London Mayday - Suited and Booted with the Hijackers

[Bristly Pioneer]

Hello,

After a workshop we held at Reclaim The Future, we realised that there was a fair demand for a different type of mayday than an anarchist block on a march. We're not trying to tread on toes, but hell there's always room for more trouble on Mayday. So if you fancy something a bit more varied, come and play...

Bristly Pioneer


MAYDAY 2007 – Suited and Booted
We want to relaunch the Mayday protests with a new spirit and new tactics.

Why are we protesting on Mayday?
Because our current system is unsustainable and the chase for corporate profit is ruining our lives and our planet. The Haymarket Martyrs died in 1886 protesting for an eight hour day, a 9-5. When was the last time anyone worked one of those? Climate change is coming whether we like it or not, business is going to have to change and people are going to have to learn to share. We need to take back control of our lives and we are going to have to turn the social rules upside down.

The press, police and government have been able to scare off, contain and criminalise, us and our tactics with increasing efficiency, since Mayday was switched from a simple A-B workers march. This has caused the protests on Mayday to gradually dwindle in numbers and vibrancy over the last few years, culminating in a return to state authorised marching last year.

We have decided to see if we can inject a bit of life into this dwindling day of protest and celebration, we don’t want to march from A-B.

We have a plan, it’s as raucous as our Circle Line Parties, its as well dressed as our Midnight Cricket Matches and it’s as down right cheeky as our Guerilla Benching. We would like you to join us, and kick Mayday back into the calendar with a bright colourful bang!

We are going to be hosting a party right in the heart of the Corporate Financial Centres of London. To pull it off we will need secret agent cunning, disguise, inventiveness, stealth equipment and more.

We can’t let the cat out of the bag just yet, however here are a few details. Firstly, in order to get past the police, you will need to get an outfit together, we are all going to be disguised as city workers. When we say disguised as city workers, we mean it. NOT DRESSED AS PROTESTORS WITH T-SHIRT, TRAINERS AND A SUIT, it’s time to pull your finger out and realise that your individuality isn’t challenged with a bit of dressing up.

Please see our guide for details.

There is going to be music, there is going to be singing and dancing. We need people to bring instruments, hidden in briefcases and suitcases, we need people to bring radios, we need people to bring drinks, cakes and smiles to share. We need people to bring what they hope to find.

We are planning all manner of cunning things, including a singalonga with Jarvis himself, because “Cunts are still running the world”. But we can’t plan everything, we are not your boss, and don’t want to be, so start planning your own actions and events, get your thinking caps on and lets relight the mayday torch.

More details are coming soon, but for now, spread the word, get excited and get an outfit sorted.

Space Hijackers … Over and Out.
http://www.spacehijackers.org

 

[bluestreak]

i cannae wait to see what ou've got planned now!

 

[In Bloom]

We want to relaunch the Mayday protests with a new spirit and new tactics.

So why aren't you doing anything different to what's been done before then?

 

[Bristly Pioneer]

well for a start if everyone is dressed in suits, in a space full of corporate workers, it is going to be very hard. If not impossible for the police to pin us down.

If they try to kettle us, (or bubble as I think it's now known), like they have on previous Maydays. They are going to find themselves coralling dozens of legitimate suits in the process! Meaning chaos for police handling of the situation.

Imagine the Thomas Crown Affair but with activists.

 

[In Bloom]

I can see where you're coming from, but I'd probably be a bit more sympathetic to all this if there wasn't this weird separation being placed between "activists" (who only wear suits to fuck with The Man's head) and "corporate workers" (who are obviously in central London in suits on a week day because they enjoy working).

 

[lostexpectation]

Hello,

More details are coming soon, but for now, spread the word, get excited and get an outfit sorted.

Space Hijackers … Over and Out.
http://www.spacehijackers.org

the space hijackers have got shares in a suit hire shop its all a con!

