The Anti-Atos Demonstrations by Those Who Were There

I’ve posted a few descriptions and pieces on the anti-Atos demonstrations held up and down the country last Wednesday. Several of the commenters on Mike’s blog have posted further descriptions of the protests, and the reactions of the police and Atos employees, in their areas, on his piece ‘Atos ‘Death Threat’ Claims – ‘Outrageous’ Insult to those the Regime has Killed’.

Farmer’s boy said that

Croydon stayed open and continued to do assessments all day – with a riot van outside to police half a dozen people, some poetry and a guitar.

Allan J said of Atos in Gloucester

gloster stayed open,G4S ere eyeing us for most of the day, but then they have little more to do than stare out the window or strut around allday looking important (joke). 2 wanabe cops left at about 12:30, there was a presence of 6 to 8 protesters all day has it was beyond some being to ill to stay more than a hour or to so in total around 15 -20 protesters coming from upto 10 miles or so, also several staff from the jobcentre coming out and saying they were in full support of us for varying reasons, this seems to be a common them mr ids.

Skintus Maximus described the situation in Southend-on-Sea

I was at the protest in Southend on Sea, we had 27 people turn up. The office was closed while tree surgeons removed tree’s damaged by the recent storms. We could not have threatened an ATOS employee because none were there. We did have some fun taking the piss out of the ‘security guards’ who were on FULL ALERT the whole time.

The Police paid us a visit and didn’t feel the need to return. We had a damn good day that ended without incident.

From these accounts it’s clear that the protests were orderly, peaceful and non-violent, with the police in many areas not actually worried very much about them. Except at Croydon, where they seem to have been so worried about the threat of mass violence and proletarian revolution that they sent a riot van. There are obviously some very, very worried people on the council there. You wonder what they have to fear.

Tags: Atos, Croydon, Gloucester, Mike Sivier, Police, Protests, Southend-on-Sea, Vox Political