Why was I jailed with other peaceful UK Uncut supporters arrested at Fortnum & Mason? We'd messed with the rich, apparently
On the day of the anti-cuts march the comedian Josie Long tweeted: "UK Uncut is about fun and peaceful protest." It's the same fun and peaceful protest that historically earned the group praise from the Daily Mail, celebrity fans from Radiohead to Duncan Bannatyne, and participants aged from three to 83. It is also the reason that I am proud to have attended numerous UK Uncut protests, from those that transformed Boots stores into hospitals to those that opened schools in Lloyds TSB. I've seen my fellow protesters bring along children, grandchildren, parents, friends and colleagues.
The occupation of Fortnum & Mason on 26 March was no different, as footage of the protest demonstrates. Despite this, and despite the police in the store praising the protest as "sensible", we were dragged away, arrested and taken to police stations around London. One of the protesters was 15 years old.
That protester, like me and many others, was locked in a cell for nearly 24 hours on the basis of evidence that was never presented to solicitors ? solicitors who were not contacted until the next morning. In the early hours of the morning we were unexpectedly woken up and told to take off our clothes. When we asked why, we were simply told that the police had the right to seize our clothes and would be doing so.
Mobile phones were taken along with DNA samples and fingerprints (a right of the police following arrest), despite the fact that not a single protester was charged with a violent offence, or damage to property. The 15-year-old was kept on watch by police due to anxiety. She was so distressed that when she ate, she threw up on herself. When she left the police station, she was asked to confirm that the Met could not be held responsible for her suicide.
A very senior officer in my station admitted to my parents that he regretted having to charge the protesters on the orders of Scotland Yard: he said they all seemed like "nice people", and that he suspected the charges were politically motivated. These sentiments were echoed by other officers who kept distinguishing us from "proper criminals". Another senior officer told me he suspected that it wasn't so much a case of legality, but that UK Uncut had upset people who were that little bit too rich; that little bit too powerful. Some police officers, I've been told, even advised protesters about constructing a defence.
It's a funny world we live in where people are dragged to jail cells for protesting peacefully, while one Bullingdon Club member can boast about spending a night in the cells and go on to become mayor of London. Even funnier that the police, who are also facing cuts, should reluctantly arrest protesters they apparently perceive to be peaceful. But it all boils down to one simple message from the government, summed up appropriately by a lyric from UK Uncut fans Radiohead: "This is what you get when you mess with us."
It's no coincidence that the majority of arrestees were affiliated to a movement that has gained phenomenal popular support, necessitated an investigation by the National Audit Office, and has prompted Whitehall to hold additional PR training. The government, it seems, is unfazed by protests ? unless they look like they are working. I am reminded of an observation the anarchist Emma Goldman once made about democracy: "If voting changed anything, they'd make it illegal."
In the end, that's what Saturday's events were all about: democracy. This is not about the politics of right and left ? this is the politics of right and wrong. We all have a right to participate in our democracy, a fundamental part of which is peaceful protest. It is distressing and disappointing to witness the unfolding media narrative, in which my actions have been confused with those of groups whose tactics I have no interest in adopting.
You may agree with what your government is doing now, but that might not always be the case. One day, the government might do something that you consider morally wrong, or an infringement of your rights. If that day comes, will you simply wait four years to put a cross on a piece of paper? Or will you make your voice heard?
If the answer is the latter, I hope that you won't be put off supporting UK Uncut, regardless of your politics; because if there's one thing that Saturday has taught us, it's just how easily questioning the government can land you in a cell.
Imogen Perry is a pseudonym for an anti-cuts activist
Source: http://feeds.guardian.co.uk/~r/theguardian/commentisfree/rss/~3/99byn9cKbiI/police-uk-uncut
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