 

[Luther Blissett]

Outfit sorted, and looking forward very much to getting horizontal with Space Hijackers

It's my favourite position

 

[Hocus Eye.]

I have just spent many enjoyable minutes browsing their site. More power to them and their briefcases full of secret things. I would love to have seen a Circle Line party.

 

[nosos]

<no point>

 

[yokerist]

Well Im tempted to say boing boing boing. . . ..

But really suits and boots in the City????

Wonderfully irreverent thats for sure!!

or do did I say irrelevent. . . . .

 

[Hocus Eye.]

What if the city gents get to hear of this and decide to have a 'dress down' day to expose the imposters. If it was a Friday this could happen in any case - I haven't checked the calendar.

If anyone wants a cheap suit I suppose they could approach the Royal Navy who might have about 15 surplus to requirements at the moment.

 

[yield]

Well Im tempted to say boing boing boing. . . ..

But really suits and boots in the City????

Wonderfully irreverent thats for sure!!

or do did I say irrelevent. . . . .

Who cares if it's irreverent, the idea is to have fun.

 

[TopCat]

I will have to buy a suit then!

 

[Johnny Canuck3]

The shoes are the dead giveaway. Business types usually drop a couple of hundred bucks on a pair of shoes.

You can borrow your brother's suit, but the shoes probably won't fit. The cops will just have to look down.

 

[Thora]

So why aren't you doing anything different to what's been done before then?

Change the record love! Surely even you must be bored of yourself by now?

 

[TopCat]

The shoes are the dead giveaway. Business types usually drop a couple of hundred bucks on a pair of shoes.

You can borrow your brother's suit, but the shoes probably won't fit. The cops will just have to look down.

My shoes are hand made in England, the best cobblers of the world thank you!

 

[Bristly Pioneer]

I can see where you're coming from, but I'd probably be a bit more sympathetic to all this if there wasn't this weird separation being placed between "activists" (who only wear suits to fuck with The Man's head) and "corporate workers" (who are obviously in central London in suits on a week day because they enjoy working).

I think, to be honest that's part of the plan. We're trying to get away from a Them Vs Us point of view. Were going to try and embrace the beast, and promote this via MySpace, Office email forwards, party mailing lists, and everything else, so hopefully it won't just be activists who come along to play.

It's partially about saying that we are all getting shafted by "the man", so let's get together and see if we can shake things up a bit. That campaigning for workers rights isn't just done by unemployed troublemakers, and that we are all going to be affected by climate change, so let's start working together. Business is going to have to change, as are we all.

Taking on the 8 hour day theme, i think the plan is to kick off at 5pm (when we should all finish work). Then encouraging a party, socialising and play in a space which is usually so rigid and formal.

 

[pdxm]

I see a tiny flaw in this cunning plan.... It's complete bollocks!

1) Your average city suit doesn't come from primark
2) Your average businessperson doesn't have multi-coloured hair and has generally applied shampoo in the past week or so
3) They tend not to smoke endless roll-ups
4) They don't walk to work behind some crap samba band
5) They tend to be at WORK by 9am

 

[DrRingDing]

I see a tiny flaw in this cunning plan.... It's complete bollocks!

1) Your average city suit doesn't come from primark
2) Your average businessperson doesn't have multi-coloured hair and has generally applied shampoo in the past week or so
3) They tend not to smoke endless roll-ups
4) They don't walk to work behind some crap samba band
5) They tend to be at WORK by 9am

The above poster is yer typical obnoxious ruddy faced copper

 

[In Bloom]

I think, to be honest that's part of the plan. We're trying to get away from a Them Vs Us point of view. Were going to try and embrace the beast, and promote this via MySpace, Office email forwards, party mailing lists, and everything else, so hopefully it won't just be activists who come along to play.

It's partially about saying that we are all getting shafted by "the man", so let's get together and see if we can shake things up a bit. That campaigning for workers rights isn't just done by unemployed troublemakers, and that we are all going to be affected by climate change, so let's start working together. Business is going to have to change, as are we all.

