Arrested For Protesting Against The "royal" Wedding

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Friday May 06, 2011 20:09

by pat c

Chris Knight of the Radical Anthropology Group was among those arrested for attempting a street theatre performance to coincide with the royal wedding. They were accused of 'conspiracy to cause a public nuisance' and detained for more than 24 hours. Chris on a previous occasion was accused of incitement to violence because he had an Eat The Rich placard around his neck. Here he speaks to Peter Manson. Full story at link.

I’ve been saying all along that, despite what they claim about this being a private wedding, the fact is that it was taxpayers who paid for this party - the security costs were by far the highest component. So it was our party and we had every right to be part of the proceedings.

Zombies in Soho Square: victims of police

Not everyone in the country is a monarchist. Some of us are socialists, republicans, anarchists … but all of us should have been able to participate in this joyful occasion, in whatever ways made us feel comfortable. Personally, I only felt comfortable with a guillotine. To cut through all the royalist media propaganda we needed a striking image, something the cameras could pick up. I can’t think of anything more likely to do that than our very large guillotine, something that looks as though it might be quite efficient at doing the job.

We were going to go along as royals - to be honest, if it’s good enough for them, it’s good enough for us. Why can’t we be princes and princesses and put various baubles and crowns on our heads? As an anthropologist, I admire hunter-gatherers. When some Kalahari bushmen were once asked, ‘Who is your king?’, the answer came back: ‘Well, actually, all of us.’ When everyone is king, no-one is king. I’ve always admired that logic of levelling up rather than levelling down. I’ve never felt particularly inspired by campaigns for a bourgeois republic: swapping royalist fancy dress for the fancy dress of a president’s suit and tie.

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Comments (5 of 5)

We Are All Royal

by Blueblood

Fri May 06, 2011 21:33

"Why can’t we be princes and princesses and put various baubles and crowns on our heads?"

Good idea. Maybe one or other of the groups organising the protests against Liz could organise a "We Can All Be Royal" contingent, or even a contest with prizes for the best costume. Another idea would be a display of some rather over-the-top "Forelock-tugging".

lets build one...chop chop

by V for vendetta

Fri May 06, 2011 21:55

I like the idea of a big guillotine prop at the Lizzie protest!! Anyone good at woodwork?

Not really

Sat May 07, 2011 17:03

Eirigi used the guillotine as a bit of street theater recently. I think that idea is a bit cliched. The idea should be more along the lines of "We are at least as good as them [royals]" rather than just being like angry peasants descending into violence. The violence is surely more characteristic of the "royals" than of the Irish populace.

they should fear the people

Sat May 07, 2011 20:34

Yeah. It's a nice fantasy. All we have to do is dress up as bit and we're exactly the same as them.
But the cold reality is that we're poor and disempowered and they are rich and powerful.

But that guillotine sure is a symbol that strikes fear into the aristocracy. And its important that they retain a healthy fear of the people, despite all their riches and power.

Cliche or not, I say wheel it out!! ;-)

Not "exactly"

Sat May 07, 2011 22:57

I did not say we would be "exactly the same as them". I said "We are AT LEAST as good as them". But if you are bringing out the guillotine please remember that the royals will have to join take their turn. There is a various assortment of bankers, politicians and media "personalities" ahead of them in the queue.

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Arrested For Protesting Against The "royal" Wedding

Comments (5 of 5)