A bus load of demonstrators went up to London from Glastonbury to participate in the ant-china rally along the Olympic torch route, and it was a mild success! Although we reached London a little late, on account of the Tibet like snow that came this way for the first time in years, we managed to reach the top of Downing Street right after the torch had left and there were still plenty of people on the streets, so we unfurled out flags and marched about in organized chaos.
There were many Chinese too bussed in and they might as well have been holding little red books as they were zealous and quite aggressive. The police by this time were wandering up and down and wondering what to do as there was really nobody to arrest so after some confrontation with the Chinese in Trafalgar Square we trotted off to the Tibetan Rally near Kings Cross where a few thousand braved the cold. There were speeches from Joanna Lumley and the Tibetan lady protestor who had unfurled banners on the Great Wall of China and no doubt will be in San Francisco now, plus music and general crowd raising awareness.
I drifted off to meet friend and have a drink and returned to the bus for the return journey where I spent a fair amount of time playing guitar and singing to the beat of the bongos from Lee. That was a tiring day and then I realized it was my dear old mum's birthday, so that was a good way to spend it.
Happy Birthday and Free Tibet!
Chris Jagger
