The Million Mask March is sweeping the globe across Wednesday as demonstrators protest against austerity, mass surveillance and oppression. Participants will obscure their faces to protect their identity.
06 November 2014
We ain't scared of yo badge , we ain't scared of yo gun , we ain't scared of yo jail . #MillionMaskMarch#Fergusonpic.twitter.com/NmyDjE0IPD
— peace Queen (@rikrik__) November 6, 2014
5th of November #MillionMaskMarch#MMM#MillionMask representing #Jacksonvillepic.twitter.com/AbKxLfGyeF
— Zachary f (@Zachary507) November 6, 2014
Most taking part in #MillionMaskMarch were peaceful. There were pockets of violence. 10 arrests, but event passed off without major incident
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) November 6, 2014
Police with Shields Block the #MillionMaskMarch in #Ferguson LIVE http://t.co/bg97iiwYBd | #Anonymous#MMMpic.twitter.com/C1lgS0eRTz
— Revolution News (@NewsRevo) November 6, 2014
A standoff is reportedly taking place between police and activists in Ferguson. While at the moment there is no violence reported, some say police began arresting protesters.
#Ferguson PD in snatch n grab mode. Once again #CivilRights violated #MMM#MillionMaskMarch. PD blocking sidewalk & arresting ppl
— Cleosbaby64 (@Cleosbaby64) November 6, 2014
Still out here. Come out and support #MillionMaskMarch#MarchAgainstCorruption#Dallaspic.twitter.com/aYvaL3l5B8
— Sentient Society (@sentientsociety) November 6, 2014
More than 200 people in Los Angeles are heading to City Hall from Hollywood disturbing traffic flow along the way. Earlier, they gathered at the center of the movie industry district to make their voices heard.
Live from the #MillionMaskMarch in Los Angeles @ Hollywood & Highland: http://t.co/0EpRCFOX57#MMM#MMMLA#Anonymouspic.twitter.com/YMle1EuaSo
— #OccupyLA (@OccupyLA) November 5, 2014
#Anonymous#MillionMaskMarch MONTREAL #OpVendettapic.twitter.com/UbhRfxxe8m
— Anonymous Ibero (@Ibero_Anon) November 6, 2014
Ferguson, Missouri is now marching in solidarity with Anonymous movement.
Anonymous protesters stop traffic as they march through streets of #Fergusonpic.twitter.com/2ZkLITYmYB
— Jason Kravarik (@jasonkCNN) November 6, 2014
The Metropolitan Police have announced that so far ten protesters have been arrested at the 'Million Masks March' in central London.
Three of the arrests were on suspicion of assaulting a police officer and another three for public order offenses. One person is held for attempted grievous bodily harm. The others for obstruction and fireworks offenses.
At at 2345hrs, 10 arrests re #MillionMaskMarch. 3 x assault on police, 1 x firework, 1 x att GBH, 3 x public order offence, 2 x obstruction
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) November 6, 2014
Transport for London reports that bus routes have been reopened in central London.
UPDATE: Parliament Square, Whitehall, Westminter Brg have now reopened, all buses serving central London have now returned to line of route.
— TfL Bus Alerts (@TfLBusAlerts) November 6, 2014
#Anonymous protesters in the streets of DC chanting, "No justice, no peace!" -- @JamesFTInternet#MillionMaskMarchpic.twitter.com/SXCJwBlvV5
— Land of Propaganda (@landofpropagand) November 5, 2014
05 November 2014
At least five people were arrested amid sporadic clashes between the Million Mask March protesters and police in London. Authorities said that people were apprehended for assaulting police officers, setting off fireworks, obstruction and at least one case of attempted grievous bodily harm.
The Million Mask March activists have reportedly raided the Monsanto agrochemical corporation’s headquarters in Washington DC, but were forced outside shortly after entering the building.
#MillionMaskMarch activists rally outside of #Monsanto HQ in #DC. Protesters entered building only to be forced out. pic.twitter.com/agkziMWzzm
— Adam Uzialko (@TheSirShags) November 5, 2014
Police are threatening arrests if the #MillionMaskMarch#MMM dont move of the highway on #Nov5th >>> pic.twitter.com/qAUMjiR9PJ
— #MillionMaskMarch (@Anon_Online) November 5, 2014
#ParliamentSquare completely blocked & Traffic come to a stand still as #Anonymous shout "our streets" at the #MillionMaskMarch#MMM#Nov5th
— #MillionMaskMarch (@Anon_Online) November 5, 2014
Hundreds of protesters have returned to Parliament square in the UK capital, trying to stage a mass sit-in in the road outside Westminster before the police increased their presence, forcing the crowd to split into several smaller groups.
