Usually, individuals don\u2019t want to be angry. In a group, however, negative emotions can rile the tribe. On the streets of London, Ed Coper felt it first hand<\/p>\n
Back before 9\/11 and the wars it precipitated, the big global focus for protest was globalisation itself. Things came to a head in Seattle in November 1999 when 50,000 protesters crashed the World Trade Organization\u2019s party. The ensuing \u201cBattle of Seattle\u201d, as it came to be known, brought unprecedented attention to the growing disquiet over the inequalities of unregulated free market excesses. That\u2019s how, a few months later, I found myself smack bang in the middle of the next big anti-neoliberal flashpoint, the \u201cMayDay 2K\u201d protests in London.<\/p>\n
My experience of protest throughout high school had been pretty tame, more likely to take the form of defiance than demonstration. Socks down, shirt untucked \u2013 take that, sir! But then again times were good, even for a ratbag. I didn\u2019t have many grievances. At least, none that could be solved by collective protest against powerful institutions that weren\u2019t my parents.<\/p>\n
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