Taking on the 8 hour day theme, i think the plan is to kick off at 5pm (when we should all finish work). Then encouraging a party, socialising and play in a space which is usually so rigid and formal.

Ah, I see where you're coming from. I still think you'll look bloody daft though

 

[Kid_Eternity]

Imagine the Thomas Crown Affair but with activists.

Now that is a good pitch!

 

[upsidedownwalrus]

The shoes are the dead giveaway. Business types usually drop a couple of hundred bucks on a pair of shoes.

You can borrow your brother's suit, but the shoes probably won't fit. The cops will just have to look down.

But a lot of people working in the city - admin people etc - aren't necessarily earning that high salaries...

 

[Bristly Pioneer]

I see a tiny flaw in this cunning plan.... It's complete bollocks!

1) Your average city suit doesn't come from primark
2) Your average businessperson doesn't have multi-coloured hair and has generally applied shampoo in the past week or so
3) They tend not to smoke endless roll-ups
4) They don't walk to work behind some crap samba band
5) They tend to be at WORK by 9am

Not every activist is a multicoloured hair, roll up smoking job shy soap dodger . 90% of the people I know coming are activists with jobs, suits and look fairly regular, and who've booked holiday for the day. They are going to manage to fit it quite nicely. Music isn't going to be just Samba (although hopefully we will manage to smuggle some in) and it's going to be kicking off late enough that even if you are working, you can bunk off a bit early to come and play.

You've got to think outside of the box man!

 

[DrRingDing]

5) They tend to be at WORK by 9am

...and the filth have such a reputation for hard work

Get a proper job then you can start lecturing others sunshine.

 

[Taxamo Welf]

I think, to be honest that's part of the plan. We're trying to get away from a Them Vs Us point of view. Were going to try and embrace the beast, and promote this via MySpace, Office email forwards, party mailing lists, and everything else, so hopefully it won't just be activists who come along to play.

It's partially about saying that we are all getting shafted by "the man", so let's get together and see if we can shake things up a bit. That campaigning for workers rights isn't just done by unemployed troublemakers, and that we are all going to be affected by climate change, so let's start working together. Business is going to have to change, as are we all.

Taking on the 8 hour day theme, i think the plan is to kick off at 5pm (when we should all finish work). Then encouraging a party, socialising and play in a space which is usually so rigid and formal.

in that case it doesn't interfere with anyone else's event so fair play
go to London Mayday first, wear a suit to that - i have

Nothing wrong with suits

 

[TopCat]

Ah, I see where you're coming from. I still think you'll look bloody daft though

Whats the alternative? Marching with a load of stalin worshippers?

 

[editor]

Change the record love! Surely even you must be bored of yourself by now?

 

[bluestreak]

I see a tiny flaw in this cunning plan.... It's complete bollocks!

1) Your average city suit doesn't come from primark
2) Your average businessperson doesn't have multi-coloured hair and has generally applied shampoo in the past week or so
3) They tend not to smoke endless roll-ups
4) They don't walk to work behind some crap samba band
5) They tend to be at WORK by 9am

if only the real police were as thick as you, it would make our lives so much easily. sadly you're no more a copper than i am. unless of course dressing up and wanking over the idea of beating up lefties makes you a copper.

 

[Taxamo Welf]

Whats the alternative? Marching with a load of stalin worshippers?

thye are perhaps equally useless. However one aims to have a playful take on the ritualised cat and mouse game between 'protestor' and police officer and one aims to put anarchism or socialism across to potentially interested parties.

Both events could have the same effect - to get people interested in anarchism or socialism and the cause and effects of inequality. Its just a matter of approach and its up to you, the discerning communist to decide which you prefer.

furthermore, marching with stalinists doesn't clash with dress-up day do you can do bothe

 

[8ball]

<checks diary>