WOMBLES

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Theory and Practice

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}} The WOMBLES (White Overalls Movement Building Libertarian Effective Struggles) were a loosely aligned anarchist and anti-capitalist group based in London. They gained prominence in the early 2000s for wearing white overalls with padding and helmets at May Day protests, mimicking the Italian group Tute Bianche.

BeginningsEdit

The WOMBLES formed as a group in the early 2000s in London. The name stood for White Overalls Movement Building Libertarian Effective Struggles.<ref name="City">Template:Cite journal</ref> Activists who had witnessed first hand the tactics of the Tute Bianche in Italy decided to use similar methods of protest in London. Tute Bianche ('White Overalls') had formed in 1994 and were known for storming barricades whilst dressed in comical padded outfits and helmets to protect themselves from police violence, as for example at the 27th G8 summit in Genoa.<ref name="Protestival">Template:Cite journal</ref>

The preferred tactic of the London anarchist group was to steal an estate agents 'For Sale' sign, fold it up and wear it under the trademark white overalls.<ref name="HQ">Template:Cite news</ref> The WOMBLES were involved in protests during several May Day events in the early 2000s,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> including the protests in 2004 in Dublin.<ref name="Dec1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Social centresEdit

File:London Social Centre Russell Square squat 1 20060329.jpg

The Square social centre in 2006

The WOMBLES were also inspired by self-managed social centres in Italy and therefore began a series of social centres in London. Firstly, they squatted the Radical Dairy on Kynaston Road in Stoke Newington. This lasted from 2001 until 2003.<ref name="City" /> The aim was to build long-term relationships with local people and to avoid capitalist property relations. From this centre, participants were then involved with other projects such as the Ex-Grand Banks, RampART, the Institute for Autonomy and The Square.<ref name="City" /> The Button Factory squat in southeast London was evicted by police and partially demolished by the owner before the 2001 May Day demonstrations.<ref name="Base">Template:Cite news</ref> The Ex-Grand Banks at 156-158 Fortess Road, in Tufnell Park, north London was opened on 4 March 2004. It became an activist hub before being evicted in August.<ref name="Banks">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

As well as organising in physical spaces, the WOMBLES used the internet to reach a wider audience, enabling solidarity networks.<ref name="Networked">Template:Cite journal</ref>

The third European Social Forum (ESF) was held in London in 2004. The WOMBLES organised a countersummit held at Middlesex University called 'Beyond ESF' which provided a space for European radical social movements to meet and engage, focusing primarily on the issue of precarity.<ref name="Practices">Template:Cite book</ref>

In the mediaEdit

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The WOMBLES quickly became a personification of the anti-capitalist and anti-globalisation movements for the mainstream media of the United Kingdom. The Evening Standard decided to 'infiltrate' the WOMBLES before the 2001,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 2002<ref name="HQ" /> and 2003<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Mayday protests in London. Individuals were identified as leaders and followed around by police and journalists at demonstrations.<ref name="Rosser">Template:Cite news</ref>

Even after the WOMBLES had ceased to organise large scale demonstrations, the media continued to use their name as shorthand for a notorious group of anarchists. The WOMBLES were said to be organising against the G20 in 2009 according to the Mirror.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In popular cultureEdit

The song Time for Heroes by the band Libertines reference the WOMBLES:

Did you see the stylish kids in the riot?
Shovelled up like muck Set the night on fire Wombles bleed truncheons and shields You know I cherish you my love{{#if:|{{#if:|}}

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Police infiltrationEdit

Between 1999 and 2010, the WOMBLES were infiltrated by at least three British police officers, namely Mark Kennedy, Rod Richardson and Jaqueline Anderson.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Kennedy later apologised for his actions, saying "I hate myself so much. I betrayed so many people. I owe it to a lot of good people to do something right for a change... I'm really sorry. If I can help in any way then I'd like to."<ref name="Sorry">Template:Cite news</ref> Anderson was involved with the Radical Dairy and was known then as 'Massage Jacky' since she offered massage sessions. She told other activists she lived in a flat with Carlo Neri, who was also later exposed as a police spy.<ref name="Spycop">Template:Cite news</ref>

ReferencesEdit

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External linksEdit

Official website archived in 2002

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