| TV Cameramen were pushed aside as they zoomed
in for sensation, as a steward with a loud hailer told everyone to go to
Trafalgar Square. Abused and asked which side he was on, he accused "outside
agitators" of causing trouble which he later changed to "anarchists"
and "students". |
| Meanwhile the march was staying put, determined
not to move until the Notts miners were released. The police withdrew while
a large crowd gathered outside 10 Downing Stret (chants of "Maggie
we want you... DEAD" echoed and bands played the catchy tune "Here
we go, Here we go!") and people milled around in Whitehall, which was
clear of traffic. Then in a new tactic and with new cops the police moved
in again about 100 strong making arrests only to find themselves surrounded
and given a good kicking. A Superintendent's hat was thrown in the air to
cheers. During the pushing and shoving an elderly man was seen hitting the
backs of cops legs with his walking stick! |
| A cry of "Horses!" went up and the
helmets of mounted police could be seen over the heads of police lines.
Then a crushing line of police moved forward in a pincer style strategy
to break up the crowd forcing people into side streets off Whitehall. Children
who were placed on the safety of ledges behind fences were dragged by the
cops, some people wre viciously beaten as they were chased, jumped on and
dragged to vans and into Whitehall buildings. One woman lost conciousness
as her head was bashed on the pavement by the five cops arresting her. Stacks
of crowd barriers were thrown off nearby trucks. |
| About 30 mounted police cleared Whitehall crushing
people into railings and then charging into groups of marchers without warning.
Some people arrested were taken into the Horseguards area and beaten up.
There was a shortage of missiles to throw at the police- at one stage a
pile of Socialist Workers (the papers not individual trots) got thrown
at a police line and someone said "best use for them yet!" |
| While being arrested a man got his leg trapped
under a parked car. The police yanked him so violently that his leg broke.
He is still in hospital. Ministry of Defence windows were smashed and a
police motorbike overturned as the crowds withdrew to Embankment with police
in pursuit trying to give the impression that everything was under control.
There were 121 arrests in all. Many people had to have hospital treatment
and 13 people were held overnight. Police were also hospitalised. The general
feeling was of amazement that a day of solidarity had been turned around
so viciously by the police. And, on the other side, the police had learnt
that these marchers weren't going to take the attacks on them lying down.
|
| From Black Flag Number 128.
|
| Back To Chronology. |
