I58-Network

We had a small but significant presence during the Climate Camp which occurred outside the European Carbon Exchange in Bishopsgate from 1st to 2nd April. We supplied the Rocket Stove for heating food, and were gathering for Communion when the Riot Police showed up and began attempting to shut the camp down. Whilst a small group held a prayer meeting, others took part in the incredible non-violent efforts of the camp to resist the police' actions.

An almost glitch-free swoop involving a meet up, then a 2 mile hike, a brief pause, and then a mad-rush final-swoop into the street helped us join the 2000-strong throng at the start of the camp. After a very quick prayer and blessing on the camp, we set about helping to get tents and banners up and then joined in the workshops and the festival atmosphere. All was going so very very well.

2 members of the group swooped from the opposite end with the Rocket Stove from the Cafe we hosted at Climate Camp, making us the sole suppliers of cooking burners for the camp. They got straight to work once the rest of the field kitchen was in place, heating baked beans to go with baked potatoes that were delivered by bike. And so began 12 extraordinary hours of campers, which ended tragically early, just after midnight on the 2nd.

We'd agreed a spot to meet up for a prayer meeting during the final round of workshops at 7pm, and were just getting together when several units of riot police suddenly appeared. Whilst most of the group pulled back into the camp to get praying, others headed forwards and helped guard the sides. At this point, the police themselves were quite adamant we should be careful of the approaching riot that obviously never materialised. How certain they were that this was a violent mob. How utterly wrong they were.

Instead, what followed involved text-book de-escalation from the campers and text-book "crowd control" brutality from the police, until finally we had no option but to disperse at around 1am. Another member of the group, trapped outside, had had to deal with a badly injured protester as police attempted to disperse crowds on the junction at the north end of the street prior to their final push.

Once again we have taken a Christian presence into a protest-camp environment, done what little we could to serve those around us, prayed and been part of the action. In one sense, this was a roaring success, but sadly it also reflects the modern direction protest policing is taking, with any direct challenge to injustice met with enormous force.