- Minor skirmishes break out between police and protesters
- St Paul's cathedral remained open to tourists
By Richard Hartley-parkinson
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Anti-capitalism protesters from the Occupy movement have begun a new protest in the City of London.
It is part of a global day of action seeing thousands of people rallying in cities including Moscow, New York, Athens and Madrid, organisers said.
Several hundred people have gathered outside St Paul's Cathedral for a rally before 'visiting the 1%' at the offices of some of the largest firms in the financial heart of the capital.
There were some minor skirmishes between protesters and police as they marched through the City.
Officers had briefly encircled the protest after it moved down Fleet Street and into Fetter Lane, causing some protesters to break through the police line.
Hundreds of people have gathered outside St Paul's Cathedral just weeks after others were evicted from the site
Skirmish: Protesters try to break past City of London police officers near the Bank of England during the protest today
It comes more than six months after members of campaign group Occupy London were prevented from occupying the square in heart of the City of London.
Instead, activists set up camp outside St Paul's Cathedral just yards away from the Stock Exchange and remained there for four and a half months.
At the start of May police arrested five people after between 50 and 100 anti-capitalist protesters set up a temporary camp outside the London Stock Exchange following May Day demonstrations.
They moved into Paternoster Square with tents and supplies on May 1, but were forced to leave by officers several hours later.
Occupy protesters were joined by members of Spanish protest group Indignados and Take the Square.
Scuffle: Demonstrators confront police during a protest by the Occupy movement in central London today
Defiance: Police wield batons during the stand-off close to the heart of London's financial district this afternoon
Order: Hundreds of people gathered in the capital today for an international day of anti-capitalism protests
Stand-off: Several hundred people have gathered outside St Paul's Cathedral for a rally before 'visiting the 1%' at the offices of some of the largest firms in the financial heart of the capital
Protesters dressed in interesting attire take part in an Occupy Helsinki demonstration in Finland
An Occupy spokesman said: 'Nowhere in Europe is the unequal distribution of wealth as striking as in the UK.
'The richest 1,000 persons, just 0.005% of the adult population, increased their wealth by £155bn over the last three years.
'That is enough for themselves alone to pay off the entire budget deficit and still leave them with £30bn to spare.
'"We're all in this together" never rang so hollow. Whilst the rest of the country is being crippled by austerity, the very same people who caused the crisis are now sitting on wealth even greater than what they had before the crash?'
City of London Police said it had a 'proportionate' operation in place around the peaceful demonstration. St Paul's Cathedral remains open to tourists.
Protesters from the Occupy London movement have returned to St Paul's Cathedral to mark the first anniversary of the Global Occupy movement
Demonstration: Anti-capitalist Occupy protesters gather at the entrance to the Royal Exchange next to the Bank of England as they call for an end to predatory capitalism
Occupy protesters have started protests in cities across the world
In February anti-capitalist demonstrators outside St Paul's Cathedral were finally evicted after a court ruled that the human rights of the public outweighed those of the protesters.
The 'Occupy' campers were refused permission by the Court of Appeal to challenge orders forcing them to go.
Three judges, headed by Master of the Rolls Lord Neuberger, rejected arguments the protesters should stay because human rights law protects their right of free expression and to free assembly.
The Occupy camp was set up in October and rapidly transformed itself into a tent city causing chaos on the steps of the cathedral.
Protesters prevent the public using the streets, harm local businesses, have strained the drainage system, abused cathedral staff and created noise and graffiti, the court heard.
As a result, Lord Neuberger, the senior civil law judge, said the human rights of the public and landowners superseded those of the protesters.
He said the decision to end their campaign against corporate greed was 'entirely lawful and justified'.
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Occupy: Hundreds of people gathered in central London today close to the Bank of England on an international day of action
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The cast majority of "Occupy" have never had a job, have never paid any tax, they bleed the system for benefits, cost local councils a fortune for policing and clearing up after them and then have the cheek to talk about the deficit. Do they know what they are protesting about, do they offer an alternative set of policies, no they are upset that their way of life (not working and living on handouts) might be under threat. Rather than being jealous of those that work hard they should try it.
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I wasn't aware that the Occupy movement was Anti-Capitlist. Maybe because it isn't DM. The Occupy Movement is the people of the world, the 99%, striking back against the 1% who run everything. Those who we trusted and who lets us down. It's about striking back against the banks and the government who keeps letting us down time and time again. There's only so many times you can mess with people before they do something about it. This is a reaction to banks and governments going too far. Get your act together guys, it will only get worse if you don't.
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Ask most of them why they are there ? " I dunno but its a great day for a P... UP and wreck some property" will be the answer.Ofcourse i could be wrong lets just see the headlines tomorrow !
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rightmind, Once proud UK: We are protesting for you, me, your children, my children, your neightbour's children and our future. Meanwhile, keep letting get yourself brainwashed seating on your ample derriere with your fast food, your reality TV, your Simon Cowelll and Cheryl Cole and all that TV nonsense that keeps you from thinking about how the world runs
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Occutards
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Good luck to every last one of em........when your kids are under the hammer..what will you say as to how you prevented it.....not a lot...Baa Baa
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They don't even know what they are protesting. These sorts of protests should be made illegal, and classed as treason. Sick of the guardianistas and these leftists rioters and troublemakers.. - rightmind, Once proud UK, 12/5/2012 15:46 You can’t see the wood for the trees. What we are witnessing is looting and theft by the elite on a grand scale. We need more people to wake up and protest at the debt slavery that is being imposed upon us. For example, when you take out a mortgage loan, the money is conjured up by the banks from pixie dust and the borrower pays interest on imaginary money. It’s one huge swindle. Ever wondered why Iceland’s debt doesn’t make the news any more?
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They don't even know what they are protesting. These sorts of protests should be made illegal, and classed as treason. Sick of the guardianistas and these leftists rioters and troublemakers.. - rightmind, Once proud UK, 12/5/2012 These people clearly know what they are protesting. If you want to stay in a society run by giant corporations and financial institutions with no no regulations then good luck to you.
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Why don't they occupy a desk?
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Once upon a time in Britain, they would not have needed to ask a judge if they could move them on. What happened to our country?
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