Activists concerned that Theresa May's vow to curb further violence may impinge on the group's direct action protests
TV news footage of last Saturday's protests focused on anarchists using black bloc tactics to smash bank windows and attack shops, but the arrest of 145 activists from UK Uncut, a completely separate group who occupied Fortnum & Mason, grabbed the headlines.
The result was a blurring in many people's minds between the two groups, which threatens to hamper UK Uncut's ability to operate, especially after the home secretary, Theresa May, ordered a review of police powers to handle public demonstrations following the weekend's violent disorder.
There are clear differences between the two groupings: black bloc anarchists condone violence and want to smash the system, while UK Uncut supporters promote peaceful direct action, with a particular focus on the reform of tax laws that allow avoidance by big business. Many UK Uncut supporters emerged from the Climate Camp movement. Their trademark tactic is a sit-down protest in a shop owned by an allegedly tax-avoiding company. Spiky v fluffy, some observers say, although Boris Johnson claimed the Uncut activists at Fortnum & Mason "stormed that building, terrified the staff, upset the customers and caused tens of thousands of pounds worth of damage". Confusion with the black bloc was compounded when a UK Uncut spokeswoman refused to condemn violent direct action when she appeared on BBC2's Newsnight.
Now UK Uncut is worried that talk of a crackdown to curb further violence could impinge on its activities, which this weekend are planned in Bangor, Barnstaple, Edinburgh, London and Oxford. "Theresa May's comments are quite worrying," said a spokesman. "She seemed to imply that anyone who goes beyond marching would be criminalised and that would be dangerous. Our actions are direct but we consider them creative civil disobedience.