The crowd round George Square and more people join as an open-sided truck pumping out techno beats drives past 2 policemen to join the anti-capitalist protest posse outside the city chambers for a 20 minute boogy on the steps of our local government. Then off about the streets of central Glasgow dancing to the funky beats, handing out flyers to bemused pavement people and street workers - following much the same route as previous years before landing up to Pitt Street police station for our annual 'fuck yous - we're dancing, drinking, having fun and you're not going to do anything about it' which they duly didn't.
Then off to Kelvingrove park and not the radical departure of Glasgow Green as had been speculated - for a grand old session of drinking, dancing and socialising. Very pleased to see a recycling centre for the emptying bottles of buckfast and a bouncy castle for the kiddies to play on. As I was leaving about 7pm everone seemed to be having a grand old time and were intent on carrying on the celebrations down at the 13th Note club into the early hours.
All in all it was an unobnoxious carnival of protest involving about
5 or 6 hundred people (? maybe more or less?) and a few van loads of coppers - keeping a low profile. It was very similar to last year's Mayday and 1999's J18 - a good day was had by all, nobody got hurt or arrested, but am sure there will be a few sore heads about this morning.
Fran
Blue Skies and sunshine - shoppers about their business of buying and
workers about their business of lunchtime. Normal? except for the ever
increasing crowd of drum banging, whistle blowing, costume wearing
people gathered beside Buchanan Street underground. Swelling to numbers of around 400 before taking to the sunny streets in a pulsating procession of colour and banner waving. MAYDAY - LIBERTY - EQUALITY - SOLIDARITY and SAVE GOVANHILL SWIMMING POOL - the message to the masses.
2/5/01