Aggressive policing breaks up peaceful protest

There has been a spontaneous outpouring of energy in Cardiff from activists both experienced and new, as we work together to build an occupation in the centre of the city. Along with Marxists, anarchists, representatives of Cymdeithas yr Iaith Gymraeg and Greenham Common campers, there are many students and out of work young people in the group, most of whom have never been involved in political protest before.

The start of the occupation was set for Friday 11th November, to tie in with the global day of action and show solidarity with our fellow protestors across the world. A rally was held at 2PM at Nye Bevan, attended by around 150 people. We then moved to the castle and set up camp. While the tents were being pegged, police threatened protestors with arrest under a 1981 byelaw from the Public Health Act 1875, and Section 61 of the Criminal Justice & Public Order Act 1994, but the situation remained calm as television cameras and a large number of spectators stood by.

UK Uncut take action in Cardiff

In what was called the ‘emergency operation’, actions took place across the UK on Saturday 28th May, in protest at government cuts to the National Health Service. UK Uncut carried out 41 actions against banks and tax avoiders, some of which took the form of occupations.

In Cardiff the target was Topshop, the clothing store owned by retail giant the Arcadia Group, headed by Sir Philip Green, who has avoided the payment of millions of pounds of taxes. Following an anti-austerity rally dubbed "Busk against the Cuts" around 50 people simply walked down the main shopping street and straight past the shop's security guards, who were clearly overwhelmed by the number of protesters walking through the door. They then occupied the store for an hour, forcing it to close for at least half of that time.

It seemed to be the chants of the protesters that bothered Topshop the most. One of the more amusing aspects of the occupation was the rather pathetic attempt to drown out the chants by cranking up their own, awful ‘background’ music to ear splitting levels. In the end even the cops were begging them to turn it down. .