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Sometimes a good riot can be a decisive political act........... the Poll Tax riot saw an end to Mrs Thatcher......... that day I watched buildings and Porches burning in Central London...........

Most of the Black Bloc Anarchist Types that were rioting this weekend don't really seem to have any politics beyond smashing things up and being angry. They were nominally protesting about proposed Government cuts to things like education spending and welfare provision, but that just seemed to be a back drop....... they were it seemed motivated by the need to be involved in confrontation and a display of angry destruction. Some are very passionate in that roll.

I saw very very few anti cuts banners when watching the Black Bloc and breakaway types. Mind you to be fair.... there were some political banners about other issues. There were a few 'Hands Off Libya' banners........ one group holding hands off Libya banners shouted things in support of Gaddafi then started singing' The Internationale'. ....... the communist anthem of workers solidarity.......... I don't know........ it just seemed a little incongruous to me .......... 'The Internationale' was sung in all the Communist countries of course ...... but also by the International brigades as they left these shores and other countries to join with the people of Spain as they fought the rise of fascism in Spain in the 30's......... Ordinary people going to the aid of other ordinary people against dictatorship ........ call me crazy but the people of Benghazi strike me as the underdogs rising up against the dictator of Libya. Surely anyone singing the 'Internationale' would want to go to their aid....... er....... not be singing that song in the support of the dictators tanks coming to kill the revolutionaries............ maybe I'm missing the point :-( ?

This picture above was made after most of the fighting with the cops had died down. Protestors had lit numerous bonfires along Piccadilly ......... this one is right in the middle of Piccadilly Circus.......... Police in their softly softly roll stood by in their massed ranks and watched the unusual sight.

Cheers Jez XXXXXXXXXXXXX

PS............ Here is the Billy Bragg version :-)) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zk69e1Vcmvg

"Stand up, all victims of oppression, For the tyrants fear your might! Don't cling so hard to your possessions, For you have nothing if you have no rights! Let racist ignorance be ended, For respect makes the empires fall! Freedom is merely privilege extended, Unless enjoyed by one and all. So come brothers and sisters, For the struggle carries on. The Internationale, Unites the world in song. So comrades, come rally, For this is the time and place! The international ideal, Unites the human race."

........ Yeah my reading of this is the singer should be against the Dictator........... but as I say...... what do I know? As Billy Bragg has a fair few pictures of Castro in his video....... but it definetly shows people against tanks too....... ?

Here is a British Translation of the French/Russian originals : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCFibtD3H_k&feature=fvwrel

"No more deluded by reaction, On tyrants only we'll make war! The soldiers too will take strike action, They'll break ranks and fight no more! And if those cannibals keep trying, To sacrifice us to their pride, They soon shall hear the bullets flying, We'll shoot the generals on our own side. So comrades, come rally, And the last fight let us face. The Internationale, Unites the human race. So comrades, come rally, And the last fight let us face. The Internationale, Unites the human race."

......... Again I read this as the soldiers of a dictator should rise up free themselves and the people they are supposed to be suppressing.......... not sure but I guess that would mean the singer would be in support of the soldiers that have gone over to the rebels right ?...... not those crushing a grass roots revolution in their tanks? But...... Hey what do I know....... :-/////////

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