PROTEST AT CAMBRIDGE BARCLAYS AGAIN

Monday. 2nd February - Barclays, unethical as ever...

A snowy Cambridge saw another leafleting demo against leading HLS collaborators Barclays. Arriving at the Market Hill branch of the bank a campaigner found a note saying the bank was closed, presumably because of the snow, however a helpful sign pointed to the next nearest branch only a few doors down.

Interested members of the public were informed of Barclays’ investment in HLS who test things such as sweeteners, GMOs and weed killers on animals. The public were also told about Barclays’ involvement with Dictator Robert Mugabe’s regime and a few copies of the Time’s article ‘Robert Mugabe henchmen backed by Barclays’ were handed out letting people know just what sort of company Barclays really are.

Towards the end of the protest a 4x4 and 4 police officers arrived on the scene 2 went into the bank. When they came out they told campaigners if they didn’t block the entrance, etc they were OK to stand there. After sitting in the 4x4 watching for a bit they drove off. However the 4x4 was soon back with two of them in it, a lady approached them and spoke for a while. After this officers came over and told the activists to move a little down the street or they’d impose a Section 14 on the quiet banner holding and leaflet distributing because they had had a complaint that it was‘intimidating’. Despite the absurd nature of what was being said the campaigners complied and soon had given out the remainder of their leaflets.

With lots of leaflets handed out and the corporate criminal Barclays being a top target you can be sure of more protests, over the top policing will not stop the AR movement! To quote animal abuse extremist Andrew Baker (Telegraph 17th Jan 09) "I hate the thought of being bullied and giving into a bully. I was brought up to believe that if you stand up to a bully you can win. And that's what I think is happening here." We couldn’t agree more Mr. Baker, we will not be bullied by corporate and vested interests either!

(The article ‘Robert Mugabe henchmen backed by Barclays’ can be found here:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/africa/article4232283.ece

In memory of Jill Phipps, we will carry on the fight... x