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Anti-capitalist protesters set up camp in Leeds city centre
Protestors set up camp in City Square, Leeds.
Anti-capitalist protesters have set up camp in City Square as part of the Occupy Leeds anti-capitalist movement.
A group of around 30 people occupied the square in front of the Queens Hotel from 11am to express their concerns over the government’s handling of the economy.
People from various walks of life gathered to discuss their personal worries regarding spending cuts and the lack of support from their local politicians.
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The protestors put up four tents, attaching guy ropes to wooden crates they’d brought with them.
Ryan Preston, 19, unemployed, from Leeds, said there was a sense of injustice throughout society and things “had to change”.
He told the YEP: “The government say we have to pay for this mess and they think we have to put up with it.
“I want a job but am struggling to find one, I find it degrading to live off my mum and dad.”
University of Leeds student Rhianna, 22, who did not want to give her surname, said: “A lot of people feel their not represented by the government so by getting together we can express how we feel stronger.”
Mother of two, Sheryl , 46, from Leeds, who also would not give her surname, said that she felt let down by her local MP but she has found her voice again and wants to encourage other people to do the same.
She added: “I could do a better job than him. We want more people to join up, you’re not alone.”
The protestors said they did not know when they would leave the area.
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Comments
There are 32 comments to this article
Page 1 of 3
NathanSnowden
Friday, November 18, 2011 at 10:25 AMThe problem is, it isn't actually a protest is it? For it to be a protest there has to be a clear goal, the goal here appears to be 'complain about all the bad things that have happened in the last decade and hope that somebody makes it better'. I would put a bet on it, that If I asked each of those 'protesters' in isolation what it is that they are protesting against, I would get an entirely different answer, these are the ones I have had so far: 'greedy banks', 'no jobs', 'the capitalist system', 'cuts in benefits'. I agree that all these things are horrible, but the 'protest' is non-specific, if it has not unified goal,what can it expect to acheive? Raise awareness? I am aware that I don't have a six pack stomach or thousands in the bank,sitting in a tent telling people about all of these non connected gripes will not change my situation. If you want to change things, you need to be specific and offer a solution.
Redrod
Wednesday, November 16, 2011 at 12:30 PMIf we get off the topic of who these people are and analyse what it is they are saying...it's simple - we live on a finite planet - the system of growth economics requires infinite resources which the planet cannot provide. My five year old daughter understands that. We have to wake up and stop bickering. What positive change are we all going to make? We are all in this together as Osborne said - but what he didn't mean was this isn't just 'tightening our belts' so we can carry on as before. We have to have a total change of consciousness and we can no longer accept the 'reality' of consumerism. We need 5 planet earths to provide the amount of stuff that is bought and disposed of in America alone.
Redrod
Wednesday, November 16, 2011 at 12:21 PMI visited the occupation for the 2pm discussion yesterday. A local employee from the financial district dressed in expensive grey suit and matching polka dot tie and handkerchief was involved in the debate. His views were listened to politely and he quickly realised that at the occupation every voice is heard and given valid space. To his argument that the occupation is illegal the point was made that no changes in the law to give ordinary people rights have ever been legal - examples - the Suffragettes giving women the vote, Rosa Parks sitting on a 'whites only' bus seat. Mr Grey Suit was pleasantly surprised by the openness and poltieness of the people in the square. This is NOT a bunch of 'layabouts or scroungers' - this is real democracy - demos means people - people power is what the Ancient Greeks meant when they created the first democracy.
OWNMIND
Tuesday, November 15, 2011 at 02:24 PMLabour eagerly gave our money to the bankers, Labour cheerfully gave our gold away. Labour smiled and created tuition fees, Labour gladly waved good bye to Rover, Woolworths, our nuclear power stations etc. Did these dropouts, layabouts and professional protesters camp in the middle of Leeds and demand change on our behalf whilst this carnage was ongoing? Of cause they didn’t, because this is ALL about politics and greed, not society. They were glad to stick snouts in the trough of generous benefits when they were getting money they didn’t earn, but now the money run out they suddenly decide to squawk. Scream, strike and march against the government it’s a free country and you have every right. But don’t pretend your doing it for the down trodden, don’t lie and say it’s for the youth, spare us the hypocrisy about bankers and capitalism now the free money taps turned off. It’s the politics of the jealous, lazy and undemocratic. They are just as selfish as the bankers they profess to hate, two sides of the same coin.
Ra-Jae.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011 at 01:56 PMEveryone is blaming the government for the economic crisis that we are in but we need to remember that the British government represent the British PEOPLE. One cannot lump the blame onto single political figure like David Cameron or whoever it is that is coming under the fire. The fact is that we all (British citizens) are partly to blame for the economic crisis that we are in. We have all contributed with a lifetime of functioning within, and therefore supporting, a system that runs on unrealistic and unsustainable system of money and debt. And who creates the money and build up that debt? - we do! At some point this was going to have to happen, it was never going to be easy, and somebody has to start somewhere with organising sorting it out. And, yes, it is horrible that we are in this situation, but, that fact is, we are and we have to face it. David Cameron and the government are the ones having to make these necessary hard decisions that we are inevitably not going to like, but it has to be done. Unfortunately, the sad fact is, that we ALL have to face up to our responsibilities of our actions that have lead to this crisis and we ALL have to take responsibility in putting this right.
