Bank of England protest: Anti-austerity group behind Whitehall march plan demo in City of London

 
Anti-austerity march: Protesters descended on Downing Street at the weekend (Reuters)
Robin de Peyer11 May 2015

Anti-austerity protesters who organised a demonstration which descended into violence and vandalism this weekend are planning another major march in the City of London.

The People's Assembly says it will hold a national demonstration in a bid to end austerity after the Conservatives won a shock Commons majority last week.

The group is thought to have been behind an impromptu rally outside Downing Street on Saturday, in which four police officers were injured and a war memorial was defaced with graffiti.

Riot police were pelted with green smoke bombs and tomato ketchup as 15 people were arrested in the demonstration which attracted hundreds of left-wing activists.

The protest was held as thousands of people gathered at the nearby Horse Guards Parade for a VE Day 70th anniversary concert.

Whitehall protest - in pictures

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The Royal British Legion, which organised the celebration, hit out at the "senseless" spray-painting of a war memorial during the demonstration.

But in a Facebook event for another planned demonstration, The People's Assembly called for a protest that would be "bigger and bolder than ever".

More than 45,000 people have so far said they plan to attend.

The London branch of the protest is expected to attract the largest crowds, and will be held outside the Bank of England from 12pm on June 20.

"We'll be assembling the demonstration in the heart of the City of London right on the doorstep of the very people who created the crisis in the first place, the banks and their friends in Westminster," the group's Facebook event says.

"We demand that the bankers and elite should pay for the crisis and not the vast majority who had nothing to do with it."

Scotland Yard said one police officer suffered a dislocated shoulder and three others were injured but did not require hospital treatment during Saturday's clashes.

Chief Superintendent Gerry Campbell said after the clashes: "The vast majority of those protesting did so peacefully. However a small, violent minority were intent on causing disorder.

"We have launched an investigation into criminal damage to the Women in World War II Memorial. This crime is particularly abhorrent considering we are celebrating the 70th Anniversary of VE Day."

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