Why I was there

Opinions from people who were there

Special report: May Day 2001
Shaggy, 18, a factory worker from Peterborough

I'm here to express my opposition to third world poverty and to protest about environmental issues. I'm also giving out peaceful protest leaflets and T-shirts in the hope that we can raise awareness but keep the day as trouble-free as possible. Of course there are factions that want violence, but I've been very distressed to see the way that the police and the media have concentrated on that. Every time there's violence, that just clouds things.

Niki Adams, 37, from London, campaigner for Wages for Housework

We want payment for all the caring work that women and children do across the globe, as well as equality of pay for all. We need to transfer the millions currently allotted to defence into the essentials of life: decent pay, paid maternity leave, and the abolition of third world debt. Women pay the highest price for globalisation and third world poverty. They do two-thirds of the world's work, much of which is low-waged or unpaid. Multinational companies need to reform their pay structures. Why is a sweatshop worker in India not given the same rate of pay as a worker doing a similar job in the west?

Ronny, 27, from London, caterer

I've made veggie burgers to hand out to the Critical Mass cyclists after they've finished their action. I'm involved in campaigning on animal rights, and I've set up outside McDonald's because that company represents, for me, the very worst side of global capitalism. Think of the number of people who are touched by a big corporation like this, from the parents who have to fork out for their kids to eat there, because of their targeted advertising towards children. All for food that doesn't fill people up and is bad for them.

June Williams, 50s, from London, retired

I came here to show solidarity, and in defiance of the mayor of London, who wants us to stop feeding the pigeons in Trafalgar Square. I suspect that Westminster city council is desperate to get rid of this square, get rid of the pigeons and replace it with something altogether more corporate. It's a free space for poor families to come to, and there aren't many other areas like that in London. It's not enough to stay at home and grumble. You realise that that's not going to change anything.

Tym Ellis, 21, from Twickenham, south-west London, works in a toy shop

I came to the May Day action last year, and I really liked the atmosphere. Everyone was relaxed and it was really chilled out. Similarly, I've really enjoyed this morning. I'm here to make my voice heard about globalisation - all the cliches I suppose - third world debt, anti-capitalism, the environment - but it's important for me to be here. It's good to feel part of something, part of protests and concerns that are happening all over the world.

Joel Hirsch, 52, post office worker from London

I've just popped out from work in my lunch break. The politicians are all the same, turning a blind eye to the multinationals and what they're doing to the world. But people are beginning to realise how those companies are having an impact on their lives. I thought that I'd have a lot of arguments with people at the office when I told them that I was coming here, but actually most of them thought it was worthwhile.

Siobhain O'Conner, 18, A-level student from Tooting, south London

I came here to be educated. I don't know much about politics yet, but it seems to me it's all about freedom and choice. I've just been to a demonstration about student debt, demanding grants not fees. Too many people I know are saying they won't go to university because they don't want to get into debt.There are lots of ordinary people here - it's not all hippies and anarchists. It's really important for people to assert themselves.

Leah Barnett, 30s, from London, solicitor

I'm not a member of any particular party or group, and I'm not here for any particular event. I suppose I'm against the whole corporatisation of the world. Look at the shops around here: pretty much every one of them is charging too much, using sweatshops and exploiting its workers. It's actually great to see them boarded up today. The threat of rubber bullets did put me off. But it's more important as a citizen of this country to stand up for people's rights.

Nessa Heroabadi, 20, student from Middlesex

Everyone turns a blind eye to what's going on in the world, yet when people get together to protest about it they all make a big deal about the possibility of violence. There are 800m people starving in the world, but we spend millions on defence and wars. It doesn't make sense. What's most upsetting is feeling like nothing's ever going to change.

Katie Fiander, 16, schoolgirl from Middlesex

I don't want to be violent, but we all have the right to voice our opinion. It upsets me to see people getting violent. What's the point in smashing a window? It's not going to solve anything. The police aren't helping though. It all feels quite aggressive here. All the grown-ups and the police were telling us not to go, but I wanted to see what it was like. I wanted to meet interesting people, and find out what's really going on. It's my future.

Helen Kelly, 35, playwright, from Birmingham

It's my first time at a demonstration of this size. I'm particularly concerned about pollution. I don't drive, and I used to cycle, but I don't any more because it's so dangerous with all the traffic. I also think that raising people's awareness of issues like sweatshops and child labour is important. Something like this focuses these questions in people's minds.

Lola, 24, singer, from London

People are unhappy, seeing what big business has done to the planet. And there's this weird sort of mental exhaustion, as people strive after this dream that they're fed by big business: buy this, buy that. It scares me because you feel that everything's controlled by this massive, faceless organisation, and that every government and politician is intertwined in it.

The London May Day protests at a glance
Minute-by-minute coverage of the demonstrations

Audio reports
Sarah Left on the Critical Mass cycle ride (2mins)

Caption competition

Related articles
01.05.2001: May Day could cost millions
01.05.2001: May Day protests grip London
01.05.2001: May Day mood begins to darken
01.05.2001, comment: Politics not parliament
01.05.2001: Blair attacks 'spurious' May Day protest
01.05.2001: Confusion reigns as police brace for mayhem
01.05.2001, comment: Violence is our enemy

Photo galleries
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Interactive guide
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What's happened so far
What's going on in Oxford Street

How the Guardian is covering May Day
01.05.2001: Keeping a level head

Weblog special
May Day 2001

The issue explained
History of anti-capitalism protests
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Talk about it
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Special reports
May Day 2001

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May Day protests - the story in links

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Useful links
May Day Monopoly
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