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| == Beginnings == | == Beginnings == | ||
| ⚫ | ] | ||
| The WOMBLES formed as a group in the early 2000s in London. The name stood for White Overalls Movement Building Libertarian Effective Struggles.<ref name="City">{{cite journal |last1=Hodkinson |first1=Stuart |last2=Chatterton |first2=Paul |title=Autonomy in the city? |journal=City |date=22 January 2007 |volume=10 |issue=3 |pages=305–315 |doi=10.1080/13604810600982222}}</ref> Activists who had witnessed first hand the tactics of the ] in Italy decided to use similar methods of protest in London. Tute Bianche ('White Overalls') had formed in 1994 and were known for storming barricades whilst dressed in comical padded outfits and helmets to protect themselves from police violence, as for example at the ] in Genoa.<ref name="Protestival">{{cite journal |last1=St John |first1=Graham |title=Protestival: Global Days of Action and Carnivalized Politics in the Present |journal=Social Movement Studies |date=September 2008 |volume=7 |issue=2 |pages=167–190 |doi=10.1080/14742830802283550}}</ref> | The WOMBLES formed as a group in the early 2000s in London. The name stood for White Overalls Movement Building Libertarian Effective Struggles.<ref name="City">{{cite journal |last1=Hodkinson |first1=Stuart |last2=Chatterton |first2=Paul |title=Autonomy in the city? |journal=City |date=22 January 2007 |volume=10 |issue=3 |pages=305–315 |doi=10.1080/13604810600982222}}</ref> Activists who had witnessed first hand the tactics of the ] in Italy decided to use similar methods of protest in London. Tute Bianche ('White Overalls') had formed in 1994 and were known for storming barricades whilst dressed in comical padded outfits and helmets to protect themselves from police violence, as for example at the ] in Genoa.<ref name="Protestival">{{cite journal |last1=St John |first1=Graham |title=Protestival: Global Days of Action and Carnivalized Politics in the Present |journal=Social Movement Studies |date=September 2008 |volume=7 |issue=2 |pages=167–190 |doi=10.1080/14742830802283550}}</ref> | ||
| == Social centres == | == Social centres == | ||
| ⚫ | ] | ||
| The WOMBLES were also inspired by ] and therefore began a series of ] in London. Firstly, they ] the Radical Dairy on Kynaston Road in ]. This lasted from 2001 until 2003.<ref name="City" /> The aim was to build long-term relationships with local people and to avoid capitalist property relations. From this centre, participants were then involved with other projects such as the Ex-Grand Banks, ], the Institute for Autonomy and The Square.<ref name="City" /> The Ex-Grand Banks at 156-158 Fortess Road, in ], north London was opened in March 2004. It became an activist hub before being evicted in August.<ref name="Banks">{{cite web |title=Today in London’s squatting history: Ex-Grand Banks social centre opens, 2004 |url=https://pasttenseblog.wordpress.com/2016/03/04/today-in-londons-squatting-history-ex-grand-banks-social-centre-opens-2004/ |website=past tense |accessdate=24 November 2019 |language=en |date=4 March 2016}}</ref> | The WOMBLES were also inspired by ] and therefore began a series of ] in London. Firstly, they ] the Radical Dairy on Kynaston Road in ]. This lasted from 2001 until 2003.<ref name="City" /> The aim was to build long-term relationships with local people and to avoid capitalist property relations. From this centre, participants were then involved with other projects such as the Ex-Grand Banks, ], the Institute for Autonomy and The Square.<ref name="City" /> The Ex-Grand Banks at 156-158 Fortess Road, in ], north London was opened in March 2004. It became an activist hub before being evicted in August.<ref name="Banks">{{cite web |title=Today in London’s squatting history: Ex-Grand Banks social centre opens, 2004 |url=https://pasttenseblog.wordpress.com/2016/03/04/today-in-londons-squatting-history-ex-grand-banks-social-centre-opens-2004/ |website=past tense |accessdate=24 November 2019 |language=en |date=4 March 2016}}</ref> | ||
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The WOMBLES (White Overalls Movement Building Libertarian Effective Struggles) were a loosely aligned anarchist and anti-capitalist group based in London. They gained prominence in the early 2000s for wearing white overalls with padding and helmets at protests, mimicking the Italian group Tute Bianche.
