen of Terror residing in the bowels of the Tokyo sex industry. I didn’t believe the story at the time, but now I sincincerely think that she’s on that plane right now coming for that 52″ plasma tv.
You asked about musical reactions. This is getting a suitable amount of outrage. Grime is not my thing (or my age group!) but this seems to have been produced this week.
S Procedures Tim Westwood J Spades Giggs Margs – We Don’t Like The Police (Official Net Video!
http://frombristolwithlove.wordpress.com/
Another radio show, recorded last Sunday – managed to pre-predict the C019 ‘magic bullet’ theory at least (not much to brag about i know)
Paul Ross just about pips Boris to the post for the reactionary idiot of the year award….
Good morning Vietnam! Paperwork lost in the courts of justice, ranting bullingdon prats, Grant Shapps( what?: ed) spouting bollox about housing being a benefit of society. I have attempted to get in touch with the royals to see if they will mend the window of the chip shop: no replies yet.
There have been a depressing round of self professed anarchists and revolutionaries finding reason to condemn THESE riots,and THESE rioters, who have failed to conformn to their blueprints of what an insurrection should look like. Now that the insurgents have been driven back into their slums and the right are on the rampage, they can return to their internet tumbrils and euligise over riots in far away lands without the embarress ment of oiksome Chavs disturbing their riot porn.
Spot on Darren – are they waiting for a neat orderly insurrection directed by a middle class management/vanguard?
I haven’t spotted any condemnations, only some reasoned analysis & understandings that revolutions can be derailed by Leninists, nationalists, self-interested gangs. Of course insurrections cannot be managed by”professional anarchists”.
Anarchists in Athens call for a march on British Embassy tonight in solidarity with the riots in England
CALL TO GATHER IN SYNTAGMA SQUARE ON THURSDAY AND MARCH TO THE BRITISH AND SPANISH EMBASSY.
DIRECT DEMOCRACY EVERYWHERE
Antiauthoritarian MOVEMENT IN ATHENS
Shit. This just made me cry for no reason.
Whatever happens now, nobody will ever be able to say that we didn’t fucking try.
Some great photos of Chilean comrades here:
http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2011/08/student-protests-in-chile/100125/
People in North London are not wasting any time:
Give Our Kids A Future march from Dalston to Tottenham, Saturday 13th August 13.00 -15.00
https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=260822497262285
A North London Unity Demonstration
Saturday 13th August
Assemble Gillet Square, Dalston, N16 at 1pm. March to Tottenham Green, N15
Our communities need a united response to both the riots and the causes of despair and frustration that can result in riots.
We demand:
• A CULTURE OF VALUING, NOT DEMONISING YOUTH AND UNEMPLOYED PEOPLE.
• SUPPORT FOR THOSE AFFECTED BY THE RIOTING, INCLUDING THE IMMEDIATE RE-HOUSING OF PEOPLE MADE HOMELESS AS WELL AS GRANTS FOR AFFECTED
SMALL BUSINESSES.
– COMMUNITY LED REGENERATION AND RESTORATION OF DAMAGED AREAS.
• REVERSAL OF ALL CUTS TO YOUTH SERVICES IN OUR BOROUGHS
• NO CUTS TO PUBLIC SERVICES! INSTEAD, INVESTMENT INTO AND REGENERATION OF OUR COMMUNITIES, INCLUDING HOUSING, JOBS, EDUCATION AND SPORTS
FACILITIES.
• AN INDEPENDENT COMMUNITY INQUIRY INTO POLICING METHODS IN OUR BOROUGHS. AND AN END TO STOP AND SEARCH.
• AVAILABILITY OF LEGAL SUPPORT FOR ALL THOSE PEOPLE ARRESTED BY POLICE – YOUNG PEOPLE FACE POTENTIAL SENTENCES THAT WILL AFFECT THEM, THEIR FAMILIES AND THEIR WIDER COMMUNITIES FOR YEARS TO COME.
We are responding to the events of the last few days, in particular the Tottenham protest over the killing of Mark Duggan and the riots that followed in Tottenham and Hackney.
By coming together and calling for unity we want to encourage all sections of our local communities, young and old,
black and white, residents and workers, to work together to find solutions to some of our long-standing problems.
We know there are all kinds of strong feelings and differing views. We do not claim to represent the whole community, but merely seek to promote unity in the communities in which we live.
Simply labelling rioters as opportunistic criminals does little to relieve tensions and provides a poor explanation for the worst riots in decades. While the shooting of Mark Duggan provided the trigger, against a background of oppressive policing, especially towards ethnic minorities, the root causes are deeper.
