London Protests Gather Strength After Massive Budget Cuts Announced

Organisers of a huge protest against the Government's public spending cuts tonight hailed the demonstration a "fantastic success" after hundreds of thousands of people joined the biggest event of its kind for over 20 years.

Between 400,000 and 500,000 teachers, nurses, firefighters, council and NHS workers, other public sector employees, students, pensioners and campaign groups from across the UK marched through central London to a rally where union officials and Labour leader Ed Miliband condemned the "brutal" cuts in jobs and services.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/half-a-million-activists-join-anticuts-march-2253791.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/26/london-protests-gather-st_n_841009.html

Quarter-Million Protesters Flood City Streets, Clash With Police

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_mUf35DlLM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXafL0D9QtY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYOeq060PDI

Jen wrote:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_mUf35DlLM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXafL0D9QtY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYOeq060PDI

Yikes!!! I wonder how long those protests will be going on and am thankful the WI protests weren't even remotely like that. That's some pretty scary stuff.

London set to limit right to protest
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/172128.html

The British government has announced controversial plans to ban protestors
from taking part in public gatherings following the weekend anti-cuts
rallies, which were marred by violence.Based on a proposal by Home Secretary Theresa May, the police may be
given new powers to prevent so-called hooligans from attending rallies
and marches while officers will also be authorized to force
demonstrators, who do not want to be known, to remove their face-scarves
and balaclavas.

The announcement has raised concerns among MPs who say no hasty
decision should be made on the issue as the police may abuse the “stop
and search” powers to target ordinary people rather than “known
hooligans”.

May outlined her plans during an emergency Commons briefing on the
violent incidents, which marred the Saturday rally organized by the
Trades Union Congress.

May told the MPs that she is considering “banning orders” similar to
those used against football hooligans for the demonstrators who police
thinks may turn to violence.

She also said officers should force more protestors to remove their
masks and balaclavas to help the police quickly identify participants in
the rallies.

"Just as the police review their operational tactics, so the Home
Office will review the powers available to the police. I have asked the
police whether they need further powers to prevent violence before it
occurs. I am willing to consider powers which would ban known hooligans
from rallies and marches and I will look into the powers the police
already have to force the removal of face-coverings and balaclavas,” May
said.

While the Metropolitan Police earlier said it has charged 149 people
out of more than 200 arrested during the Saturday rallies with various
offenses, at least five people have lodged complaints with Scotland Yard
about police violence against marchers.

The Met said on Monday that it has charged 138 people in connection
with the sit-in at Fortnum & Mason luxury store for charges
including aggravated trespass.

However, the UK Uncut, which organized the sit-in dismissed any
claims that those participating in the Fortnum & Mason incident
resorted to violence.

"This was not a protest by people wearing balaclavas and breaking
things. It was a peaceful and mild-mannered gathering by people from all
walks of life - teachers, hospital workers, charity workers,” said Tim
Matthews, a spokesman for UK Uncut.

"People who took part now find themselves charged with a criminal
offence simply for exercising their right to protest," he added.

This come as Tom Brake MP, co-chair of the Liberal Democrat
parliamentary policy committee on home affairs, justice and equalities
warned the government against “a knee-jerk reaction” to what happened.

"Clearly there was a small minority who were out to cause trouble.
We need to look in detail into whether the police have sufficient powers
to tackle that, or whether they can be deployed differently to ensure
such violent scenes don't happen again," Brake said.




Police Provocateur London Anti Cut Protest 26/3/11 (EDITED)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmskOljRxsw

It seems that countries are trying to limit protesting after there are major protests. This is very sad.