Cardiff
Occupy Cardiff outmanoeuvred both police and Cardiff council by starting a camp in the grounds of the Unite union offices in Cardiff.
On Friday 12 November police armed with tasers succeeded in breaking up the Occupy camp at Cardiff castle. Six people were arrested, including Socialist Party member Ed Schluessel, at the behest of the ‘Liberal’ council which claimed falsely that damage was being done to the castle.
On Saturday the Occupy movement returned to Cardiff city centre. After many hours of surveillance and harassment police said that not only would a camp be disallowed, but even a peaceful march to the statue of Aneurin Bevan. The protesters insisted on a demonstration.
The movement set up camp in the grounds of Transport House, the Wales HQ of Unite the Union. Police were powerless to act unless asked to.
Andy Richards, regional secretary of Unite said: “From our point of view, we know that these people, who are engaged in a peaceful protest are supporting the very campaign that Unite is engaged in and that’s fighting the effects of the Tory and Liberal Democrat government in Wales. They are most welcome to camp out on our lawn and can use our facilities for their comfort.”
Leeds
Over 200 people turned up at Occupy Leeds on Friday 18 November to hear folk rocker Billy Bragg play a short set in solidarity with the camp. New people are drawn into the movement every day. The camp has regular general assemblies, as well as functioning working groups for various tasks. Everyone within the camp is united in opposing the corruption within the political elite, the banks, big business and tops of the media, the 1%. But further discussion is needed to clarify the way forward to replace what is rotten within society and transform it into a society free from exploitation, poverty and economic slavery.
