From April 10th -17th 2005 people in 70 countries around the globe participated in the Global week of Action. In the UK, the week culminated in an All NIGHT VIGIL in Westminster. Some RSCJ participated and those that couldn’t supported the vigil through prayer during the night.
Here is an account of what happened:
“At least 25,000 people have spent the night in and around Westminster and Whitehall, Central London, to demand that the British government adopt policies that protect the lives and livelihoods of poor communities around the world.
A carnival atmosphere prevailed in Whitehall, the home of British government, last night. Until long past 5am, huge crowds were blowing whistles, banging drums, and chanting:
'What do we want?'
'Trade Justice!'
'When do we want it?'
'Now!'
Picture it. 25,000 people - a good-sized football crowd - encamped along Whitehall opposite Downing Street, where Prime Minister Tony Blair and Chancellor Gordon Brown both live, restrained by hundreds of police, at 4am on a chilly April morning.And that's 'people' in the broadest sense. There weren’t many actual babies, but there was a sprinkling of 4 and 5 year olds. Similarly, I saw a few 70, and possibly 80-somethings. Young, old, rich, poor, black, white, all the cliches, a brother and sisterhood, a great big melting pot. And it was for real. There was some anger, a lot of frustration, very high spirits - and no cynicism.
This was a genuine outburst from a very new, rapidly growing community of people who constitute the Trade Justice Movement. They came from all over the UK. One obvious observation is that a high percentage of them were under 25; but variety was the outstanding feature of the crowd tonight. The only thing that bound us all together was a common interest in trade justice.
Trade justice sounds dull. It has an image problem. And yet, it wasn't a dull night. Earlier in the evening, a plethora of different events and activities kept the protestors busy. At the Methodist Central Hall, a Fairtrade cafe was being operated by the Women's Institute. A giant puppet making workshop, campaign stalls, interactive games, lanterns, stand-up comedy, trade workshops and aerobics classes were just a few of the events and activities available.
Elsewhere, movies were showing. People were debating and singing and worshipping. The Trade Justice Night at The Marquee in Leicester Square was heaving. By 4am these and other activities gave way to the second mass gathering of the night when people gathered in whitehall and held vigil with candles
To some it was startling. You don’t expect to be part of a crowd that big and vociferous and that various, in SW1 at 4am on a Saturday morning. It was a very new and enjoyable experience. There was a sense of cheerful certainty, a general feeling that this is the right thing to be doing at the right time.
Cath Lloyd rscj
