Reykjavik is Burning!!

as promised here is the latest post from the front line of the Reykjavik protests. It all kicked off yesterday about one o'clock, where we heard chanting outside the Althingi, yesterday was the opening of parliament after the Christ's Mass break. Gathering our hats a few of us made for the parliament building, where the police had cordoned off the front of the place with barrier tape. Just like Iceland, a jogger ran through the Police cordon and in front of all the protesters who had gathered banging various pots and pans. It didn't take long for the barrier tape to be ripped down and the crowd to converge on the building front. The egg throwing and snowballing started pretty soon after that.

Presently a woman jumped up on a bollard and told everyone to go around the back of the building. We all did and found that there were no police at all round there. Everyone was banging on the glass windows and I was caught up in the moment and joined in along with Angelos. It was great to be part of something so big. The Police arrived in riot gear and forced the crowds back with pepper spray and heavy handed brutality. Fucking fascists. But there were still people in the garden throwing snowballs at the building and banging on the windows at the back. Everybody seemed to have an implement for banging on and some guy even brought a drum kit in order to disrupt the parliament session.

It went on all afternoon and into the early morning by all accounts. The whole thing was organised by a new group of protesters, who go around in ski masks or with their faces covered by scarves. They are a lot more 'direct action' than the earlier protesters. I think this is great, the time for peaceful protest is over. The Government haven't listened to the voice of the people, no matter how loud they shout.

I was watching the news report later in the evening and who should pop up in the report, banging on the windows? Yours truly! I've now been on TV in at least four countries; Iceland, the UK, Japan and Canada! Maybe that's my new calling.