I Was Kettled in London

I was kettled in London and it was a nightmare. If I recall the right demo, it was against the first Bush’s first Gulf War and I was marching with my remarkable political group WAF (Women Against Fundamentalism). The police herded us down a side street and then forced us around into a one-block-long road behind a huge building. I remember the shadow of that building as it became part of the claustrophobic pressure. The police closed off the exit and as the thousands of demonstrators continued to pour into that corral, it got scary crowded. We worried about the consequences if just one person panicked.

Little kids were not the only ones who needed the loo, as hour after hour of our imprisonment passed. People with disabilities were not the only ones deprived of somewhere to sit. Short people weren’t alone in feeling there was nothing to breathe. The sense of annoyance mixed with trepidation probably wasn’t exclusive to women, as we watched the young white men toss bottles and belligerence at the stressed cops.

I was reminded of that dreadful, endless experience during last year’s political party conventions (and the one in Boston 4 years ago), as protestors were fenced into distant, isolated container cells. Even before that, my friends and I were among the many thousands stuck between metal barriers when we went to NY to be part of the world-wide pre-war (Bush2, Gulf2) protest. This police tactic is anti-democratic, stifling and, believe me, bloody uncomfortable.

Now the London police, facing the massive crowds protesting the G20 and the vile situation the big economies have brought down on the world, have employed this containment technique they call kettling. According to the Guardian, the police prevented people from leaving the area where they were penned in for more than seven hours! The place was transformed into a gross toilet.

“For hours, demonstrators had been trying to leave – to go home, to pick up their children, to watch the England v Ukraine match on television were some of the reasons given to police as people, some in tears, asked to be allowed to go but were forbidden from doing so. The chants accompanying the last two violent clashes with police, when bottles were thrown, were: ‘Let us out!’"

When eventually some people were permitted to leave at 8:00pm, they had to give their name and address and have their photo taken if they wanted to get out. One long-term effect is that folks are going to think twice next time about the consequences of democratically demonstrating.  In the short term, this police action impacted the overall protest. There were multiple demonstrations in London – some about the finance industry, some about unemployment, some about the environment and some against the wars – but because they were held captive by lines of police and their dogs, people who started in one location were never able to reach the next.

For a long time there have been mass demonstrations all over Europe fueled by the real fury of people who have been screwed by unscrupulous finance, corporate and political “leaders.” I continue to be appalled by the quiet acceptance of so many Americans. Jon Stewart cracked me up the other night – and I’ll be damned if I can find the clip – when he talked about how the French and Germans and Brits take to the street when they smell injustice, while too many Americans, well, text someone.

Comments

[Lynda]

We no longer live in free countries, though many will deny that. Our Constitutionally protected rights to peacefully protest are not allowed and we are corralled in areas where those we want to see and hear us, can't!

If people don't start waking up soon, we are doomed for sure.

[Sue Katz]

From Lynda, who was prevented by typepad from posting this herself:

Safety is another word I've had enough of! Do these people understand anything? We start kids off far too early as it is with play dates and early education under the guise of teaching them to socialize with others.

Then they go to church where at one point, shaking hands or hugging the stranger next to you, in front of you and behind you is encouraged; then they go to school and high-fiving is banned! No wonder kids today are so messed up!

This principal needs a few lessons in common sense. She also needs to learn the difference between friendly and unfriendly touching. That she's educating children is frightening.

Maybe it's just me, but everything in life is about SSC safe, sane, consensual) and isn't (or shouldn't) be restricted to the kink crowd.