UNITED KINGDOM: Demonstrators occupying the City of London on the third day of protests against 'corporate greed' say they are inspired by Egypt's Tahrir Square uprising

Record ID: 346400

  • Title: UNITED KINGDOM: Demonstrators occupying the City of London on the third day of protests against 'corporate greed' say they are inspired by Egypt's Tahrir Square uprising
  • Date: 18th October 2011
  • Summary: PROTESTERS HOLDING "GENERAL ASSEMBLY" MEETING TO DISCUSS PRACTICAL ARRANGEMENTS PROTESTERS WAVING HANDS IN AGREEMENT DURING GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEETING
  • Embargoed: 2nd November 2011 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: United Kingdom
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Topics: Economy,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVACK39PT6Z0TO41KSFYOQU8A0HL
  • Story Text: Protesters against 'corporate greed' began making their tented camp more organised on Monday (October 17) on day three of their occupation of the City of London.
    Around 100 tents have been pitched around St Paul's Cathedral, a stone's throw from the London Stock Exchange (LSE).
    Police are barring entrances to Paternoster Square where the LSE is housed.
    The protesters began setting up a first aid tent, food and blanket stations, an information desk and even a "Tent City University", where ideas for a new world order were being debated.
    They hold what they call a "General Assembly" daily, where the group vote on how to manage the campaign.
    The tent city follows the 'Occupy' movement near New York's Wall Street.
    Protesters in London say they have been heavily inspired by Egypt's uprising and overthrow of President Hosni Mubarak.
    A mock City of London street sign has been placed on the wall near the camp, declaring it to be "Tahrir Square" - Cairo's iconic central square.
    "We are in solidarity with the people of Cairo who threw off an oppressor," said protester Sam Chase.
    "But that oppressor, Mubarak, was bankrolled by companies that are based in this city. BP and other oil companies were heavily implicated in that country and if they are not careful, the new revolution might have to...those companies want a part of what's happening now, so they need to stand their ground. And one of the reasons they found it so hard to throw off their oppression, and for us too, is because the companies that are based here are bankrolling oppression," he said.
    At lunchtime, throngs of City workers walked past the camp and took photos. Some were sympathetic to the camp's message, but one banker, who did not wish to be named, said banks were being unfairly branded as villains.
    "I think maybe people are unemployed and they just need something to vent their frustrations on and, you know, they pick the easiest target. In terms of whether it's bankers or governments or other institutions I think that the flavour du jour right now is banks," he said.
    Others expressed some sympathy but said the protesters needed to come up with solutions to the issues they were highlighting.
    "I think perhaps they do have a point but I haven't heard any other suggestions for an alternative. Perhaps that would be one thing that would be good for them to do. You know, 'what should we be doing?' rather than just 'we shouldn't be doing this'," said local worker Dan Potter.
    The protesters have vowed to stay in the camp for many weeks to come.
    For now, St Paul's Cathedral, which owns the land, is happy for them to stay, so long as the entrance to the cathedral is not blocked.
    Police maintain a round-the-clock presence at the site.
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