Party like it's 1998?

Submitted by dark_ether on June 19, 2018

Been seeing a social media post about a Reclaim the Streets party in London this Saturday.

Anyone heard much offline ? Reckon it'll happen ? Reckon it'll be any good ? Reckon RtS was 'of its time', or something that it's worth trying to bring back ?

dark_ether

5 years 9 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by dark_ether on June 25, 2018

A friend headed down... it was a thing! Anyone got / seen any more detailed reports?

Images:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DgYhf16WkAAvVe9.jpg

https://www.instagram.com/p/BkaljG1ljDG/?utm_source=ig_twitter_share&igshid=1hl6yamteb6td

jef costello

5 years 9 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by jef costello on June 26, 2018

Nice picutre, it'd be nice to see a report. I remember when they closed off the High Road Junction at Seven Sisters, that was pretty cool.

wojtek

5 years 9 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by wojtek on June 26, 2018

What is it?

dark_ether

5 years 9 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by dark_ether on June 28, 2018

It's an apparent attempt to restart the 'reclaim the streets' events, which were prominent in the late 90s.
They grew out of the enviromental movement, specifically the anti-road protest camps. They came to embody the idea of capturing spaces from capitalism, and claiming them for new uses by the community. Always in direct opposition to authority. A mixture of protest, direct action, and party.
Here are some selected highlights from Wikipedia:

Camden High Street, 14 May 1995.The first major RTS street party action took over a busy London street and closed it to motor-traffic for an afternoon.The action met in the morning and left from the Rainbow Centre a squatted Church in Kentish Town

"M41 Motorway, Shepherd's Bush, London. 13 July 1996. After a cat-and-mouse game with the police, 6,000 protestors take over part of the elevated motorway. Many sound-systems play. Hidden underneath dancers walking on stilts and wearing huge, wire-supported dresses, environmental activists drill holes in the tarmac and plant trees"

Trafalgar Square, 12 April 1997. The 'Never Mind The Ballots' protest against the forthcoming general election. A march with the sacked Liverpool dockers started at Kennington Park and ended up at Trafalgar Square in the centre of London

Carnival Against Capital: 18 June 1999. A global day of action. In London the financial district is targeted. The LIFFE building is stormed.

rat

5 years 9 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by rat on June 29, 2018

Lamentably RTS was infiltrated by the Special Demonstration Squad.

Road Rage! by Tony White was an ejoyable book about that RTS scene.

dark_ether

5 years 9 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by dark_ether on June 30, 2018

Wasn't everything infiltrated by the SDS?