Direct Action after Oxford Anti-Cuts Alliance March

Direct Action after Oxford Anti-Cuts Alliance March, closes Banks, Vodafone.

I went along to the Oxfordshire Anti-Cuts Alliance march today, expecting just an A-B. How wrong I was.

The march was attended by a variety of unions, community groups, students and the usual suspects (SWP etc). They claimed an attendance of 600 at the end, but I've no idea how accurate that is. There were definitely a lot of people there. Biggest march I've seen in Oxford so far.

The march itself was the usual affair, speakers, an A-B, a rally to finish off. Yet all along the route there was an energy simmering, especially amongst the youngsters. The loudest chants were 'You say cut back...' and 'Tory Scum!' which seems to be becoming something of a battle cry.

We got to the rally which to be fair actually did have something of an atmosphere around it. There were some good speeches from local union reps, praising the occupations, direct actions and protests and calling for links between students and workers. There was also a student from Cherwell school who gave perhaps the most millitant speech of the day - saying that come the day of action on the 30th the entire school was coming out and they were going to find something to occupy. This got a massive cheer.

The Labour councillor (who is sadly on the alliance) had a rough ride, getting heckles from several members of the crowd ('Who gave [the banks] the money, then?!'). She didn't take it well.

Then the speaker for the Alliance came up to be the final speaker, and he ended with a call for action... including a specific exhortation to 'Take action against the banks! Let's go'. The march then theoretically ended, but a large segment of young people detached and then started to chant as they headed into Queen's street. I get a tap on my shoulder, a young student speaks to me:

'You know about the Barclays thing, yeah?'
'We're going to try and occupy the bank'.

There then followed the most millitant thing I have ever personally witnessed. By the time I got round the corner into Cornmarket street Barclays was already in lockdown, shutters down, police cordoning it off. The students, undeterred were trying to force their way through the door of HSBC as the employees managed to lock the door just in time. There were quite a number of students too, of varying ages. After a brief sit-down outside HSBC, the trolley based soundsystem arrived and the students then convened outside Vodafone (which was by now desperately locking up). Chants of 'Pay your tax! Pay your tax!' echoed through the street as locals looked on. An impromptu rave was had.

There then followed a kind of free-roaming demo as FIT officers (orange shoulder markings now) videoed the crowd. Small groups of students probed around seeing if other targets were open (Lloyds TSB needed the police to hold off the wave of students. Santander locked down soon after.

As things finally wound down (this impromptu demo went on for quite some time, up and down the street, making a lot of noise and getting a lot of attention) someone grabbed the megaphone, thanked everyone for coming, and made a big callout for action on the 30th.

As one scarfed up individual remarked as he passed me - 'I think we made our point, four banks and vodafone closed... not bad'.

I'm actually stunned. Something pretty serious has changed... young people hungry for action. Unions praising and encouraging such direct action. It's one of the best protest events I've seen.