From the Chartists to Extinction Rebellion: expecting protest in central London
plashing vole
Hurrah for old England and liberty sweet,
The land that we live in and plenty to eat;
We shall ever remember this wonderful day,
The Chartists are coming, get out of the way.
The Chartists are Coming, Ballad, 1848
The anticipation of some dreadful event taking place, whether natural or human made is an important feature of London life and has been since Victorian times. Often it is the weather, heavy rain, storms, or very high temperatures.
However in the revolutionary year of 1848 it was protest, and particularly the Chartists that exercised the middle class mind. They did indeed come, on April 10th 1848, but actually they were rumoured to be coming far more often than they actually arrived. The same is true of bad weather in London. Reports, often word of mouth or on social media, will note that bad weather is around and will appear soon. People will look anxiously and make travel plans accordingly.
In the autumn of it is 2019 Extinction Rebellion, rightly holding a two-week protest about the climate emergency in central London, who create the same concern. People look anxiously to see if protesters are approaching. Security at office buildings is stepped up.
Of course many sympathised with or supported the Chartists and Extinction Rebellion is the same. Authority was not in the camp in 1848 and nor is it in 2019.
The threat of bad weather and protest remain two of the great imponderables of London life. Playing on the uncertainties of the bourgeois mind while often looking rather more a like a carnival of the oppressed to many others.
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