Police cornering each side of Park Lane #MillionMaskMarch#Anonymouspic.twitter.com/O7A3hCuzwm
— Press TV UK (@Presstvuk) November 5, 2014
Scuffles break out after protester tasered and arrested in Washington, DC http://t.co/nfRPh4dDwL#MMM#Nov5th#MillionMaskMarch
— Ruptly (@Ruptly) November 5, 2014
A small group of protesters also descended on a local McDonalds on Oxford Road, chanting ‘Meat is murder!’ at people inside. The group was held back by heavy police presence.
Armed police guarding Mcdonalds #london#anonymous#millionmaskmarchpic.twitter.com/MI31Y2B7dv
— James Cropper (@JamesCropper95) November 5, 2014
Lively but mostly peaceful protest continues down Oxford Street with many passing cars beeping horns in support of the rally.
More fireworks...now on Regent Street. Police still standing off. #anonymoushttps://t.co/RWlqctqmDw
— James Banks (@Tweetingbanksy) November 5, 2014
Minor scuffles with police and several arrests during DC #MillionMaskMarchpic.twitter.com/bavERWLL0Q
— Paulina Leonovich (@Polly_evro) November 5, 2014
Protesters throwing over bins but steering clear of windows in Great Portland Street #MillionMaskMarch#Anonymouspic.twitter.com/k52VrSkbZx
— Press TV UK (@Presstvuk) November 5, 2014
Protesters and police engaged in a tense and prolonged stand-off outside London’s Buckingham Palace as metal barriers cordoning off the area were removed and protesters incited police to fight.
Protesters have been felling the metal barriers on their journey and they lay scattered across London's streets and the protesters move.
One protester read out a rap as he marched, bemoaning "fat cats" and lies about Weapons of Mass Destruction.
"We know the uprisings you choose to incite, and that's why we stand, and that's why we fight," he finished.
Clashes have broken out in London, with some demonstrators picking up the metal barriers to use as a weapon against the police, and police meeting the attempts with baton attacks. One or two traffic cones have been hurled into the crowds of law enforcement officials.
Things have become more heated between protesters and police; the sound of breaking glass is audible and a couple of police officers have resorted to picking up the metal barriers separating them from the crowds to use as protection.
"Would you like to live in a military state?" one protester demands to know.
Some angry altercations with police have taken place. However, there have been no direct violent conflicts between police and protesters, despite one policeman claiming that several protesters wanted to attack him. TV personality Russell Brand turned up to insist the protest remained peaceful.
London protesters have moved to Parliament Square, shouting: "Whose streets? Our streets!" and calling for revolution.
Protesters at Trafalgar Square in London set off fires.
San Francisco Million Mask March now at Justin Herman Plaza. JOIN US! pic.twitter.com/snvHhdS47B
— John Harvey (@digitallywired) November 5, 2014
Rome has joined the Million Mask March
#MMM#Italy#Rome#MillionMaskMarch#Anonymous#5N#Nov5th Roma and all over the world! pic.twitter.com/qUmyF5LdpR
— Jone Pierantonio (@JonePierantonio) November 5, 2014
Hundreds of masked people are marching in Quezon City, the Philippines as Million Mask March supporters are moving toward the country’s National Assembly, the Batasang Pambansa.
A message has been relayed from police to the protesters, requesting that fireworks aren't set off in the midst of the rally. However, some people have still sporadically been launching them into the sky. People can also be heard shouting "free Palestine!"
Other areas which have seen high turnout today have been Gothenburg and Central Hong Kong.
RT "@PRHacks: Live: We are in Lan Kwai Fong! High fives all around from the crowd! #MillionMaskMarch#OccupyHKpic.twitter.com/ygoJIt3zYv"
— Remember Remember (@CassieRamirez) November 5, 2014
#MilionMaskMarch Gothenburg Sweden #MMM#Anonymouspic.twitter.com/lib4zVQ56h"
— Anonymous_Albania (@xhildinho) November 5, 2014
Hundreds have gathered in central London's Trafalgar Square as the protest gets underway. Watch Ruptly's live feed here.
Moments ago outside FBI headquarters in downtown DC #MillionMaskMarchpic.twitter.com/je22bRNOsV
— Andrew Panda Blake (@apblake) November 5, 2014
“We’ve seen a few dozen people come out here in front of the Brandenburg Gate,” said RT’s Peter Oliver in Berlin. “This is just a small contingent of what’s going on around the globe”.
"We are here to save the world. Because no one wants a new world war in Europe," one masked hacktivist told him.
#AnonymousBerlin join the worldwide #MillionMaskMarch November 5th, not many people yet, but the masks are out! pic.twitter.com/UiFk5px8bg
— Belal Awad (@Baloo1987) November 5, 2014
Police have been bringing in riot shields to deal with the protest at US Capitol.
