Protesting Austerity

European countries suffering downturns in their economies, and struggling to surmount those difficulties have seen loud and violent protests launched against parliamentarians who have attempted to introduce austerity measures geared to meet those fiscal challenges. Such measures raise the ire of their constituents. No one wants to see their entitlements cut back. Certainly not the unions, on behalf of their members, who have fought long and hard for their entitlements.

The European Trade Union months ago when the protests first began to get serious estimated that 100,000 trade unionists across Europe came out in force. We've seen the kind of violence that erupted in Greece. Portugal, Spain, Belgium, Lithuania, Latvia, Germany and Ireland all experienced their large-scale union protests, with people marching to demonstrate their unwillingness to share the pain for the eventual gain.



And then, staid old Britain had its week-end of protests that turned into an anarchical rampage through the streets of central London, with hundreds of thousands of people marching to protest government cuts. Once people have been advantaged by union-bargained entitlements they are understandably loathe to see them fractionated, to become once again disadvantaged. They are not interested in hearing that their sacrifice is for the greater public good.

That want to retain what is rightfully theirs through the precedent of honest union bargaining and societal acceptance of their due. A peaceful, orderly march. That swiftly descended into an anti-capitalist show of force. Among the peaceful union marchers appeared black-clad figures intent on demonstrating their contempt for order and good government. Their own demonstration was inclusive of setting fires, smashing into banks, hotels and high-end shops.

They tossed whatever was handy at police. And what was handy began to include light bulbs filled with ammonia. Over 4,500 police were tasked to maintain order for the march. It was well enough known that anarchists would be present since they made no effort to shield their planned activities from public knowledge, preparing their action on Facebook and Twitter, making no bones about their violent intentions.

But the government promised retailers in London's main thoroughfare that their enterprises would be well protected; more than sufficient police would be on hand to ensure adequate control of the crowd. The police, often enough accused of a heavy-handed response to peaceful protests had their work cut out for them, attempting to control the hundreds of anarchist goons.

It took five hours of battling before things simmered down. Before which, banks were broken into, shop windows were smashed in New Bond Street, battles took place on Pickadilly; the Ritz hotel was attacked with paint; a "Trojan horse" set afire in Oxford Circus; Fortnum and Mason was "occupied" by protesters who smashed windows and looted merchandise. A fine time was had by all.


-- by paulµ43, on Flickr