Editing WOMBLES

{{Short description|Anarchist group}}
{{for|the fictional creatures|The Wombles}}
{{Anarchism sidebar}}
The '''WOMBLES''' ('''White Overalls Movement Building Libertarian Effective Struggles''') were a loosely aligned [[anarchist]] and [[Anti-capitalism|anti-capitalist]] group based in [[London]]. They gained prominence in the early 2000s for wearing white overalls with padding and helmets at [[May Day]] protests, mimicking the Italian group [[Tute Bianche]].

== Beginnings ==
The WOMBLES formed as a group in the early 2000s in London. The name stood for White Overalls Movement Building Libertarian Effective Struggles.<ref name="City">{{cite journal |last1=Hodkinson |first1=Stuart |last2=Chatterton |first2=Paul |title=Autonomy in the city? |journal=City |date=22 January 2007 |volume=10 |issue=3 |pages=305–315 |doi=10.1080/13604810600982222|bibcode=2006City...10..305H |s2cid=143032260 }}</ref> Activists who had witnessed first hand the tactics of the [[Tute Bianche]] in Italy decided to use similar methods of protest in London. Tute Bianche ('White Overalls') had formed in 1994 and were known for storming barricades whilst dressed in comical padded outfits and helmets to protect themselves from police violence, as for example at the [[27th G8 summit]] in Genoa.<ref name="Protestival">{{cite journal |last1=St John |first1=Graham |title=Protestival: Global Days of Action and Carnivalized Politics in the Present |journal=Social Movement Studies |date=September 2008 |volume=7 |issue=2 |pages=167–190 |doi=10.1080/14742830802283550|s2cid=219698298 }}</ref>

The preferred tactic of the London [[anarchist]] group was to steal an estate agents 'For Sale' sign, fold it up and wear it under the trademark white overalls.<ref name="HQ">{{cite news |last1=Peel |first1=Lilly |last2=Ward |first2=Helen |title=Inside Wombles' HQ with Target H |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/inside-wombles-hq-with-target-h-6328773.html |access-date=24 November 2019 |work=Evening Standard |date=1 May 2002 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151009152514/http://www.standard.co.uk/news/inside-wombles-hq-with-target-h-6328773.html |archive-date=9 October 2015 |language=en}}</ref> The WOMBLES were involved in protests during several May Day events in the early 2000s,<ref>{{Cite web|author=Guardian Staff|date=2001-05-01|title=The London May Day protests at a glance|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2001/may/01/mayday.immigrationpolicy|access-date=2020-12-21|website=The Guardian|language=en|archive-date=2020-11-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201129023941/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2001/may/01/mayday.immigrationpolicy|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=2004-04-30|title=May Day protest issues still burn|language=en-GB|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/3667987.stm|access-date=2020-12-21|archive-date=2020-10-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201022161109/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/3667987.stm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last1=Peterson|first1=Abby|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ju0yDAAAQBAJ&q=WOMBLES+in+May+Day+events+year+2000&pg=PA155|title=The Ritual of May Day in Western Europe: Past, Present and Future|last2=Reiter|first2=Herbert|publisher=Routledge|year=2016|isbn=9781317017356|pages=155|access-date=2020-12-25|archive-date=2022-01-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220128071441/https://books.google.com/books?id=ju0yDAAAQBAJ&q=WOMBLES+in+May+Day+events+year+2000&pg=PA155|url-status=live}}</ref> including the [[2004 Dublin May Day riot|protests in 2004]] in [[Dublin]].<ref name="Dec1">{{cite web |last1=McCarthy |first1=Dec |title='Looking back on the Dublin EU summit protests - Mayday 2004' |url=https://www.anarkismo.net/newswire.php?story_id=486 |website=anarkismo.net |access-date=24 December 2021 |archive-date=24 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211224145553/https://www.anarkismo.net/newswire.php?story_id=486 |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Social centres ==
[[File:London Social Centre Russell Square squat 1 20060329.jpg|thumb|right|250px|The Square social centre in 2006]]
The WOMBLES were also inspired by [[self-managed social centres in Italy]] and therefore began a series of [[Self-managed social centres in the United Kingdom|social centres]] in London. Firstly, they [[squatted]] the Radical Dairy on Kynaston Road in [[Stoke Newington]]. This lasted from 2001 until 2003.<ref name="City" /> The aim was to build long-term relationships with local people and to avoid capitalist property relations. From this centre, participants were then involved with other projects such as the Ex-Grand Banks, [[RampART]], the Institute for Autonomy and The Square.<ref name="City" /> The Button Factory squat in southeast London was evicted by police and partially demolished by the owner before the 2001 May Day demonstrations.<ref name="Base">{{cite news |title=Police raid 'anarchist' base |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1254086.stm |access-date=24 November 2019 |date=1 April 2001 |archive-date=17 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170817045427/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1254086.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> The Ex-Grand Banks at 156-158 Fortess Road, in [[Tufnell Park]], north London was opened on 4 March 2004. It became an activist hub before being evicted in August.<ref name="Banks">{{cite web |title=Today in London's squatting history: Ex-Grand Banks social centre opens, 2004 |url=https://pasttenseblog.wordpress.com/2016/03/04/today-in-londons-squatting-history-ex-grand-banks-social-centre-opens-2004/ |website=past tense |access-date=24 November 2019 |language=en |date=4 March 2016 |archive-date=24 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191124204316/https://pasttenseblog.wordpress.com/2016/03/04/today-in-londons-squatting-history-ex-grand-banks-social-centre-opens-2004/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

