World

London Rising: Union Members Protesting Cuts Violently Clash With Police

LONDON (AP/THE BLAZE) — Tens of thousands of mostly peaceful demonstrators streamed into central London on Saturday to march against government budget cuts, with a small breakaway group smashing its way into a bank, breaking windows and spray painting logos on the walls.

London Rising: Union Members Protesting Cuts Violently Clash With Police

Another group of black-clad protesters hurled paint bombs and ammonia-filled light bulbs at police.

Britain is facing 80 billion pounds ($130 billion) of public spending cuts from Prime Minister David Cameron‘s coalition government as it struggles to get the country’s large budget deficit under control. The government has already raised sales tax, but Britons are bracing for deep cuts on services.

London Rising: Union Members Protesting Cuts Violently Clash With Police

Live coverage from earlier today captures a union brawl on the streets of London, where protesters clashed with the police forces:

Organizers of the march estimated that at least 250,000 people from across the country were peacefully joining in the demonstration, the biggest protest in London since a series of rallies against the Iraq war in 2003. Police said they were not giving out crowd estimates.

They said one group of a few hundred people broke away from the main march, scuffling with police officers and attempting to smash shop windows on two of London’s main shopping streets. Others threw objects at the posh Ritz Hotel in nearby Piccadilly. At least one person was arrested for carrying equipment that could cause criminal damage, police said.

Another group pulled a giant model of a Trojan horse and said they planned to burn it.

But, the protests otherwise had a carnival feel. School teachers, nurses and students all marched through central London toward Hyde Park, one of London’s biggest public gardens, with banners, balloons and whistles.

The TUC union says it believes the cuts will threaten the country’s economic recovery, and has urged the government to create new taxes for banks and to close loopholes that allow some companies to pay less tax.

Ed Miliband, leader of the opposition Labour Party, likened the march to the suffragette movement in Britain and the civil rights movement in America. “Our causes may be different but we come together to realize our voice. We stand on the shoulders of those who have marched and have struggled in the past,” he told protesters at the rally.

The Metropolitan police have been criticized for adopting heavy handed tactics when dealing with demonstrations in the area. In particular, they have been criticized for penning demonstrators up in a small area for several hours without allowing them to leave. Police have said the so-called “kettling” procedure will only be used as a last resort.

The TUC has called for a peaceful protest during which people walk along official routes that have already been cleared with police. But leaflets scattered around central London by other groups have asked demonstrators to leave the official route and stay in central London after the event officially ends in the afternoon.

Comments (184)

1 2 3 ... 5
  • uncleherbert
    Posted on March 26, 2011 at 1:14pm

    Their unions will be broken or their country will crumble. Every man should earn his own way!

    Report Post » uncleherbert  
    • Non-sequitur
      Posted on March 26, 2011 at 3:00pm

      “Every man should earn his own way!” = “Every man should earn whatever the companies want to give him”

      Report Post »  
  • olddog
    Posted on March 26, 2011 at 1:12pm

    So much for the non-violent left. Heh

    Report Post » olddog  
    • WAR PIGS CRAWLING
      Posted on March 26, 2011 at 7:12pm

      I find it hard too believe that the non-violent left would have incandescent light bulbs to fill with ammonia…another example of the ends justify the means.

      Report Post » WAR PIGS CRAWLING  
  • welovetheUSA
    Posted on March 26, 2011 at 1:11pm

    PS……..Unions are being booted out of America in a slow but sure process…you best do the same in your country, unions have 4 Trillion dollars of Unfunded luxury retirements in American…that Unions expect the tax payer to pay for…….its not going to happen. Unions maybe a wonderful thing for a worker…but no one can afford them anymore and this is the end of unions.

    Report Post » welovetheUSA  
    • Salamander
      Posted on March 26, 2011 at 6:58pm

      Unions aren‘t being ’booted’ out of America! They are just dying a natural death as their ‘food supply’ runs out–JOBS!!! They’ve ALL been EXPORTED and the unions are running after the crumbs!

      Report Post »  
  • LadyIzShy
    Posted on March 26, 2011 at 1:11pm

    coming to a town near you

    Report Post » LadyIzShy  
  • welovetheUSA
    Posted on March 26, 2011 at 1:07pm

    Poor London….the once great country in the world…went to socialize society where people Expect free things..homes..schools..retirements..etc….Instead of building on a society where each person is responsible for their own destinty and own worth..to work for themselves . Now London is broke and people who never learned how to care for themselves want more…free stuff. Half your population are welfare cases from other countries….you opened your doors to muchers who take away from your own people…you must cut immigration and stop the welfare checks to save your nation.

