When Giles Fraser resigned as the Canon Chancellor of St Paul’s last year it was, he said, because he could not face the prospect of “Dale Farm” on the steps of the Cathedral. But, to the protesters’ credit, last night’s eviction did not result in violence. Legal observers report that there were around 20 arrests but the majority of activists, who were given just five minutes’ notice by bailiffs, complied peacefully with police orders.
On Twitter, Fraser, who was denied access to the site by police, has commented:
Really proud of the way Occupy conducted themselves last night.
— Giles Fraser (@giles_fraser) February 28, 2012
Of concern to activists is the apparent collusion of St Paul’s with the eviction. Jonathan Bartley, the co-director of the Christian think-tank Ekklesia, has posted footage (see below) of police stating that the Cathedral gave them permission to clear the steps. The protesters lost their legal right to remain earlier this month but there are some who feel that St Paul’s should have stood with them in peaceful resistance.
Meanwhile, Occupy London has issued a press release declaring that “plans are already afoot: plans of some ambition, employing a diversity of tactics and delivered with the aplomb you would expect from us.”
The key paragraphs read:
This morning, the City of London Corporation and St Paul’s Cathedral have dismantled a camp and displaced a small community, but they will not derail a movement. The attention given to the final hours of the Occupy London Stock Exchange site is testament to that. We would like to thank all those who got the word out on social and traditional media overnight. We are deeply appreciative of the sustained attention we have received; it’s all the more precious at absurd hours of the morning.
The natural question to rush to in these moments is “what next?” In the short term, there will be a GA at 7pm on Tuesday by the steps of St Paul’s. In the medium term, it is only right that people will need time to rest, reflect and recharge, to take stock and learn the lessons of the past four and a half months. But be assured that plans are already afoot: plans of some ambition, employing a diversity of tactics and delivered with the aplomb you would expect from us. All will be revealed in time. May is one of our favourite months.
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