As well as organising in physical spaces, the WOMBLES used the internet to reach a wider audience, enabling solidarity networks.<ref name="Networked">{{cite journal |last1=Lacey |first1=Anita |title=Networked Communities |journal=Space and Culture |date=18 August 2016 |volume=8 |issue=3 |pages=286–301 |doi=10.1177/1206331205277350|s2cid=145336405 }}</ref>

The third [[European Social Forum]] (ESF) was held in London in 2004. The WOMBLES organised a countersummit held at Middlesex University called 'Beyond ESF' which provided a space for European radical social movements to meet and engage, focusing primarily on the issue of [[precarity]].<ref name="Practices">{{cite book |last1=Mattoni |first1=Alice |title=Media practices and protest politics : how precarious workers mobilise |date=August 2012 |publisher=Ashgate |isbn=978-1-409-42678-3 |page=4}}</ref>

== In the media ==
{{external media |audio1=[http://anarchistinterviews.podomatic.com/entry/2009-01-31T09_21_49-08_00/ Interview with a member of the WOMBLES]}}

The WOMBLES quickly became a personification of the anti-capitalist and [[anti-globalisation]] movements for the mainstream media of the United Kingdom. The ''[[Evening Standard]]'' decided to 'infiltrate' the WOMBLES before the 2001,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-935389-prepare-for-may-day-madness.do |title=Prepare for May Day madness &#124; News |website=www.thisislondon.co.uk |access-date=5 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605062853/http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-935389-prepare-for-may-day-madness.do |archive-date=5 June 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> 2002<ref name="HQ" /> and 2003<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-4646991-underground-with-the-wombles.do |title=Underground with the Wombles &#124; News |website=www.thisislondon.co.uk |access-date=5 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605063000/http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-4646991-underground-with-the-wombles.do |archive-date=5 June 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Mayday protests in London. Individuals were identified as leaders and followed around by police and journalists at demonstrations.<ref name="Rosser">{{cite news |last1=Rosser |first1=Nigel |title=The timid child who rebelled |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/the-timid-child-who-rebelled-6300420.html |access-date=24 November 2019 |work=Evening Standard |date=2 May 2002 |archive-date=28 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220128071442/https://www.standard.co.uk/hp/front/the-timid-child-who-rebelled-6300420.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Even after the WOMBLES had ceased to organise large scale demonstrations, the media continued to use their name as shorthand for a notorious group of anarchists. The WOMBLES were said to be organising against the G20 in 2009 according to the ''[[Daily Mirror|Mirror]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/sunday-mirror/2009/03/29/anarchy-back-in-the-uk-115875-21236624/|title=Anarchy back in the UK|website=[[Daily Mirror]]|access-date=15 October 2018|archive-date=5 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605012952/http://www.mirror.co.uk/sunday-mirror/2009/03/29/anarchy-back-in-the-uk-115875-21236624/|url-status=live}}</ref>

== In popular culture ==

The song [[Time for Heroes]] by the band [[The Libertines|Libertines]] reference the WOMBLES:

{{Blockquote
|text=
Did you see the stylish kids in the riot?
Shovelled up like muck 
Set the night on fire 
Wombles bleed truncheons and shields 
You know I cherish you my love
}}

== Police infiltration ==

Between 1999 and 2010, the WOMBLES were infiltrated by at least three British police officers, namely [[Mark Kennedy (police officer)|Mark Kennedy]], Rod Richardson and Jaqueline Anderson.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/ng-interactive/2018/oct/15/uk-political-groups-spied-on-undercover-police-list|title=UK political groups spied on by undercover police – search the list|work=The Guardian|access-date=15 October 2018|archive-date=15 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181015070735/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/ng-interactive/2018/oct/15/uk-political-groups-spied-on-undercover-police-list|url-status=live}}</ref> Kennedy later apologised for his actions, saying "I hate myself so much. I betrayed so many people. I owe it to a lot of good people to do something right for a change... I'm really sorry. If I can help in any way then I'd like to."<ref name="Sorry">{{cite news |title=Undercover Pc Mark Kennedy 'really sorry for betrayal' |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12158198 |access-date=24 November 2019 |work=BBC News |date=11 January 2011 |archive-date=28 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220128071446/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-12158198 |url-status=live }}</ref> Anderson was involved with the Radical Dairy and was known then as 'Massage Jacky' since she offered massage sessions. She told other activists she lived in a flat with Carlo Neri, who was also later exposed as a police spy.<ref name="Spycop">{{cite news |last1=ZB |title=Spycop Inquiry: six more cover names released |url=https://freedomnews.org.uk/37110-2/ |access-date=24 November 2019 |work=Freedom News |date=18 April 2018 |archive-date=26 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200926000418/https://freedomnews.org.uk/37110-2/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Anti-globalization]]
*[[Civil and social disobedience]]
*[[Disobbedienti]]
*[[London Action Resource Centre]]
*[[Ya Basta]]
*[[Zapatista Army of National Liberation]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20020605162932/http://www.wombles.org.uk/ Official website] archived in 2002

{{UK far left}}
{{SquatE&W}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wombles}}
[[Category:Advocacy groups in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Anarchist organisations in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Autonomism]]
[[Category:Direct action]]
[[Category:Squatting in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Anarchist squats]]
[[Category:Anarchism in England]]