    Report Post » welovetheUSA  
  • xtitan1
    Posted on March 26, 2011 at 1:05pm

    “The TUC union says it believes the cuts will threaten the country’s economic recovery, and has urged the government to create new taxes for banks and to close loopholes that allow some companies to pay less tax.”

    They want to stop cuts in government spending (which is just tax payers paying themselves) and raise taxes on corporations in order to help the recovery? Is it me or is it seeming more and more like liberals are just those who haven’t taken an economics course?

    Report Post »  
    • Dale
      Posted on March 26, 2011 at 3:16pm

      They took economics – they just failed: look at Keynes!

      Report Post » Dale  
  • TexOkie
    Posted on March 26, 2011 at 1:03pm

    So what percentage of those cruise missiles were American and how does that affect the British budget issue? But we wouldn’t want to distort the facts now would we?

    Are they protesting for more libraries and hospitals or for their bennies?

    Once you foster an entitlement class it is hard to draw back the freebies. And when you try this ins what you get.

    Report Post »  
  • NOBALONEY
    Posted on March 26, 2011 at 1:03pm

    Workers of the world unite. These demonstrations are part of the anti-government, anti-war, anti-social chaos going on worldwide. Did you notice in the first clip that a large group of thousands were taking time out for prayers(muslin). May-day will be a day for liberals, muslins, socialist, communists, and atheists

    Report Post » NOBALONEY  
  • jumping jehosaphat
    Posted on March 26, 2011 at 1:02pm

    Any minute now the International Coalition of Unions will get a UN resolution passed and numb nuts will start lobbing Tomahawks at the Houses of Parliament

    Report Post »  
  • 5410amh
    Posted on March 26, 2011 at 12:47pm

    There they go again, all those europeans know how to do is protest and complain about everything.

    Report Post »  
  • raydg
    Posted on March 26, 2011 at 12:47pm

    These are total idiots that grew up as spoiled brats that remain as spoiled brats. Cut the defense is their knee-jerk reaction, not knowing that if it were, it would only be a drop in the bucket. As for that moron who claimed that 100 cruise missles were launched on Lybia, it was American missiles from American ships. So we are straddled with the bill and not the UK. But never mind the truth, just tell a pack of lies that the sheeple will beleive.

    Unfortunately their thoughts have crossed the Alantic as we have aleady seen.

    Report Post »  
  • ares338
    Posted on March 26, 2011 at 12:43pm

    It seems as though Unions are the same everywhere.

    Report Post » ares338  
  • Charbet
    Posted on March 26, 2011 at 12:40pm

    Union Leaders= thugs and heathens.

    Report Post » Charbet  
  • Stopit
    Posted on March 26, 2011 at 12:37pm

    Its started here too, and imagine what the communist unions will be like if and when actual needed substantial cuts are made nationally…not like the mere token cuts in Wisconsin.

    Report Post »  
    • Marylou7
      Posted on March 26, 2011 at 1:50pm

      BUT unions don’t need an excuse to be violent. Every protest they have is in your face….that’s all they know.

      Report Post » Marylou7  
  • The Gooch
    Posted on March 26, 2011 at 12:34pm

    Ah, the anarchists. They don’t care about any cause, but they sure do love showing their arses. This is nothing a wood shampoo won’t cure. I am certain the idiots causing the trouble are there to celebrate the “A” in the circle and nothing more. The protesters should distance themselves from these undisciplined idiots and cooperate with the police in helping to identify and contain the lil’ darlings. As with all gatherings, you’re gonna have the odd collection of unsavory turds. It is a misnomer to call these select idiots protesters. They are anarchists who’ve found another excuse to cost taxpayers money. Brilliant. I’m fine with peaceful protesting… you gotta be careful how broad a brush you paint with when you start lumping the rabble rousers and delinquents in with Jon and Jane Britannian. No one here has the drunken uncle or thieving cousin that shows up at family gatherings?

    Report Post »  
    • drattastic
      Posted on March 26, 2011 at 12:47pm

      Not accepting the fact that your government is bankrupt ,yet still you won’t make concessions is just another form of anarchy. They are just as foolish and selfish as the anarchists among them.

      Report Post » drattastic  
    • The Gooch
      Posted on March 26, 2011 at 1:31pm

      Good point. I don’t have a witty retort. You can raze it with fire, break it with bricks and sticks or kill it with greed and intractability. Both are childish acts. I appreciate the insight. Well said.

