London TUC march for the alternatives.

On March the 23rd 2011 a mass rally organized by the Trades Union Congress happened in London in response to the governments proposed cuts to public sector jobs as a means of easing our way out the current recession. They aimed to get 1 million people to march through London but the estimated turn out was between 300,000-500,000. Representatives from many Unions attended and a rally was held in Hyde park with public speakers. On the whole it was well organized, civilized event but there was an underbelly radicals intent on causing mischief.

Using a wash for the first time, I started drawing from Westminster bridge. The number of people was overwhelming and I realised that a broader eye for composition will be a necessity to capture the event.

The march moves past parliment and heads along Whitehall

After reaching Trafalgar it heads towards Hyde park. Nelsons column becomes a resting place and people break off in other directions. The Uk uncut group and Anarchist groups are smashing shops on oxford street. Shops owned by the Arcadia group who's boss owes the uk billions of pounds of Tax. Also several banks are smashed. I missed the action! but a part of me doesn't want to document this as i consider it unproductive and degrades the view of the rally in the public eye, also i'm getting tired of drawing police helmets.

Every now and then you would catch the faint drumming of a samba band somewhere in the streets of London. What kind of a protest would it be without a samba band or two?

The march ends up in Hyde park where people are giving speeches.

I catch up with the events in Oxford Circus. This is the aftermath of the burning of a large effigy of a horse. I do not know why they did this or what it symbolised.

More fires are burned in Trafalgar Square. The scene is set to the sound of  Dub Step and Gabba techno. Mostly young people. Graffiti and anarchist signs are starting to appear all over the column and the drink is flowing. This is why protests don't work in England, this is seen as making a statement against the 'system'. The same system that grants us the liberty to make such statements in the first place. I gues taking part in the political process would be too boring as it wouldn't involve a party.