Background to the WOMBLES

Analysis | IMF / World Bank

The WOMBLES group was started in the autumn of 2000 by a group of anarchists who were radicalised from the J18, N30, Mayday and Prague actions. Many of the ideas which had difficulty being articulated in the ready existing radical anarchist/Reclaim the Streets movement in London formed the basis of what gave birth to the WOMBLES.

As many of us met each other during the demonstrations against the IMF/World Bank summit in Prague, we wanted to recreate the experiences we all had shared, the emotions, the politics, and the passion through a movement called WOMBLES. Our name was part piss-take, part inspiration from what we had heard/seen from the white overalls movement in Italy and Prague.

What we saw in the White Overalls was an innovation, a militancy and organisation that sought to go beyond the perceptions of what it meant to struggle against capitalism. Considering our individual involvement in previous action/riots in London at the turn of the century, we saw that something similar was needed.

So on Mayday 2001, WOMBLES had its first big outing, responding with defiance to the changing strategies of the police and repression on the growing anti-capitalist demos. Our main weapons were our bodies, minds and crash helmets. WOMBLES therefore began, we had a clean slate ready to develop a politics that we thought had something to offer. We had this mentality that anything was possible, that anything could happen, and we could be one part of that.

Since the days we wore white overalls (which ended by 2002), WOMBLES have developed into being a collective of anarchists, anti-authoritarians and libertarians. The ideas that we espouse continue to be those we wish to live by - self-organisation, autonomy and solidarity.

WOMBLES, despite the media manipulation and hype, has always been an open meeting ground for people struggling for a new world based on the dignity of people to live freely, without coercion, states, private property and exploitation. A world without classes and ethnic, sexual or gender divisions. A world without borders.

WOMBLES is not a membership organisation, no one has to bear allegiance to it but people are encouraged to participate on a non-hierarchical basis. People new to revolutionary, anti-capitalist, anarchist and anti-authoritarian ideas, desires and actions are welcomed to attend and be part of whatever is being discussed, organised or conspired.

In the past we have challenged the racist asylum policies of Britain and Europe, the militarisation of borders and internal security and the ongoing global war against those who challenge the American empire's military hegemony. As well as supporting prisoners, helping to organise the previous MAYDAY events, setting up squatted social centres, organising benefit concerts around London, film screenings, Reclaim the Future events, anti-fascist activities and supporting the massive demonstrations against the EU, Global Forum, G8, IMF and World bank in Prague, Gothenberg, Naples, Genoa, Evian and Thessaloniki.

The WOMBLES promote anarchist ideas, libertarian solidarity, autonomous self-organisation and humour. Everyone involved participates equally in its organisation and actions. Open meetings are held every Tuesday to discuss ideas, possible tactics and decision-making.

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