TENTS AFFAIR

As the kettle was boiling at the Bank of England, tents were springing up outside the European Climate Exchange in nearby Bishopsgate, kicking off the day-long Climate Camp in the heart of the city. Soon the street was a colourful sea of pop-up tents, banners, bunting, bikes and fancy dress, with needs met by vegan kitchens, a farmers market and a compost toilet.

A carnival atmosphere reigned as many took respite at the oasis of peace that was the camp after getting away from the police batons and shields at the Threadneedle St. Workshops, live music, and samba were on offer to the couple of thousand thronging Bishopsgate. The mood changed towards office closing time as hundreds of fully- kitted riot police were deployed at either end of the street and city workers in dress- down gear hurried home making sarky comments about the climate campers supposed lack of employment.

Despite assurances made in the morning by cop Commander Broadhurst to climate campers in a Lib Dem MP's office, the camp was brutally evicted. Without warning, at 7pm baton wielding riot police waded in, trashing tents and bikes. Campers swiftly reacted by forming blockades with their bodies. Holding up their hands and shouting 'this is not a riot', campers formed a wall to prevent police incursion. Several were injured and arrested in this unprovoked attack.

Only the restraint of the campers prevented a riot, although not their injuries. One SchNEWS correspondent, who narrowly avoided the cordon and witnessed the attack from outside said, "We are clearly entering a new era of policing. I have never before witnessed such an unprovoked police attack. They felt they could do what they like. It was as if they were taking vengeance on the campers for their inability to keep protesters penned in at the Bank."

After it was clear no further progress could be made, the police kettled those remaining in the camp and turned on those left outside, moving a large group back towards the Bank of England and as far as London Bridge, which was then closed. Another group just outside the camp tried a different approach, sitting down in the road but not blocking any traffic as the police had already closed the road. According to one, "We were sitting on the ground as we had been for hours. Unprovoked and giving no warning they forced their way forward swiping at us with batons. I've been hit over round my mouth." Those who continued to sit were kicked whilst others were chased out of the area with the help of some swinging batons.

After several such attacks into the camp, including the use of snatch squads, the police finally cleared the last of the camp, which had for 12 hours turned a stretch of the City of London into part of the climate solution. As Climate Camp 09 put it: "Street empty. They beat us out and squashed our tents. But oh what a world we created! Shame on the powers that be."

* See www.climatecamp.org.uk