Occupation of the ‘People’s’ Town Hall

Part 1: Protest outside the Convention Centre
18th January 2013

By Ritchie Hunter
Photograph (right) by Kai Andersen

“It’s OK to protest, but can I please ask that you to go into the designated area”, the sergeant, one of two coppers, both large and jovial, says to us. “This is private land, and they want you to use that area.” He points to a fenced off spot some thirty yards away from the front of the BT Convention Centre, which is guarded by six burly security guards. We are at the centre to voice our disapproval of council and faith leaders, from all over the country, in Liverpool to discuss how they can pressure the government to introduce ‘fairer’ cuts.

We argue with the coppers, exchanging comments about the blizzard swirling around us and cuts to the police force. “We could stick you all in the cells, but it’s warmer in there than out here”, jokes the other copper, a constable. “But seriously, we will have to escort you off this land if you don’t go into the area set aside for you.”

“So you want us to ‘kettle’ ourselves?” I ask. This was a new development for me. In the past the police had done the ‘kettling’. Apparently now that cuts in the police force are biting, demonstrators are asked to organise themselves into ‘kettles’.

Most of us grudgingly moved to the periphery of the pen, but two of us refuse to be rounded up. We decide to walk about the snow-covered space outside the centre and pretend we’re just looking around. The coppers aren’t fooled by this tactic. “Listen”, the constable says to my partner in crime. “This is your last chance”. My partner declines to be penned in. “Right then. I’ll be back to move you.” He marches off to get reinforcements.

I approach the others. “They’re going to escort us out of here. I think we should all go together.” We gather away from the pen awaiting our fate. The two coppers approach again, but seem reluctant to carry out their threats. Other protestors had been arriving and our two emblems of state power are clearly unsure how to proceed. As one new arrival walks past he asks the coppers if they like their new uniforms. Everyone is a bit puzzled by this until he points to the centre security guards. “There, look, you’ll all be like them soon.” We burst out laughing.

In spite of the cold we are enjoying the banter and start arguing again, this time about their legal right to eject us. Trespass is a civil offence, and so it is the representative of the property that has to make the request to leave, not the police. “Who owns this land?” We ask. “Erm, BT”, says the Sergeant. “Well”, I say. “If you get someone from BT out here to tell me I have to leave, then I’ll go. I’m bloody freezing anyway.” Now, I know that this is Peel Holdings’ land, but obviously the local constabulary aren’t up-to-date on who owns most of Liverpool (they mustn’t have read any of the Nerves they confiscated off our stall in Church St. See Freedom of Expression - Nerve 13).

Anyway, off they go into the centre never to return.

Part 2: At the Town Hall

Later on 18th January 2013

Photo by Liverpool Education Activist

It being really cold, and with the lack of numbers to make a real impact outside the meeting of the ‘Special Ones’ at the Convention Centre, we decide to go in to the town hall. This is also an opportunity to get some publicity for our anti-cuts cause. We discuss if we should try and get in as small groups or try and look like tourists. As it happens, when we turn up the doors are open, so about twelve of us, including a two month old baby, just march in. As we go through the doors people shout and there is a running commentary from our tour guide, “So in the Liverpool Seamen's Revolt of 1775, the town hall was bombarded with canon. It was then stormed and red flags were raised. You can still see the holes where the cannon balls hit…” There is no resistance as we move into the council chambers, leaving some protesters outside to record and relay developments there.

We put up our “No Cuts” placards, and the contingent from Birmingham Anti-Cuts hang their banner. High above this a proposal is made from the councillor leader’s seat to stop all cuts in services. We shout “hear hear” and then chant “No ifs, No Buts, No Public Sector Cuts!” Then we sing, Bella Ciao and The Internationale.

After about twenty minutes the same two coppers from the Convention Centre, along with a woman constable, turn up saying much the same things as before. “You’re trespassing. If you don’t leave you will be arrested.” We shout back, “You have no authority in here. You need to get the owner to tell us to leave.” Hold on, this is a public building, which means we’re the owners. We compromise: “If you get Joe Anderson, we’ll leave after talking to him”, they head off again.

Fifteen minutes later and Joe Anderson is here. (I have to admit I have a grudging respect for how he puts himself right out in front, and it seems to be a badge of honour for him to give and take abuse. He can start it as well as react to it, and he can be really nasty and bullying.)

Joe reads our statement, but comes out with his usual line. It’s as if he has a cord attached to his back, which when pulled sets off: “What do you want me to do, set an illegal budget? I have no alternative. We’re building five thousand new homes, twelve new schools and we’re starting thousands of apprenticeships. I have a mandate off the people to set a budget. What mandate do you have? I don’t agree with austerity, but I have no choice. What do you want me to do? Resign?”

“Yes Joe, that would be a start! Or, you could get all the councils together and organise them to fight the government, instead of working out how to implement the cuts.”

“Not my job to get councils together”, he replies. End of!

Joe leaves soon after, his parting shot a demand that we get out of our own building. Our friendly sergeant returns, but not so friendly now. In fact his words carry real menace: “If you don’t leave now you will be arrested for breach of the peace”.

We are ready to leave anyway, so we make our way from the town hall, to be greeted by a rousing reception from those outside.

Website: liverpoolagainstthecuts.wordpress.com
Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/247104041983404

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