this guy who did the talk, and the two of them discussed how they had been on the same anti-road campaigns.
There was an undercurrent of mis-trust and espionage throughout the Prague demonstration. There was talk of infiltrators from the police. Agents provocateurs and spies, so the demonstrators were encouraged not to discuss details with anybody, and they were told ways to avoid giving away people’s identities should anyone end up being questioned.
Tee-shirts were being sold on the coach with a picture of a city skyline with raised fists above it, and the slogan “Turn Prague into Seattle”. Seattle was the location for the first major anti-capitalist riot - the legendary “Battle of Seattle”. Which rhymes. For one brief moment Carrie considered buying one, but then thought better of it. It didn’t seem right somehow. The tee-shirts were a strangely blatant display that people here were heading to Prague with the earnest intent to cause a riot. Stepping outside of conventionally acceptable behaviour. The feeling of going against a life-time rules was strangely intoxicating, liberating and at the same time frightening. Stepping into unknown territory ignited something primeval inside Carrie.
They slept on the coach, and arrived at Prague 36 hours later. On exiting the coach it was each for himself. They left with a time and place to be picked up after the day trip.
Carrie joined up with a few other travelers and they ambled down to a square where some Spaniards were coordinating a group of demonstrators. Placards were handed out, and bodies stood about for a good while in the dull autumn morning. The Prague tea canteens did good business. Many of the free placards had Socialist Workers emblazoned on them which occasionally sparked animosity between the different political groups. One anarchist tore off the Socialist Worker part of his banner as he couldn’t ally himself with the socialist doctrine.
There were many young people at the demonstration, probably largely students, and these seemed to do most of the organizing. The lead Spaniard coached the group into a chant of“People not Profit – Leide Misto Ziscku”, in preparation for the main rally later on.
A few who had met on the coach straggled together, joining a few thousand more, and together they moved up towards the main start of the demonstration. Up to St Wenceslas Square, scene of numerous dramatic political upheavals over the years, the Square which saw the Russian tanks roll in and crush the Czech movement for independence. One guy in Carrie’s group had come well equipped. He had sown himself a balaclava out of an old sweater and had it on top of his head ready to pull down when the violence started. He walked with a strange swagger; psyching himself up for a fight. It felt strange walking through the city centre, alongside Marks and Spencers and MacDonalds, watching the shoppers shopping, as a violent anarchist army gathered force next to them.
They walked and talked and watched. None of the group really knew the state of play. They had seen little or no police up until then. The crowds were loud but peaceful. They arrived at a smaller square by a church for the start of the main march.