jaycole
Tuesday, November 15, 2011 at 12:06 PMDear Ken2 I am always up for freedom of speech and quite often after hearing one side of an argument openly admitted that maybe my feelings were one sided. However I feel for the first time I should sign up and correct someone. Fact Britain and Nato were involved in the Libya conflict under UN jurisdiction. Yes it cost the UK tax payer upwards of £950 million (source The Guardian). The reason for this high cost? Our armed forces used laser guided bombs which ensure that the target only is hit and conventional bombing was not used. I believe that only one strike by Nato was recorded by independent parties to have hit innocent people. Maybe it was more and however sad it was it was not thousands so please so not put a black mark on our Armed forces. It is my thought that Protest does nothing apart from cost funds, to police it, to clean up, loss of revenue for local business etc. Yes we are all in this mess. I lost three jobs due to being made redundant over the last 4 years but I picked myself up and got another job, took pay cuts etc. What we need to do is all work together resolve the issue then by all means discuss it to ensure that it never happens again.
htchlin
Monday, November 14, 2011 at 11:02 PMWho do these people think they are I have nursed for over forty years, and what have I GOT debt upto my eyeballs. Tried to have a decent life NO aged 60 years,having tried to go into my own business only to be destroyed by red tape, can't even afford to go bankrupt, NOW £701, only the rich can afford to do this. I know wish to go join these young people, am I going to be classed as a missfit, I hope not, what have these young folk done, nothing, just because they do not have a degree are they to be classed as a lesser person than you, we all have our own niche in life. Why can you little rich kids NOT support the underdog, ooops I forgot It is these fellows that made you so very rich!!!!! COME ONE AND ALL LETS JOIN IN UNISON IN LEEDS CITY SQUARE
morleyuk
Monday, November 14, 2011 at 04:23 PM"Social misfits unite in front of Xmas tree" should be the headline. Its going to achieve absolutely zero. More so, I think the thousands of people IN work (and working hard at it!) are going to get rather annoyed seeing the joblessuseless bums sat there everyday representing them. They certainly don't represent me. Ruining this years tree is not going to get a job, and someone is NOT going to walk past and say "Hi there, you look like a clean, respectable person, would you like a job?" @Ryan the 19 year old unemployed one. Yes there has been a mess, one which you are clearly not willing to help with by not getting a job. Yes you will find it hard as you haven't done anything since school, but if your not part of the solution - you are part of the problem. @Sheryl, if your MP says your benefits will not increase, its not a reason to join a capitalist protest. Vote him out next year and run for it yourself!
Paul_Leeds
Monday, November 14, 2011 at 12:27 PMOk, I don't deny the fact the politically, socially, ethically, and in virtually every way possible our society is completely rotten and needs serious work to get us out of this horrible mess, but i'd like to ask one question...... How many of these 'protesters' and 'warriors of the working class' have ever done a days work in their lives? I bet you could count them on one hand! They're all students and social misfits that will be singing a very different tune when they go back down south to mummy's with their diplomas. You mark my words....
Alancm14
Monday, November 14, 2011 at 10:16 AMAsk these protesters a very simple question, is occupying a Christmas Tree going to highlight the countries injustice or make politicians change the way the economy is handled ? The don't want to give their full names Why? and as for the unemployed chap what a glowing advertisement to a future employer, instead of lying on your backside in City Square. I spoke with 2 of these protesters on Friday evening and asked a simple question what are you trying to achieve, the uneducated answers were amazing. They are simply jumping on a band wagon. Minus the banner and the police would move these fools in a breath, under the name of protest, the are allowed to create an eye sore in the centre of Leeds. Freedom of speech is an amazing thing and I respect everyone who wants to voice a valid, coherent, logical argument. These fools who in the case of the 2 I spoke to are employed by the Local Authority, wonder if there on paid leave eating up more valuable resources. Yes lets stop the rot and start with the over inflated useless public sector workers who believe they have a job for life and want over inflated pensions.
Leeds_Own
Monday, November 14, 2011 at 12:19 AMtypical double standard of the local government and police for not uprooting them. seems they're only willing to take such action on minorities...
chopmunky
Sunday, November 13, 2011 at 09:35 AMGood on them. So many people are getting screwed over these days and don't have anywhere to turn, I view this as highlighting difficult issues that, fortunately, many of us - including a few pious people making their voices heard on this thread - are fortunate enough not to have to face at the moment.
nevben1954
Sunday, November 13, 2011 at 09:28 AMI doubt very much the police will intervene, this being for 2 reasons, firstly they have a right to peaceful protest and secondly any success that comes from these protests may reduce the budget cuts they face.
Leeds_Own
Sunday, November 13, 2011 at 12:28 AMwhen are the police going to move this illegal encampment?!!!
nevben1954
Saturday, November 12, 2011 at 05:53 PMI am not convinced that the label " Anti Capitalist " is a fair description of what they stand for. In my opinion there stand would seem to be protest about the way it is seem as the poorer majority in society paying the greater percentage of their income to rectify the current financial quogmire the country and indeed the world finds itself. What is abundantly clear is that the majority of society played no part in arriving at the current position or the decision of the government bailing out the financial sector. Surely in a just world that sector should make should pay for their actions as they return to profit, if they ever get there. A further point being that our bankers demonstrate total ignorance to the fact that had the government not used money raised in taxes, they would have gone bankrupt, especially when it comes to making charges at every available opportunity.
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