Action history

1999—at Chertsey

  • Mass blockades of roads over two days in Chertsey (old DSEi home) forced
    them to announce that they wouldn’t allow people to drive on the Friday
    and they had to come by train. On the Friday five or six trains were
    blockaded. The blockades included people sitting in roads, car actions,
    coach actions, tyre actions (in their carparks).
  • The dinner was also targeted. Red dye was spilt and outside
    and protesters made several incursions into the hotel.
  • There was a week long action camp which really helped people come
    together.

2001—at Excel, London Docklands, from now on

  • A CAAT demo at the the West entrance.
  • A march from Canning Town that was surrounded by cops as it massed
    and crept to the EXCEL.
  • Some blocking of the entrance at Custom House.
  • Critical Mass.
  • Folk swimming in the dock.
  • Red dye in the fountain at Trafalgar Square.
  • One train stopping action.
  • Mass demo outside the arms dealers’ dinner.

2003

  • Warships coming into docks harassed and temporarily stopped by
    boats before opening.
  • CAAT demo first day of opening.
  • “Affinity Group” did action inside EXCEL, having booked a stall!
  • “Fluffy DSEi” non-violence guidelines day blockade of East entrance
  • “No guidelines” day- large moving blockades all day, helped by a roving
    Critical Mass.
  • The day culminated in an RTS-style street party that was fairly
    quickly surrounded by police.
  • Rafael (arms dealers) office briefly occupied same day.
  • Various affinity actions also through day, and week, including at
    dealers’ hotels.
  • Arms dealers’ Thursday dinner mass demo worked very well, including
    Critical Mass.
  • Red dye in the fountains again the same night.
  • Buddhists communicating with arms dealers, others selling arms
    (and legs), on trains.
  • Also multiple train actions that were very effective all week- had
    the coaches also got blockaded on the no guidelines day it could have
    seriously upped the stakes.

2005

  • Street Party Saturday before opening. Delivered spoof paper round
    Newham.
  • First sign of numbers well down.
  • Ship blocking failed. Marshes crawling with would-be boats—and cops.
  • CAAT march first day.
  • Baby Block was sort of fluffy day—the closest anybody got to Excel.
  • Day of Blockades, including Custom House station invasion, road block
    with lock on and car, and roving (again smaller) posses.
  • Arms dealers’ dinner mass demo. Red dye in fountain same night.
  • Again multiple (though fewer) effective train actions all week.

2007

What will YOU do?