July 28th Counter Olympics March in Bow!

The Counter Olympics Network staged a mass rally through Bow in East London on Saturday 28th July attended by around 1000 people bringing together over 50 organisations representing many different concerns about the Olympics, including corporate campaigns against Olympic sponsors like Dow, G4S, BP, Rio Tinto, Atos and Adidas and local campaigns over the seizure of land at Leyton Marsh, Greenwich Park and Wanstead Flats, the closure of tow paths and the placing of missiles on blocks of flats and in parks. Trade unions and campaigns against the cuts protested against the misuse of resources while representatives from NoSochi2014 and RioOnWatch made this an international occasion.

The march was followed by speeches, plays, poetry and performances, notably dancing by the Circassian NoSochi campaigners and a performance by Reclaim the Bard. The Vancouver Poverty Olympics Torch, which was kindly provided by Vancouver activists, was passed on to the NoSochi group to continue to provide a focus of protest against the bloated circus that is the Olympics.

The front of the march…

..on the road..

…outside Bow Quarter..

…heading down Roman Road..

…reclaiming the Bard from BP…

…handing over the torch…

…NoSochi2014 dance in the park…

…and…

…a brilliant day!

Thanks for photos by Theresa Williamson and Rikki at Indymedia

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