Beginnings
The WOMBLES formed as a group in the early 2000s in London. The name stood for White Overalls Movement Building Libertarian Effective Struggles. Activists who had witnessed first hand the tactics of the Tute Bianche in Italy decided to use similar methods of protest in London. Tute Bianche ('White Overalls') had formed in 1994 and were known for storming barricades whilst dressed in comical padded outfits and helmets to protect themselves from police violence, as for example at the 27th G8 summit in Genoa.
Social centres
The WOMBLES were also inspired by self-managed social centres in Italy and therefore began a series of social centres in London. Firstly, they squatted the Radical Dairy on Kynaston Road in Stoke Newington. This lasted from 2001 until 2003. The aim was to build long-term relationships with local people and to avoid capitalist property relations. From this centre, participants were then involved with other projects such as the Ex-Grand Banks, RampART, the Institute for Autonomy and The Square. The Ex-Grand Banks at 156-158 Fortess Road, in Tufnell Park, north London was opened in March 2004. It became an activist hub before being evicted in August.
As well as organising in physical spaces, the WOMBLES used the internet to reach a wider audience, enabling solidarity networks.
The third European Social Forum (ESF) was held in London in 2004. The WOMBLES organised a countersummit held at Middlesex University called 'Beyond ESF' which provided a space for European radical social movements to meet and engage, focusing primarily on the issue of precarity.
In the media
| External audio | |
|---|---|
 Interview with a member of the WOMBLES |
The WOMBLES quickly became used by much of the UK's mainstream media as a personification of the anti-capitalist and anti-globalisation movements. The Evening Standard in particular decided to 'infiltrate' the WOMBLES before the 2001, 2002 and 2003 Mayday protests in London. Even after the WOMBLES had ceased to organise large scale demonstrations the UK media continued to use their name, as shorthand for a "notorious group" of anarchists. For example, the 2006 Sack Parliament demonstration was linked to the WOMBLES in the Daily Mail, whilst the WOMBLES were said to be organising against the G20 according to the Mirror.
Police infiltration
Between 1999 and 2010, the WOMBLES were infiltrated by at least three British police officers.
See also
- Anti-globalization
- Civil and social disobedience
- Disobbedienti
- London Action Resource Centre
- Ya Basta
- Zapatista Army of National Liberation
References
- ^ Hodkinson, Stuart; Chatterton, Paul (22 January 2007). "Autonomy in the city?". City. 10 (3): 305–315. doi:10.1080/13604810600982222.
- St John, Graham (September 2008). "Protestival: Global Days of Action and Carnivalized Politics in the Present". Social Movement Studies. 7 (2): 167–190. doi:10.1080/14742830802283550.
- "Today in London's squatting history: Ex-Grand Banks social centre opens, 2004". past tense. 4 March 2016. Retrieved 24 November 2019.
- Lacey, Anita (18 August 2016). "Networked Communities". Space and Culture. 8 (3): 286–301. doi:10.1177/1206331205277350.
- Mattoni, Alice. Media practices and protest politics : how precarious workers mobilise. Ashgate. p. 4. ISBN 978-1-409-42678-3.
- http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-935389-prepare-for-may-day-madness.do
- http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-443423-inside-wombles-hq-with-target-h.do
- http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-4646991-underground-with-the-wombles.do
- "Womble riot threat as Commons opens". Retrieved 15 October 2018.
- "Mirror Online: The intelligent tabloid. #madeuthink". www.mirror.co.uk. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
- "UK political groups spied on by undercover police – search the list". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 October 2018.
External links
- Official website archived in 2002
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