After protests in New York, Rome, Cape Town, Frankfurt, Madrid, Hong Kong, Sydney, Seoul, and many more, inspired protesters have today taken over the City of London. Thousands have descended on the area known as the Square Mile – under the banner ‘Occupy the Stock Exchange’ – for a ‘peaceful protest’ against the global financial system. Continue reading and view a video of the coverage after the jump.
They had planned to take Paternoster Square, where the Stock Exchange is located, but police cordoned off the area prior to the protest.
A notice was put up stating the square is private property and access would be restricted. Police sources said a High Court injunction had been taken out to prevent members of the public from accessing the square.
The event kicked off at midday outside St Paul’s Cathedral and initial reports on Twitter talked of an ‘amiable’ atmosphere.
Activists carried banners with slogans such as ‘We are the 99%’ and ‘Bankers got a bailout, we got sold out’.
Among them was Lorena Fuentes, 27, a charity worker originally from Vancouver, Canada. She said: ‘I’m here today because I can’t see why you wouldn’t be and I feel that this is one of the few moments in history where it’s not a protest, it’s an actual movement that’s taken root.
‘We’re trying to challenge this myth that there are not enough resources to go around.’
The protest was contained within the vicinity of St Paul’s Cathedral, and some demonstrators started to put up tents – hopeful that they will be able to remain in the area for the future.
At around 2pm, police reportedly ‘kettled’ protesters outside St Paul’s Cathedral, where the demonstrators were forced to move because of the closure of Paternoster Square.
Scotland Yard said two arrests were made for assaults on police officers.
He broke through the police kettle enclosing St Paul’s Cathedral at 2.30pm. He then fought his way through protesters, turned half-way up the steps and addressed those gathered below.
The Guardian’s Mark Townsend said: ‘Assange began by lamenting the police tactics, noting hundreds more remained stranded outside the kettle.
‘Then he began attacking a greedy and corrupt system that had united individuals from Cairo to London. People are being ordered to Guantanamo Bay to obey the rule of law, and money is being laundered through the Caymen Islands and London to obey the rule of law.
‘This movement is not about the destruction of law, but the construction of law. With that he stopped, the crowd hollering as a list of other occupations throughout the world was read out.’
Political campaigner Peter Tatchell also spoke to the crowds and proposed a one-off 20 per cent emergency tax on the net wealth of the richest 10 per cent of the UK population.
He also wants the introduction of a ‘Tobin Tax’ on financial transactions.
He said: ‘The richest 10 per cent of the UK population have a combined personal wealth of £4 million, million. A one-off 20 per cent tax on those people would raise £800 billion.
‘Those people can afford it, they’d feel no pain, they’re so fabulously wealthy. With that sum of money you could pay off the entire government deficit. No need for any public spending cuts.’
At the same time, he said a Tobin Tax would ‘reduce speculation and be good for the economy, and raise at least £100 billion a year. Within two years this would enable us to clear the entire Government deficit.’
‘Rich people who are not prepared to pay their way are traitors to this country, they’re putting their own personal selfishness before the interests of the public,’ he added.
‘They have inspired people all over the world to step forward and make their voices heard.’
UK Uncut supporter Peter Hodgson added: ‘The success of the square occupations across Spain in calling for democracy and an end to austerity, alongside the rapid growth of the Wall Street occupation, has shown that this is what is needed in London and the UK.
‘The Government is ignoring its electorate as they impose these austerity measures.’
OccupyLSX previously issued a statement which said: ‘The words corporate greed ring through the speeches and banners of protests across the globe.
‘After huge bailouts and in the face of unemployment, privatisation and austerity, we still see profits for the rich on the increase. But we are the 99%, and on October 15 our voice unites across gender and race, across borders and continents, as we call for equality and justice for all.
