The Occupy London protest at St. Paul's Cathedral was going smoothly into the early evening hours as some 3,000 people congregated to voice their anger at corporate greed and a lack of global social justice. Then entered the police, who refused to allow protesters to continue their peaceful sit-in into the evening. An iconic photo has already begun spreading across social media networks of a man in a wheelchair being pulled down by police as the crackdown began on Saturday evening. “It was so good and peaceful until the police just decided they would not let us continue our demonstration that was peaceful and full of spirit,” said one protester via email to Bikyamasr.com. “I don't know why the police are doing this. We are fighting for them as well,” the activist said. According to Scotland Yard later in the evening, at least 10 people had been arrested and police accused a handful of the protesters of assaulting officers. Organizers told local British media that the violent crackdown began as they began attempting to set up campsites in the area, but London police refused the move, saying they would not allow protesters to spend the evening in front of the cathedral. The BBC quoted a police source as saying the move would be “illegal and disrespectful.” Across the UK demonstrations were also strong, with lower key protests taking place in Bristol, Birmingham, Glasgow and Edinburgh. Police also prevented the Occupy London movement from establishing a camp outside the London Stock Exchange. Across the globe, Occupy Wall Street off-shoots were massive on the global day against corporatism and greed, with some 951 cities in 82 countries taking part. BM
