It is far from the status
quo, but anti-austerity protestors are beginning to find their feet in the
world.
Anonymous activists and supporters took to London and other cities across the world last night to demonstrate their increasing anger and frustration with the longstanding ruling elite. Among them was Russell Brand, recently announced a revolutionary, and Caroline Lucas. Green MP for Brighton.
Protestors took to central London last night smartly donning the
mask inspired by Guy Fawkes beginning a Bonfire to Austerity (literally) on
Westminster Bridge. Their protest was one of many over recent years that aims
to highlight the corruption of mainstream politics, the disgusting destruction
of the environment and the malice of the banking industry. These are the people
that Russell Brand gave an increased public voice for last week in his widely
watched interview with Jeremy Paxman on Newsnight.
These are incredibly important points; as dissatisfaction with
politics continue, and people become more apathetic with the three
untrustworthy options they are presented with, an alternative is necessary: a
revolution. Now, perhaps we’re not talking about a full-scale
French-Revolutionesque enactment, but we are talking about, as Brand put it, a
‘revolution of consciousness’ where people become vastly more aware of the
atrocities and unethical attitudes of the government acting in their name. This
is what will get us real change, whether this be through a new political party
like the Greens, or through a new form of political control and governance it
does not matter. Unfortunately, this
wanted effect on our consciousness and thought is difficult when those who most
shape it are those who seek to retain the current power structures – the media
– who are cozied up in the beds of the powerful.
Anti-austerity and anti-government protesters are stuck in a
terribly biased situation. The media will want to run negative piece after
negative piece and the Government of the day will simply ignore such arguments.
When the opposition, who so profoundly announce support for their aims (like
taxing the rich more heavily and imposing more regulation on the banking
industry), gains Governmental control, still nothing will change. And while the
population tacitly grants its support by voting in an election, nothing will
change. A minority force like Anonymous is powerless by itself, but has no
major player on their side.
It comes as no surprise that the right-wing media focus on the
slightly more obstructive and violent methods adopted by a minority of
protestors last night, hence detracting from the real message intended. The
Daily Mail leads with ‘Funnyman-turned-activist joins protestors as they aim
fireworks at Buckingham Palace’, for example. The media sets out to shut down
minorities, and to dissuade against anything that challenges what is the status
quo. One would like to think that this is regardless of newspapers, but this is
shockingly, and sadly, untrue.
Now, certainly, the danger involved in setting off a firework in a
very crowded space and towards a residential building makes the act ridiculous
here. But we must remember that behind every method there is a genuine message:
here it is that we must stop propping up our Monarchy using public funds when
people are dying in the streets with no money, no home and no support.
Last night’s protest in London, and across the globe, was historic
for the sheer number of anti-government protestors that assembled for it.
Adorning the face of Guy Fawkes, protestors associated themselves with a force
for change and challenging the establishment. Their next task is to rid
themselves of those who dirty their image through violence and start recruiting
more members of the public.