      Report Post »  
    • Non-sequitur
      Posted on March 26, 2011 at 2:59pm

      I think their problems are mostly with the government being bankrupt and going “Let’s cut taxes to reduce our revenue even further!”

      Report Post »  
    • Therightsofbilly
      Posted on March 26, 2011 at 3:36pm

      @Non-Squirter,

      You just could not get any stupider.

      Report Post » Therightsofbilly  
  • tombuktu
    Posted on March 26, 2011 at 12:33pm

    I can’t help but wonder if there is any connection between UNISON and SEIU.

    Report Post »  
    • WIjoyzie
      Posted on March 26, 2011 at 2:49pm

      Besides the common factor of being run by commies?

      Report Post »  
  • BlackCrow
    Posted on March 26, 2011 at 12:32pm

    Oh what the heck, just fire up the presses and print money 24/7/365. Then there would be plenty for EVERYBODY!!! (sarcasm font)

    Report Post » BlackCrow  
  • dcwu
    Posted on March 26, 2011 at 12:24pm

    Love a labor government.

    Report Post »  
  • scottclown238
    Posted on March 26, 2011 at 12:18pm

    Look at the US Constitution under what Jefferson defines as a tyrant… democracy is chaos! We must try to be positive, for discouragement is a tool of evil.

    Report Post »  
    • Wayupnorth
      Posted on March 26, 2011 at 1:50pm

      The problum I see is Our form of Goverment it is to complacted for most people. The idea of self governance and the rule of law takes some thought and study. Its alot easier to understand the consept of democracy( majorty rule). I think, it is just harder for people to understand the consaqunces of it.

      Report Post »  
  • KL
    Posted on March 26, 2011 at 12:10pm

    Unions are violent mobs and should be outlawed! Their actions are bordering on domestic terrorism. They are selfish and I feel sorry for London. They need to wake up and start cutting back on the power the unions have!

    Report Post »  
  • GBMBulletsSKNRD
    Posted on March 26, 2011 at 12:09pm

    Comeing to a city near you.

    Report Post »  
    • WIjoyzie
      Posted on March 26, 2011 at 2:48pm

      It’s already infected my surroundings… in the people’s republic of Madison, WI. Just proves there are dummies worldwide!

      Report Post »  
  • TXPilot
    Posted on March 26, 2011 at 12:07pm

    And here we go, the world is quickly catching fire, just as Glenn and others have said it would.

    Report Post » TXPilot  
    • tankerBigRed1
      Posted on March 26, 2011 at 12:31pm

      When Glen was first on radio round here he had a squib bout a book by Russian author dat said by 2015 the U.S. would be in civil war & break up into separate countries– think the author was looking @ Eliot wave dat showed us is same place in 2014 as we were in 1933- looks like maybe happin?

      Report Post » tankerBigRed1  
    • Tnredneck
      Posted on March 26, 2011 at 1:22pm

      Yep. He said it will spread into Europe and destabilize the economy. Of course those of us with a lick of common sense saw this coming years ago before glen beck. And the profits of old predicted this over 2000 years ago. We can’t stop it but we can beat it back enough to survive it if were ready!

      Report Post »  
  • FANGS
    Posted on March 26, 2011 at 12:06pm

    I cant wait til these overpaid goons start shooting innocent taxpayers. Then we will make our badly needed correction. I lust for their end to start.

    Report Post »  
  • TruthTalker
    Posted on March 26, 2011 at 12:05pm

    Gimme Mine!

    Report Post »  
  • Stoic one
    Posted on March 26, 2011 at 12:05pm

    Every body has to balance the books; or pay the price…..

    Report Post » Stoic one  
    • Obama Bin Lying
      Posted on March 26, 2011 at 12:38pm

      Unions don’t care. They want you to cut every where else…but the unions.

      Report Post » Obama Bin Lying  
    • Anti_Spock
      Posted on March 26, 2011 at 12:53pm

      Unions believe that by strangling the proverbial Golden Goose they will get more eggs. How moronic is that? If anything they should be protesting restrictive policies and high taxation that has crippled their coffers.

