irony

From Naomi Klein’s No Logo, section describing the protests against the G8 summit in Cologne:
“On the same day that the Indian farmers were peacefully protesting in Cologne, London’s financial district turned into a war zone – the city hasn’t seen anything like it since the 1990 poll-tax riots. The 10,000-strong gathering started as a classic RTS surreal political party. The streets were cleared by a Critical Mass bike ride and were flooded by activists dressed in second hand suits with slogans painted on their backs. They danced in the door steps of office towers, formed a human chain around the treasury and held peaceful sit-ins at several banks. The bankers and investment brokers, meanwhile, came to work disguised in casual sports clothes, having been advised by police to “blend in” with the activists so as not to catch a flying pie.”

I love the image i have in my mind of 10,000 people converging on London's bank district, waving flags, dressed in suits, yelling , chanting and reclaiming the streets; while the people that work for the corporations that the protests oppose sheepishly cut through the crowds in their Polo and Ralph Lauren Golf shirts and slacks.