I have mixed feelings on yesterday’s march – now it can be deemed a success in terms of the varying amount of publicity that it recieved, but it did not seem to achieve much else. The reeignition of the student movement which many had predicted did not seem to be realised – perhaps ensured only by the huge numbers of police present. However the turnout wasn’t terrible, reports varyied from 4 – 10,000, and a certain feeling of solidarity was achieved with the marching electricians and cabbies. The pressure is being kept on.

Numbers were no doubt drained by the Met’s mailing of individual student protestors threatening them not to attemd and their warning that they were prepared to use rubber bullets against demonstrators – this brutish policy of provocation was evident just as much on the day, ensured by comparatively huge police numbers (at over 4,000) which saw them outnumber the protestors at many points. They struck preemptively throughout, donning their riot gear before any violence had started and snatching members of the black bloc who had not done anything wrong (which whilst large never got going). They split the students into three bodies, and made sure that they were unable to combine with the electricians’ march (which apparently ended in scuffles with police and then a rally at St Pauls). Once we reached the City we were kettled by the police – this was an astonishingly uncessecary use of the tactic (especially in comparison to previous employments), however they did not maintain it for more than an hour. A friend also told me that an agent provocateur was caught out by protestors within the kettle and beaten up. But once protestors were allowed out the march seemed to fizzle out – everyone was more determined to escape further hassle and detainment than to stand their ground. The police state had won the day.

Reportedly about 30 tents were also set up in Trafalgar Sq by a breakaway group attempting to occupy it in solidarity with the movement, hoping to build an action base for strikes on November 30. But, after having told the protestors that they would be allowed to stay if they ‘respected the area’, the tents were surrounded and taken down by police resulting in the arrests of about 10 arrests of those who refused to leave. A sad end to a beautifully optimistic idea – not dissimilar to the attempted occupation and violent eviction of the square on March 26.

I had a chance to visit St Pauls after the demo as well – where many of the students had managed to end up. Vibes were good (albeit with an unusually high police presence) – Tom Morello also came and played a couple of songs and said a few very interesting words.

It is also worth noting that Occupy St Pauls had decided, via means of general assembly, that they would not allow the student demo to pass by the camp. This was a result of fears that the potentially illegal and violent state of the march would have given the police their much desired chance to evict the campers. An interesting decision, perhaps necessary – perhaps over precautious and flaky.

The next day of action is set for November 23; focused around student walkouts, protests and occupations which have not yet come to materialise. We will see if yesterday gives the new day of action the momentum which it needs. After this all eyes will be pointed towards the national strike on November 30 which is likely to see more than 3 million workers and students walking out with more action likely to follow. Very interesting – we will see…

Note more than a dozen police gaurding the olympic clock…