Our communities have been blighted by high levels of deprivation, poverty and lack of opportunity for decades. Inequality is growing and recent funding cuts to local services, particularly youth facilities, along with rising unemployment, and cuts to EMA and benefits have exacerbated the conditions in which sections of frustrated young people turned to rioting, which unfortunately has resulted in people losing their homes and small/family businesses losing their livelihoods.
Britain is a wealthy country, but the economic crisis created by greedy bankers and financial speculators is further impoverishing already poor areas like Tottenham and Hackney. The £390 billion of combined wealth of the richest 1,000 people in Britain should be redirected to fund the services we all need.
In the last few months we have seen mass local protests against cuts, student occupations to defend free education, half-a-million strong demonstration on March 26, and 800,000 public service workers out on strike on June 30th.
We need to build on these and other inspiring local and national struggles. Let’s work together for a decent society, based not on greed, inequality and poor conditions, but on justice, freedom, sharing and co-operation.
North London Unity Demonstration supported by the Haringey Alliance for Public Services, Hackney Alliance for Defending Public Serices, Day-Mer (Turkish and Kurdish Community Centre), NLCH (North London Community Centre), Day-Mer Youth, Alevi Cultural Centre, Fed-Bir, Kurdish Community Centre: Roj Women, Halkevi, Gik-Der (Refugee Workers Cultural Association). Britania Peace Council: Hundred Flowers Cultural Centre. TOHUM. Socialist Party, Youth Fight For Jobs, Right To Work, Red Pepper.
a review of the riot reporting
http://croydonclasswar.blogspot.com/
David Cameron praises the Enfield EDL/BNP fuckwits. This guy is more dangerous than Thatcher. He’s also going to send police to arrest the internet, probably with water cannon. What a fucking idiot this walking hard on is.
“We will not allow a culture of fear on our streets” says the man who has flooded London with 16,000 state thugs.
Milliband also supports fascist vigilantes. Hahaha. Divided Britain? We ain’t seen nothing yet.
Cameron just finished giving Milliband a public blowjob for his 100% support of a tory kneejerk government.
Lammy steps up and a nation falls asleep. zzzzzzzz
Fuck Lammy get Lemmy in there
Hazel Bleary-eyed admits in parliament to having phone sex with Cameron!!!!
Kaufman performs an uncanny impression of a senile Rupert Murdoch. The rest of the house start to wonder whether they’ve stumbled into the House of Lords by accident.
It’s buggered in Britain.
I was a trade union steward there in the 1990s – once when there was a strike I was the only one out of twenty union members who came out on strike (and made to look like a fool).
Here in France, demonstrators understand the meaning of SOLIDARITY, one for all and all for one, and until that spirit exists in England, every little demonstration will be snuffed out as soon as it starts.
But then, Socialist and Communist MPs in France come out in support of the oppressed and not against them like Milliband and his arse-kissing party. What a disgrace Labour is. It really is truly buggered in Britain.
A nation of shopkeepers propping up their morally bankrupt government through thick and thin.
“To found a great empire for the sole purpose of raising up a people of customers, may at first sight, appear a project fit only for a nation of shopkeepers. It is, however, a project altogether unfit for a nation of shopkeepers, but extremely fit for a nation whose government is influenced by shopkeepers. “
There was a woman, ( in Peckham I think) ,a teaching assistant, on the BBC News channel this morning, asking for Cameron and his family to come and live on an estate, on benefits and see if they don’t all turn to drink, drugs or ‘go mad’…
London disco-house legend Norman Jay MBE reacted angrily to the riots
“You know what? maybe ‘Vigilantism’ IS the only real option,” the Good Times superstar DJ raged, “ those rioting arseholes would understand THAT response (if nothing else) SCUM!” he added.“Please don’t misunderstand me here – it’s a different world today – back then we had a REAL cause – this lot have EVERYTHING!” he complained.
I think the MBE is the clue to this wankers outlook. Was his cause joining the establishment??
Remember THEIR explanations for the riots tell us more about what they think than about the reality.
In a book called ‘Working Class Community’ Brian Jackson wrote about his city of Huddersfield. In one chapter he studies the reactions of the middle class to a series of riots in Huddersfield in the late 60s. The church said it was alcohol, the press ‘fear of the bomb’ (that people were frightened of nuclear war and so gathered in groups), the Labour Party said it was the start of race war, the police that it was madness. So we have drink, the bomb, race and madness. Jackson pointed out that there were no Black people involved or attacked, that people drank every saturday night and as for the other two explanations they were just bullshit.
