Sunday October 17th, 2004 16:53 London - Preventitive arrests, police violence

17:50 - An English activist, Alessio, that managed to denounce the shameful arrests and the police violence from the official stage, was encircled by the ESF security service and the police as soon as he came down from the stage that arrested him. There have been a total of 4 arrests now.

17:40 - Don Vitaliano Della Sala denounces the shameful behavior of the ESF organizers, that are using their security personal to protect the police, from infront of the stage. Meanwhile the beaurocratic London left continues to speak from the stage.

17:30 - The activists have arrived in Trafalgar square, just under the official Social Forum stage. The speeches are continuing despite the arrests of the Italians Andrea and Vittorio, along with a young Greek activist. They have asked to come onto the stage to explain what happened earlier today in King Cross station, but they were stopped by the police who were sent by the ESF organizers.

16:10 - After having been stopped and beaten by the English Police, the activists are moving from the King Cross station, encircled by the police forces.

15:50 - Outside of the metro station the police are violently attacking the activists that are now reaching the entrance. While inside they are arresting two activists that spoke during the contestation of the official Social Forum assembly.

15:30 - The official ESF demonstration has started as if nothing had happened. This situation exemplifies the giagantic gap between the beaurocratic organizers and those that participate in grassroots social movements.

15:00 - While the European Social Forum demonstration is begining, about 50 activists, including English, Italians, and activists from Global Project and the Association Ya Basta! have been stopped by the English police that are now holding them. A truly preventative arrest. At this hour, other activists are trying to reach them at the metro station King Cross.

  The video of the arrests.