The repression after the Invasion. : Melbourne Indymedia

After leaving a peaceful intervention at the official ESF anarchists marching home were attacked by a crew of truly moronic cops. Despite the provocation the marchers refused to respond violently and it was the police who withdrew totally humiliated. The march continued to it's destination at Beyond ESF and everyone enjoyed cheap beer and a free concert.

More than 25,000 activists took part in the European Social Forum in London

On Sunday morning session of the ESF, one of the co-chairs of the Assembly of the Social Movements, read out the following statement on behalf of Weyman Bennett. Weyman Bennett was speaking at another meeting in Bloomsbury (the other venue of the ESF).

Weyman Bennett is the Joint Secretart of Unite Against Fascism

Statement from Weyman Bennett

"On Saturday evening a group, who have not participated in the ESF, stormed the stage of the anti-fascist plenary session of the ESF, punched the chair and stole his mobile phone.

This behaviour is totally unacceptable and self evidently in total violation of the principles of the ESF.

Violent attacks on the movement suppress freedom of speech and risk providing pretexts for other outside forces to intervene into the movement.

This was all the more unacceptable as it was an entirely white group attacking a black and Jewish platform.

The organisers knew of the call by the people claiming to be the Wombles, and others, for people to storm the ESF on Saturday evening and, having discussed this with a number of delegations, had agreed that this group would be admitted to the building and allowed to make their protest and explain their views.

This is what happened and when the police arrived at the building they were asked not to intervene by the organisers of the ESF and they left the building."

That particular plenary was chosen only because ken livingstone was scheduled to speak there.

I was not an eyewitness to the event but many people have contested these claims, stating:

1. The claims of assault / theft are bollocks.
2. The intervention finished after only 30min, with people leaving together after that to allow the plenary to continue.

I was there... the letter above is an absolute load of rubbish. We peacefully entered the stage. the only aggression came from a UNITE spokesperson who tried to rip the mike off a BABEL interpreter who was reading a prepared statement criticising the ESF organising process.

He LOST his phone on the stage as he was ripped off her... we all looked for it afterwards, the next day he's accusing the anarchists of stealing his phone and wallet. what a muppet.

The police (who were reportably called to Ally Pally by the SWP, but im not sure how reliable that is) were incredibly violent outside. Dragging and laying into one guy who was screaming in pain. The police refused access to a doctor.

I have no idea what is going on here and I don't take sides but...

"The police (who were reportably called to Ally Pally by the SWP, but im not sure how reliable that is) were incredibly violent outside."

Has it occured to you that the police probably saw what happened as an opportunity to intervene with violence and rumours and spread even more division and suspicion? That's how they tend to operate.