I was just about to reply to Richie Black's comments about 200 arrests, when I saw SPB's comments. To which amen.

Unlike everybody else (I think) in this discussion, I saw almost the entire march from a very good vantage point. I do not recall seeing anything more than a tiny number of anarchists taking part in the march. Yes, there were a lot more occupying Trafalgar Square, and I've no doubt they were the ones who caused the trouble after the rest of us had gone home. But they were not a part of what even the police and the home secretary agreed was a well organised, peaceful and well behaved march.

BTW., it might serve RB and one or two others to reflect that there are different shades of anarchism, just as there are different shades of socialism and conservatism. Not everyone who carries a black flag supports wanton violence. Come to that, a large proportion of those 200 arrests were of people supporting UK Uncut protests. Again, something entirely separate from the march.

I know very little about UK Uncut, but I do know that it is not an anarchist organisation. Indeed, as far as I can see, it is organised around the principle of non-violent direct action. Something which Ghandi, Bertrand Russell and other great pacifists would have approved.

If that is so, then I for one support their actions on Saturday, and observe that the number of arrests of violent nutters was far less than 200.