I didn’t so much occupy St Paul’s Cathedral today, as sit upon its steps to have my lunch. It was quite the most London experience I’ve had in a long while: bizarre and entirely fascinating.
I crossed the River Thames on the London Millennium Footbridge on what was a sunny, crisp and quite beautiful London day. When I reached the City of London, I came upon a random opinion poll in the form of a Perspex box into which you could place a small, brightly-coloured ball into either of two segments: ‘Carry on protesting’ or ‘Time to go’. A camerawoman sat on the pavement next to the box recording the un-secret ballot, while a suited cohort encouraged passers-by to commit their opinions to Perspex.
I carried on walking towards the Cathedral. My goal was to see ‘Occupy London’ for myself on a significant day in its two week history. I chose not to take a camera with me, as I wanted to feel the experience; well, as much as I could in a lunch hour.
The grounds of the breathtakingly beautiful cathedral that is St Paul’s were teeming with people: tourists, protesters (although I did eyeball a poster on the outskirts of the property stating, ‘This is not a protest’), non-protesters, lunchtime joggers, office workers, policemen, reporters, students, church clerics and other random passers-by.
I wandered around the tented city for a while. I poked my nose into the information tent, which appeared to be the centre of all knowledge for the temporary home to the anti-corporate-greed activists. I was amused to see practical notices adorning the walls of the tent: ‘Free bio energy healing sessions. 10 minute taster’ and ‘Lost: brown suitcase’.
Helmeted bobbies stood by watching impassively, while television cameras on every corner recorded the events on a day such as this.
There is something of a carnival atmosphere – and, despite the Portaloos, a faint whiff of urine in the air – in the Cathedral grounds; a kind of Woodstock for this generation. Outside the ‘Tent University’ you can read of forthcoming lectures and discussion groups; you can buy books at a bookstall, you can add your written protests to the many stuck to surrounding pillars. You can also ‘Grow your own future’ – the psychedelic and 60s style flower power poster suggests that what you grow might make you not worry about globalisation one jot.
I picked my way through the tented community and went to sit on the steps of the Cathedral. I sat between some young tourists in ‘I love London’ hoodies and sushi-munching bankers. We all sat as spectators to the genuine, peaceful protest against economic inequality.
Baguette in hand, I listened to a group of singers presenting their shaky-voiced and anti-evil-banker version of Blake’s ‘Jerusalem’ (And did those feet in ancient time). It wasn’t pretty but it was sincere. They had in front of them a hand-painted poster proclaiming the perils of globalisation and the need ‘to keep our souls’ and ‘not be sucked in’.
In something of a sing-off, a black-robed man stood opposite them with arms outstretched and singing his truth as he walked towards the women. I couldn’t hear what he was singing, but his cloak bore the words, ‘Holy Book of Racial Government’. Big banners nearby called out to ‘Mourn the dead. Heal the wounded. End the wars!’
As I slowly wound my way out of the village of peaceful protest, I watched two bobbies chatting to a tourist and a busker. I overheard one of the bobbies explaining to the two exactly what training is involved in becoming a London policeman. As I stood and eavesdropped, I was urged out of the way by a guy pushing a trolley bearing camera equipment. “Hot cakes comin’ through,” he shouted. “Hot cakes comin’ through.”
I realised later that his ‘hot cakes’ must have been on their way to record today’s verdict: the eviction order to force the protesters to leave St Paul’s within 48 hours had been overturned.
It was time to head back to my office. The Perspex box, now much fuller, showed overwhelmingly in favour of ‘Carry on protesting’. It seems that London had voted with its balls.
Sunshine signing off for today!
Sunshine in London 
Welcome back, Sunshine! I love the first line. In fact, the entire “reporting” was perfect. I’ve planned my next trip across the pond for March. Will you be around?
It’s good to be back, Renee! Glad you enjoyed the ‘reporting’! Yes, I’ll be around in March – yay!
Love your descriptions. Felt like I was there! Thanks. XXX
It was good to have you there! It was a fascinating time, really.
Beautifully written Sunshine. I shared your post on my Facebook page. I have many friends involved in and interested in the Occupy movement.
Thanks, Eli, and thanks for sharing on your Facebook page. These are interesting times indeed.
Over her there is no one to vote for to effect change. The megabanks and megacorps are chuckling at the meager attempts. Bolshevism seems only way and a few are moving in that direction as anger stews. That 1% has a firm hold on the 99%.
Difficult times, for sure.
I haven’t been to the Occupy Wall Street protest yet. It seems a little chaotic. From your description, the one in London sounds well organized. Thanks for this eyewitness account.
It seems to be well organised, jacquelin, and certainly peaceful.The possibility of forcible removal was quite menacing, though.
Fascinating, Sunshine. I would love to have seen the event myself, but you made me feel like I was there. Great post. So happy to hear from you and know you are doing well.
Kathy
Thanks, Kathy. It was good to have you along for the visit! Hope you’re well too?
I cab’t help comparing it to the brou-ha-ha over the homeless refugees in the Central Methodist Church in Johannesburg a couple of years ago.
I remember that, Steve. It does create a huge dilemma for the church, for sure.
You have a wonderful way of great writing skills that takes me to the place with such descriptiveness. Just enough not too much. Love your blog and welcome back.
Thank you so much – that means a lot! I love writing my blog, and I’m glad you feel what I feel and see what I see! Love to you two xx
Outstanding eyewitness account, Sunshine! I’m not particularly fond of crowds (even more so, if they’re angry and riled up about something!); yours sounded calmer and better-behaved. Welcome back to the blogosphere!
Thanks, Debbie. It was really interesting to sit and observe what was happening there … it was peaceful and now that they’re likely to be allowed to stay there until the New Year, it will probably be even more so. Thanks for the welcome back!
Interesting account, Sunshine – thanks for the lunchtime view!
Glad you enjoyed the lunchtime with me, Patti. Thanks.
Oh, Sunshine, I think St Paul’s is in for a rough ride if the protesters are evicted. I feel as if it will have to choose between establishment and true justice.
As always, you write beautifully about my favourite city. Thanks 😀
(Hope the job is going swimmingly!)
Thank you, Kate; what a lovely thing to say. Yes, I think you’re right about the state of affairs at St Paul’s … I read an amazing piece in the Guardian about it all recently.
Job is going really well, thanks, am loving it! Hope all is well with you too.
Thank you for a realistic and well-written account 🙂
If the subject still interests you, please check this out as well and feel free to share your opinion: http://wp.me/p1V3Rz-1y
Thank you, anca, and thanks for taking the time to visit my blog and comment. I’ll have a look at your post too – thanks.