LONDON, November 5 (RIA Novosti), Mark Hirst – Promoters of an unauthorized march planned by hacktivist group Anonymous in the UK’s capital Wednesday told RIA Novosti they are concerned about the possible police reaction to their event, dubbed the Million Mask March.
Violence marred a related event held on October 17 in London when protesters clashed with police during a nine-day occupation of Parliament Square directly opposite the British Parliament, the House of Commons.
“Considering the reaction to last month’s Occupy Democracy protests one needs to be concerned [about the police response],” Mickey Valentine, a promoter of Wednesday’s march told RIA Novosti.
“One can only expect and hope that both the people and the police will have no reason to be concerned at all as we live in democracy. It is a peaceful protest,” Valentine added.
Meanwhile Anonymous, a worldwide hacktivist group, ignored Police appeals to work with them to co-ordinate the march which begins in London’s iconic Trafalgar Square at 6 p.m.
Last week the Metropolitan Police took to social media to appeal to organizers to contact them, but a spokesman for the Met told RIA Novosti there had been no response and was unable to confirm social media reports there had been five arrests connected to the march during Wednesday morning.
Valentine told RIA Novosti that despite police concerns the aims of the Anonymous march remained peaceful.
“We promote humanism, awareness and peaceful solutions,” Valentine said.
“Nevertheless, the organization of the march itself surpasses us considering there are many different groups involved and with a much wider reach,” he added.
“We promote peaceful assembly and the ideals shared by the ones that truly share our views are peaceful as well,” Valentine told RIA Novosti.
The protest in London deliberately coincides with the 1605 commemoration of the execution of Guido Fawkes, known as Guy Fawkes. Fawkes, along with a number of other dissidents, failed in an attempt to blow up the Houses of Parliament. Protesters wear a mask representation of Fawkes which has become the trademark of the Anonymous group.
