May Day: Star Mart Closed, Libz Counter-Protest
After briefly forcing the closure of KFC, protestors moved on to Star Mart. The doors were closed with a sign saying "closed for stocktaking". Police protected the shop. There were no arrests.
Protestor on loudhailer: "We are here to say that capitalism sucks and Star Mart is a capitalist company. Star Mart is owned by major oil companies and it's destroying local businesses."
Protestor on loudhailer: "Yeah, I bought a bottle opener from Star Mart and I am ashamed to admit it. All over the world people are reclaiming their communities. Fight back!"
Chant: “Shut down Star Mart!”
Libertarianz counter protestor Tina White, who is also in paid employment for a charity organisation, says to protestors: "You either work if you want to or you don't. You are the ones who are complaining. Nobody is exploiting you. If you are serious about what you say why don't you pool your resources and live in a commune. I am not exploiting anyone, grow up. If you knew anything about capitalism you’d know it is based on free voluntary exchange."
A protestor replied to the question, "what are you offering as an alternative?" with a pause and a nervous laugh, then said. "where do I start?"
Reporter: "At the beginning."
"I want to be able to make things that I share with people. I work and I am being exploited by my employer."
Tina White replies: "I trade my time at work and get paid for it. Nobody’s exploiting me."
Bystander James Hart (who does pro-amateur body building and aerobics and is sponsored by Adidas): " I believe in globalisation. We all have choices. We started bartering, it was inefficient, we have progressed. Everybody has a choice. The reason Star Mart is here is that they started as a small business and grew into a multi-national. What the protestors are doing is more talk than anything else."