Jackson stated that the explanation was an underlying hatred of the police by working class people, which became explicit every now and then. Full stop. The explanations of the middle class merely showed their prejudice, lack of knowledge and their fears. Fear of moral degeneration, fear of the counterculture (the marches against the ‘bomb’), fear of ‘race war’ and fear of the madness of the working class. Apply this model now.
As Smiley says in this clip… “Anywhere in the world we go. WE NO LIKE POLICE”…Two weeks till Carnival. What’s the betting they ban it?
So you evict anyone found guilty and stop all their benefits. Which leaves an army of even poorer, even angrier homeless people to deal with…. Genius idea. Well thought through. Milliband and Clegg signed it off as well. Excellent.
Why not use the new Olympic Aquatic centre and just drown them all. I’m sure they’ll get cross party support for that as well. The middle class media twitterati celebs will probably set up a hashtag in celebration. #killthepoor
Funny that, D.H.Lawrence, darling of the literary classes had a similar idea around the turn of the last century, except that he wanted to pack a shed as big as the old Crystal Palace with the poor, sick and degenerate and then gas them, all to the strains of the ‘Hallelujah Chorus’. Ah, the civilised middle classes…
For me,these riots have illuminated the gap between the working class reality of spontaneous fightback,and the narrow field that some believe a proper revolution should sprout from.One reality,the other for political snobs.
ritain’s well and truly fucked
Now that Cameron’s cock’s been sucked
By the arse-kissing Conservative Miliband
Who says the rioters
Must be dealt with by a firm hand
But the ‘politicians’ don’t seem to understand
That the harder you tighten the lid
On the simmering discontent
The faster the pot will boil!
The lid’s already come off once
And it will come off again
As more cuts come
And the population feels the pain
The fascist Etonian regime
Will now do all it can
To subdue the average man
They’re taught to be bullies at school
To abuse and to rule!
In CCTV Camera-on’s Britain
The ‘inmates’ are watched and tracked
Hired and sacked
Herded and bashed
In the desperate quest
To contain and control
The discontented masses
While the rich
Who bring in austerity for you
Continue
To live lives of luxury
The broom army arse-kissing wankers
Pay their taxes and sweep their own streets
They moan about the job shirkers
But don’t ask for the council workers!
In Britain’s broken and divided society
It’s everyone for themselves
And that’s why the young
Are helping themselves
To what’s on the shelves!
The ‘Big Society’ is falling apart
Around CCTV Camer-on’s ears
The same ears
That listened so eagerly
To the legitimate aspirations
Of the Libyan rebels
But don’t seem to hear
What his own people are saying.
The young, jobless, marginalised, poor,disregarded young people of London and elsewhere up and down the country have just about had enough.Extraordinary times we live in,who would have seen this coming, yet on the other hand it’s amazing it hasn’t happened before now..Interesting to listen to Darcus Howe, it’s all over the Internet, well worth hearing, in spite of the absolute lack of intelligence, lack of grace and brain deadness of the appalling ‘interviewer’ ( Fiona Armstrong, I think it was).Back to School Fiona, you don’t know what the hell you’re doing or saying so don’t embarrass yourself any further.A couple of points I want to make,The protesters went after property, good point Ian.However these people will be hunted down and made an example of in the Courts.There will be custodial sentences.The Police are quietly laughing.These young people will come out of prison worse than before.The Mass Media as you rightly pointed out are portraying these people as criminals, thugs etc.They will get people onside and not see these events for what they are.This is definitely a cry of rage from young people.How to put this energy into political action when the Police will crack down even harder and have full backing to shoot or even kill.Where are the Black Leaders to follow in Darcus Howe’s lead ? Where are the people who can inspire young working class Whites? Their issues are nearly identical , they’ve GOT to stick together.Government is scared s—–less, the masses really do have power, but without proper leadership and translating this into political action I am scared that they will be crushed even further.Not meek and mild now , they’ve tasted some power and had the police ‘ on the run’.For a few nights the boot has been on the other foot.They’re just NOT going to take it anymore.Great to read the Blog and comments as well for some analysis of events, rather than the knee jerk reporting of ‘criminals and thugs’. that goes by the name of journalism at present.
V
Tis a good time to be Black, Irish or a dog.
Keep it coming, feel great.
afternoon all, I’ve just been to the Scorpion meeting, and it is becoming increasingly evident that we are going to try and beat the shit out of all the people we can’t stand: this pretty much includes everyone we did not go to public school with. Personally, I feel that this is a tad repressive: but, under the circumstances, is an understandable response. As for me. I’m still in the bloody cave most of the time, awaiting divine guidance and a bacon butty.
since you asked 🙂
http://johnnyvoid.wordpress.com/2011/08/10/rioting-for-fun-and-profit/
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