      Report Post » Anti_Spock  
    • Angry_Bird
      Posted on March 26, 2011 at 12:55pm

      The unions or the mob? Don’t see much difference

      Now the guy’s got Paulie as a partner. Any problems, he goes to Paulie. Trouble with the bill? He can go to Paulie. Trouble with the cops, deliveries, Tommy, he can call Paulie. But now the guy‘s gotta come up with Paulie’s money every week, no matter what. Business bad? F#*# you, pay me. Oh, you had a fire? F#*# you, pay me. Place got hit by lightning, huh? F#*# you, pay me.
      Henry Hill-Goodfellas

      Report Post » Angry_Bird  
    • NancyBee
      Posted on March 26, 2011 at 1:00pm

      The whole world is on fire…..these people just don’t get it

      Report Post » NancyBee  
    • CatB
      Posted on March 26, 2011 at 1:06pm

      Yes .. this is happening everywhere .. cut anything else but NOT the Unions … we even had them in my old hometown prefer to take layoffs than to have to pay into their own health insurance LIKE THE REST OF US! I am fed up with these people .. seriously I never have and never would take a “union” job .. they are nothing but THUGS!

      Report Post »  
    • SUPPLY_SIDE
      Posted on March 26, 2011 at 1:14pm

      Unions are causing world wide chaos. In the future our decedents will recognize this and hopefully pass laws against this organized terrorism.

      Report Post » SUPPLY_SIDE  
    • maryslittlelamb
      Posted on March 26, 2011 at 2:10pm

      Liberals can’t see beyond their “zero sum economics”. All they understand is they want their piece of the pie. If they‘d leave us alone there’d be a BIGGER PIE!! Idiots!

      Report Post »  
    • SPOT_OF_TEA
      Posted on March 26, 2011 at 2:13pm

      I really don’t understand the logic of these protesters or the ones elsewhere such as Wisconsin….They are the biggest supporters of a global economy and a new world order yet they demand a much better lifestyle that those whom they want to be like….It doesn’t make any sense.

      Report Post » SPOT_OF_TEA  
    • GONESURFING
      Posted on March 26, 2011 at 2:30pm

      You all covered it pretty good, unions these days really suck.

      Report Post » GONESURFING  
    • Gold Coin & Economic News
      Posted on March 26, 2011 at 2:43pm

      Amazingly this is happening all over the world at once and is promoted by union thugs that just want more, more, more, regardless of the fact that every town, county, state, municipality, country, you name it, they’re running out of money, because we simple can’t afford the ridiculous social programs where everybody gets everything.

      You think that these Uniontards would see that it hasn’t been tax cuts to the wealthy, or banks, or corporations that have been the problem, but it’s simply everyone has their hand in the pot at the same time demanding their entitled cut of the so-called pie. And instead of these social programs actually delivering on their promises, they‘re bankrupting countries and states everywhere they’ve been tried. But none of these thugtards can see through the propaganda because their socialist leaders just point in the other direction and they blindly follow.

      Face up to it union thugs, you guys are at the root of the problem and your leaders have failed you and now they are out of money, and soon, you fools will be out of jobs. Put that in your pipe and smoke it.

      Report Post » Gold Coin & Economic News  
    • 123gone
      Posted on March 26, 2011 at 2:48pm

      It sounds like many of them are upset over the Tax Loopholes that allow Banks and Big Business to get away without paying taxes. Whatever it is, it’s probably headed this way.

      I still can’t get over General Electric getting away without paying any Income Tax here in the US. And they get Tax Credits to boot!

      How many other Big Businesses are getting away without paying any tax while the rest of us are taking it in the shorts?

      Report Post »  
    • P C BE DAMNED
      Posted on March 26, 2011 at 2:54pm

      Whats that stupid picture some one is carrying in the lead picture. Some pervert trying to rape a midget. What does that mean. I truely don’t get it.

      Report Post » P C BE DAMNED  
    • Xcori8r
      Posted on March 26, 2011 at 3:07pm

      Maybe the UK will serve as a case study for the effects of misguided currency creation and interest rate suppression to fund popular giveaways. But we better watch closely and learn as the UK is only a few months ahead of us on the inflation trajectory to the moon.

      True defender of the Kingdom, Daniel Hannon notes that UK inflation is now ahead of Zimbabwe.
      http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/danielhannan/100080317/uk-inflation-rate-is-now-higher-than-zimbabwes/

      Report Post » Xcori8r  
    • proudpatriot77
      Posted on March 26, 2011 at 3:17pm

      The left (communists) show their true colors again. Notice how it says just a SMALL group of people were rowdy. Gimme a break. Was this story written by Media Matters?

      Report Post »  
    • JRook
      Posted on March 26, 2011 at 3:18pm

      Of course but then again the person who ate the meal should pay the bill. 80% plus of the cumulative national debt was run up under Reagan, Bush Sr. and Bush Jr. That means it is primarily associated with the Baby Boomers and of course the debt occurred because they didn’t pay the freight at the time. Social Security is only part of the equation because the federal government borrowed from it rather than sell bonds. Anyway, point is the baby boomers and company’s who benefited from that debt should pay it off, not our children or grand children through drastic cuts to education, services. Baby boomers who cry fiscal conservatism now are akin to the old couple in town who vote down all school budgets once their kids have graduated.