#BREAKING: Tensions at Capitol as some protesters tear away police barricades #MillionMaskMarchpic.twitter.com/UGPsdRftzL
— News2Share (@news_2_share) November 5, 2014
#MillionMaskMarch London,getting busy already !!! pic.twitter.com/JiQyOeOLrv
— stupot (@gypsyvillage2) November 5, 2014
Police are bringing in riot shields at US Capitol.
Crowd rushed police barricade at Capitol, tore away barricades: #MillionMaskMarchhttps://t.co/QT8sohE2zM
— News2Share (@news_2_share) November 5, 2014
The DC march saw a brief altercation with police at the FBI building.
After a short stand-off with the police at the #FBI building #MillionMaskMarch continues pic.twitter.com/w1JL8QlLgS
— Paulina Leonovich (@Polly_evro) November 5, 2014
The march progressed to the Capitol. As protester walked, it was being live-streamed by a participant. What was likely a troll told the amateur cameraman that CNN was showing the footage. "Anything you want to say to the mainstream media?" the protester asked his fellow protesters. "F*** you" they replied.
As the protest in London prepares to kick off at 1800 GMT, Anonymous have promised "bigger banners, louder voices, more people and a louder system".
Protesters announced intentions to “blockade” the center of London. Speaking to RT, one Anonymous source said “it’s a night of grievance on a night that’s historically about parliament and how it’s not always working in the people’s interests.”
“We burn an effigy of Guy Fawkes on a fire each year as a warning against standing against parliament so we just felt it would be symbolic,” they added.
Protesters with the Million Mask March are descending down 14th street NW in downtown DC, according to RT's Andrew Blake at the rally.
Protesters with #MillionMaskMarch descend down 14th street NW in downtown DC pic.twitter.com/WgQE6egw0u
— Andrew Panda Blake (@apblake) November 5, 2014
'Free Julian Assange!' Activists hold #MillionMaskMarch in Brussels http://t.co/XOm4nIStbQ#MMM#Nov5thpic.twitter.com/geGF5pABo0
— RT (@RT_com) November 5, 2014
Police have been requesting that DC protesters to step back. They reportedly responded with: "We're going to step forward."
White House occupied! #MillionMaskMarch#MMMpic.twitter.com/N1df01Mxe7
— JamesFromTheInternet (@JamesFTInternet) November 5, 2014
DC Protesters have reached the White House. Police are reportedly keeping their distance.
#MillionMaskMarch happening in DC now, heading towards the White House pic.twitter.com/oFQBanMwRV
— Paulina Leonovich (@Polly_evro) November 5, 2014
The mask march has started across Sweden. "Support those that daily promote the values of peace, equality, accountability, redistribution of the wealth of the few to the needs of the many and a right to privacy and anonymity," the promo video stated.
Unconfirmed social media reports suggest that one person has been arrested in Washington already, allegedly for carrying a combat knife. Marchers in DC have started heading towards the White House, according to Ruptly's Paulina Leonovich who attended the march. Demonstrators carried signs demanding "PEOPLE OVER PROFITS".
Activists start to assemble at Washington Monument for #mmm in DC pic.twitter.com/JMNPsUb716
— RT America (@RT_America) November 5, 2014
London police are on high alert in anticipation of the demonstrations, with hundreds of riot police on standby. Last year, more than 2,000 people attended the rally.
Met Police Police have obtained a Section 60 AA power which allows officers to order protesters to remove masks RT #MillionMaskMarch#MMM
— #MillionMaskMarch (@Anon_Online) November 5, 2014
“The internet has the power to bring down regimes – that’s why it terrifies them. That’s why they now monitor all of our phone calls, they monitor our emails, and they monitor our free speech. It terrifies them,” one London-based Anonymous member told RT.
Protesters take to the streets in Sydney, Australia, bearing signs with slogans such as :"The corrupt fear us. The honest support us. The heroic join us." People also marched in Adelaide demanding that people "wake up".
#Anonymous march through Sydney http://t.co/a7FHkIcJGs#FreeAnons#MillionMaskMarch#MMM#sydneycbd#mask#maskedpic.twitter.com/MYkqLZzp5t
— SimonLeong (@SimonLeong) November 5, 2014
People march in Japan
#MillionMaskMarch#Tokyo#Japan Expect Us! pic.twitter.com/6KqLlEMNwU
— チャノロジー・アノニマス (@JapanAnon) November 5, 2014
The march is organized for November 5 in commemoration of Guy Fawkes Day, and the event, according to hacktivist group Anonymous, has for the past two consecutive years organized "The Largest World Protest" according to a statement on the website.
"It is our aim to shed light on corrupt government in order to set people free from oppression," the group said.
Activists have shielded their faces to take to the streets of some 481 towns and cities worldwide.