Leeds Street Party, 9 May 1998
Gumbyfish writes:
The sun shone, the people were there, all colourful and cheery and it was all set up to
be a triffic, trafficless party last Saturday on Albion Street in Leeds.
Unfortunately the police had other ideas.
Having split up to confuse West Yorkshires finest, two crowds of people came together
on Albion Street to be confronted with 20 - 30 police brandishing truncheons, batons and,
more worryingly, cs gas spray. After the police confiscated tripods, the protesters
attempted to set up a bouncy castle only to be beaten back by more officers with
telescopic batons. Several protesters had gas sprayed in their faces and the police later
denied even having the spray, even though one of their own officers had to be taken to
hospital when he was sprayed by mistake! The confrontation was settled when the 500
protesters sat in the road in a demonstration of a non-violent protest and the police
allowed the organisers to set up a sound system and the bouncy castle.
The party continued throughout Saturday afternoon and once the police had left, without
further incident. Banners were strung up and shoppers were informed about the nature of
the protest whilst protesters danced showed others just how much fun a traffic free street
could be.
One banner seemed to sum up the atmosphere perfectly. It simply said,
"Reclaimed."