      Report Post »  
    • Therightsofbilly
      Posted on March 26, 2011 at 3:39pm

      @Spot-of-Tea,

      Has anything the left has ever said or done made any sense?

      Report Post » Therightsofbilly  
    • elidine
      Posted on March 26, 2011 at 3:42pm

      Jrook, what about the young family with kids in elementary school that are demanding fiscal conservatism? Do you have some way to marginalize them too?

      Report Post » elidine  
    • Therightsofbilly
      Posted on March 26, 2011 at 3:46pm

      @JROOK,

      I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that you are most likely under the age of 50, and a proud graduate of the public school system.

      If I am right, you are excused. You know not what you thinketh, or sayeth.

      If I am wrong, you’re just a socialist troll.

      Report Post » Therightsofbilly  
    • Therightsofbilly
      Posted on March 26, 2011 at 3:49pm

      Sorry……..typo………..should read under 40, not 50

      Report Post » Therightsofbilly  
    • avenger
      Posted on March 26, 2011 at 3:50pm

      the uk is done…ya think they would learn from 1776…..oh wait….a prince is getting married..pathetic…

      Report Post »  
    • restorehope
      Posted on March 26, 2011 at 3:52pm

      These English union members don’t want to shoulder any economic burden, instead their solution is to further tax the banks. Now where have we heard that before? Oh, yes, the ‘evil’ banks are the only ones getting the blame in our country as well. The progressives just love to blame everyone but themselves for a problem. Yet their grab for entitlements are a big part of why the economy is in trouble.

      Report Post »  
    • drphil69
      Posted on March 26, 2011 at 4:24pm

      Violent protestors? Use tear gas, then bean bag rounds, then live rounds. Nothing like a few dead bodies to disperse violent protestors.

      Report Post »  
    • Uncle Crusty
      Posted on March 26, 2011 at 4:41pm

      Pathetic really, the unions priced their workers out of the market, jobs went overseas, and now they want more? This is coming here people, get ready to see this in your city, town or locality. I’m afraid this whole process will turn out badly, check that, it will be ugly!

      Report Post »  
    • Large Eagle
      Posted on March 26, 2011 at 4:46pm

      How come Tea Party patiots don’t turn over garbage cans

      Just asking

      Report Post »  
    • Islesfordian
      Posted on March 26, 2011 at 6:40pm

      “Whats that stupid picture some one is carrying in the lead picture. Some pervert trying to rape a midget. What does that mean. I truely don’t get it.”

      I believe that is a depiction of David Cameron, the Conservative Prime minister, as an emperor with no clothes walking behind his coalition partner Nick Clegg, the Lib Dem leader, portrayed as his jester.

      Report Post » Islesfordian  
    • Salamander
      Posted on March 26, 2011 at 7:08pm

      Terrible Twos! Temper Tantrums! Shout and Pout! Gosh, are we all living on the SAME PLANET??? God bless the police officers that have to put up with this SERIOUSLY HAZARDOUS material! The police aren’t paid enough to put up with this kind of behavior!!! Maybe they should take it out of the union dues, or their retirement plans–to pay for police overtime, any injuries and property damage, and clean-up! Take the money away in restitution and remedies and maybe they won’t be so willing to risk their retirement on a job cutback or pay cut!

      Report Post »  
    • True2thereplublic
      Posted on March 26, 2011 at 7:48pm

      Let us not lose another generation of our children to the world. Proverbs 30:1 I

      says, There is a generation that curses its father, And does not bless its

      mother.”

      By Jonathan L Perz

      Report Post » True2thereplublic  
    • SUPPLY_SIDE
      Posted on March 26, 2011 at 10:44pm

      So how is that Union/Socialist thing working out for ya England?

      Report Post » SUPPLY_SIDE  
    • RepubliCorp
      Posted on March 27, 2011 at 2:37am

      O’Carter?????Time for another no fly zone……….
      Maybe Spain can run this one

      Report Post » RepubliCorp  
    • Thomas Paine
      Posted on March 27, 2011 at 4:13am

      what ever that was broken by the “protesters” the Unions should pay to get it fix. The end is coming, nwo.

      Report Post »  
    • K Chad Roberts
      Posted on March 28, 2011 at 12:44pm

      “Unions have put together protests” Whoa!!! CNN said that?

      Report Post »  
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