A-Infos (en) Britain, MEDIA, Anarchists and anti-capitalists descended on London's Canary Wharf*

To celebrate the collapse of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. and the ``death of 
capitalism.'' ---- A crowd of as many as 300 people, some dressed as wizards and 
witches, chanted slogans such as ``unemployment and inflation are not caused by 
immigration'' outside the Lehman Brothers office. Some of the group, which 
included members of the Socialist Workers Party, charged toward a line of about 
100 police officers protecting nearby 1 Canada Square, the U.K.'s tallest 
building. ---- Lehman's office is ``an easy target, but it's interesting to see 
a completely different view,'' said Shawn Moody, 26, who works in HSBC Holdings 
Plc's general finance department and paused on his way home to watch the crowd.

The gathering was promoted as a Halloween costume party titled ``Dancing on the 
Grave of Capitalism,'' and publicized on the Internet. It was organized by Chris 
Knight, a professor of anthropology at the University of East London who blames 
the financial crisis on ``greedy idiotic bankers.''

``One moon ago, Lehman Brothers died and capitalism started to die; it's a time 
for dancing,'' Knight, 65, said today in a telephone interview. ``It's only the 
death of capitalism, it's not the end of the world.''

Knew in Advance

London's Metropolitan Police force knew about the event in advance and deployed 
officers, backed up by colleagues from the British Transport Police.

``I appreciate their views and right to freedom of speech, but there are a lot 
of people working in banks who don't have huge wages and need to make a 
living,'' said Oliver Taner, 25, who works in administration for a bank he 
wouldn't name.

Canary Wharf Group's media office declined to comment on the demonstration. The 
company owns most of the land in London's second financial district.

Barclays Plc, the U.K. bank that bought units of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc., 
was notified of the event, a spokeswoman said. Employees may be asked to leave 
work early if the bank's security officers recommend it, she said.

Tonight's activities will also include a two-minute silence for those who have 
died in Afghanistan, Knight said.

=======================

* a-infos-en original post:

(en) Britain, Anarchists 'dance on capitalism's grave'

The demonstration is taking place in Canary Wharf this evening Friday, 31, Oct
2008 ---- A range of anti-capitalist and anarchist groups will gather in Canary
Wharf tonight for a Halloween party to "dance on capitalism's grave".
Businesses around the Docklands area are sending warnings to staff urging them
to go home early and not wear any clothes bearing corporate logos. ---- An
internal email sent around Lehman Brothers, seen by politics.co.uk, warns staff
that demonstrators "may seek to gain entrance to buildings or approach people on
the estate in order to conduct trick or treat".  Corporate buildings in the area
are organising shutdown operations in case demonstrators try to rush the doors.

The event has not been sanctioned by the Canary Wharf Group, but the Canary
Wharf security department is understood to have prepared for the event and has
liaised closely with the Metropolitan police.

Organisers have promised the event will be non-violent, but there is expected to
be a strong police presence in the area.

Protestors will start congregating in the area just outside Canary Wharf tube at
16:30 BST.
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