another night on the street

after so many independent left wing hubs had been subjected to razzias today, the anger was great. Everybody was on about it, everybody knew there was a spontaneous demonstration tonight - and here we were all again, the left, back on the street just a week after may first. LOADS of police, we all got checked before we could get to the meeting point. The woman before me, short haired, asexual, got asked by the police-woman, who was surprised to see the person stand in front of her waiting to be touched up "You're coming to me? are you a female?". They left Mareike and I through without too much checking.
Everybody was there, it was insane, all of the Berlin left wing world, with anger in their bellies, and solidarity in their feet. Mobilisation had started sometime around 12, I had been one of the many people that had passed the info around during the day through mouth propaganda on the street and phone calls and email. When the demonstration started to protest against the criminalisation of G8-critical activities, there were hundreds and hundreds of us. Eventually we started guessing there must be thousands of us. Then R. and i evaluated about 5000 - which seems to be what mainstream media also think. 5000 after just one afternoon of mobilisation! Berlin mon amour.
I saw a bunch of the usuals I meet on such gatherings - also Flo, whom I hadn't seen in a while. Asked him how he was - he said he'd been woken up this morning by the police breaking in into his flat to raid it. They took one of his flatmates. It didn't sound like his sort of day.

We walked for an hour and a half through Kreuzberg, and finished the demo all tired- everything had been peaceful yet strong and determined. It was one of those identity-building moments. We were there when needed, part of it, showing our solidarity with the projects and people that had been randomly targeted.

It was good to be there with the group I will be going up to Rostock with - some of them I still know too little to feel entirely comfortable with, but it's important to feel comfortable with one's group in such situations - and trust can only develop through common actions and events. The next weeks will be hot. It's good not the be alone.
To those who may be worried: No fears to be had. I've got people looking after me on the demonstration, just as I'm looking after them. And we'll probably be going to Rostock as clowns - and the police wouldn't dare hurt little rebel clowns, would they? All good and inspiring.