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N30 - London

November 30th saw a 1000+ strong demo in London called Reclaim the Railways. Reclaim the Streets. The Strike Support Group organised the demo outside Euston Station which had the support of the London Transport Regional Council of the RMT (Tube workers) and the Campaign against Tube Privatisation.

Speakers at the rally included railworkers and others campaigning for rail safety and against privatisation, anti-WTO activists, Zapatista supporters and many others. The speakers presented a refreshing anti-capitalist message, urging direct action rather than following parties or voting for new politicians. Unlike the left, who have retarded the issue politically by calling for re-nationalisation, RTS urged workers' self-management as the only viable alternative to privatisation. This was excellent testimony to RTS's libertarian politics and willingness to set the agenda rather than dovetail the left of the Labour party.

In addition to the anarchist analysis presented in their proposed solution to the evils of privatisation, the demo also successfully linked New Labour's Thatcherite policies to the on-going global neo-liberal assault on our class. As one of their leaflets advertising the event put it: "The most blatant example of market madness in London is the privatisation of the Tube. Consequently, railways are the focus of the events here. Join us to say No! to privatisation. No! to another century of capitalism. No! to another century of alienated work, poverty, wars and ecological destruction - and Yes! to a new world based on real human community, a society based on our needs and desires not their profits!"

RTS also stressed the importance of doing it ourselves and not relying on or trusting politicians or political parties. Its a shame they did not use the word anarchist (unlike socialist and communist) during the speeches, but the libertarian message of self-help, direct action and solidarity came through clear as day and that is what really counts.

In addition, RTS stressed that the only real solution is a new society, one based on human needs and not capitalist profit. They also linked the need to transform this world into a better one with direct action of workers: "The only practical solution is for us to start talking to our fellow commuters and workers, to start coming together to build a new world. That is what railworkers begin to do when they go on strike. Of course, the media say strikes cause commuter misery and damage to the economy. But what is the economy about? It is about working hard just to survive, while making profits for others to live at our expense. The economy is human misery. By striking, workers reduce the misery!"

If revolutions are festivals of the oppressed, direct action is the pre-party drink in the pub! RTS should be congratulated for placing fun at the centre of struggle -- after all, we want the end of capitalism because it causes misery, we should not reproduce that misery in our organisations and activity. If we are serious about creating the new world in the shell of the old, then our rejection of hierarchical organisation must be accompanied by a rejection of the immiseration of our lives created by that hierarchy.

Some comrades also helped hammer home the importance of autonomous self-organisation by handing out a leaflet warning people of the parasitic nature of the SWP. As it said: "At our best we [the direct action movement] have developed radical anti-capitalist ideas through creative actions. Actions brought off with no leaders giving us orders, just mutual aid and solidarity between groups and individuals. The same ideas also inspire the vision of the world many of us want to see -- a free community based on co-operation, not competition and hierarchies. The SWP, however, see the Party as all important. The resistance of the oppressed must be controlled and directed by the party leadership to succeed ..." The leaflet was right to argue that "despite their radical language the SWP is fundamentally opposed to our movement" -- indeed any movement of working class self-liberation. It’s nice to see comrades arguing against vanguardism and bringing those arguments to those involved in demos. Keep up the good work.

All in all, the politics of the N30 demo were excellent -- libertarian in spirit, method and vision. It makes such a change from the politics of the "official" Labour movement and its various hangers on like the SWP. However, the turning over of a (very conveniently placed) empty police van by some of the (unmasked) protesters does raise questions.

Firstly the police obviously had the numbers, and resources to win any confrontation (unlike June 18th). Euston Station forecourt is an easily enclosed space, heavily monitored by CCTV. The chances were that we would lose, so why provide the police with easy targets? The police obviously wanted a re-match and organised for it. Why play their game?

Secondly, why should demos always become riots? The politics of the demo can be lost (as can be seen from the coverage where opposition to privatisation and other issues were lost). This is not a plea for pacifism (we know that the police attack peaceful demos and self-defence is essential). Rather it is a plea for intelligence and analysis. Why chance getting arrested when the risks are clearly higher than the rewards? You do not do yourself favours nor the movement which may support you in court and prison. After all, if all demos become riots they will only become the activity of those young, confident and strong enough to handle them. Is this really what we want? To disenfranchise the bulk of the population from our activities? Of course not.

One last point, the next day Prescott pulled Railtrack out of the contract to privatise the London Underground. Of course, this must have been pure coincidence. Now, the next example of market madness is the privatisation of Air Traffic Control. Perhaps its time to Reclaim the Sky?