Spring is finally here and the streets are filling with those demanding change. Last Tuesday, thousands were involved in actions across the US, with Occupy Wall Street standing in solidarity with trades unions, students, community and immigrant workers' groups, forging a new coalition of collective action.
In London, Occupy crossed an item off the "to do" list by spending an afternoon outside the London Stock Exchange, making good on the original call-out for the 15 October. With that out of the way, the serious fun and games can now begin. The 12 and 15 May mark the two international days of action called to mark the one-year anniversary of the indignados taking to the squares of southern Europe, with actions planned as far afield as Rio and Wellington.
In Europe, Spain's squares will be occupied once more and Occupy Frankfurt plan to "blockupy" the European Central Bank. Two big events are planned in London: the second will be a day of direct action against the lobbying power of finance on 15 May, with events at the British Bankers' Association and a Dinner for Democracy that, unlike those cosy private suppers at Downing Street, you won't have to find a five-figure donation to secure a place at.
Our map for Meet the 1% is an essential tool for finding your way around on Saturday, but we also see it as a resource to move beyond our own programme of events. We're deliberately leaving plenty of opportunity for those who attend to determine their own course of action on a more autonomous basis. It doesn't take much to make a statement.
When "urban exploration" is classed as "extremist activity" – as the City of London police did last year – walking the streets you live in can itself become a political act.
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