Under the banner 'Occupy the Stock Exchange, a couple of thousand protestors have descended on the area known as the Square Mile in central London. They had hoped to occupy Paternoster Square, where the London Stock Exchange (LSX) is located, but the area had been cordoned off by police in anticipation of the protest hours earlier. Further, all private property and access has been restricted by a High Court injunction. One wishes that Brookfield Properties had taken such actions beforehand.
Unite! A woman holds a flag during a protest against the global financial system outside St Paul's Cathedral
Protesters hold placards as they stand on the steps of Saint Paul's Cathedral. There is a heavy police presence throughout central London to help deal with the protest. Also, authorities are on high alert for potential terrorist activities be they the work of domestic or foreign elements attempting to take advantage of the crowds and protests.
Pitched battle? Please don't hit me with your purse. Some of the demonstrators outside the LSX appeared to treat the event more like a camping holiday. Love the pants, dude.
Marching on the City: Police look on as protesters walk around the perimeter of the LSX
Occupy London protesters get into a scuffle with police at an entrance to Paternoster Square
Demonstrators hold placards as they stand on the steps of St Paul's Cathedral while a bride is forced to be taken inside to be married under police guard through a side entrance
Laid-back approach: A demonstrator reads a book near tents belonging to other demonstrators during the London protest
(Sophie: Julian Assange & Friends did apparently manage to ruin the wedding day of a couple getting married at St Paul's Cathedral, but common good over the individual and all that, you know?)
Wikileaks' founder Julian Assange arrived at the protest wearing a mask, which he was promptly told to remove by police...too bad...he was much more attractive.
Unmasked: After a talking to from police, Assange removed his mask
Julian Assange then spoke to demonstrators from the steps of St Paul's Cathedral
Protesters cheer as Julian Assange speaks outside St Paul's Cathedral
Socialists! Who didn't know that?
According to the Daily Mail, political campaigner Peter Tatchell also spoke to the crowds and proposed a one-off 20 per cent emergency tax on the net wealth of the richest 10 per cent of the UK population.
He also wants the introduction of a 'Tobin Tax' on financial transactions.
He said: 'The richest 10 per cent of the UK population have a combined personal wealth of £4 million, million. A one-off 20 per cent tax on those people would raise £800 billion.
'Those people can afford it, they'd feel no pain, they're so fabulously wealthy. With that sum of money you could pay off the entire government deficit. No need for any public spending cuts.'
At the same time, he said a Tobin Tax would 'reduce speculation and be good for the economy, and raise at least £100 billion a year. Within two years this would enable us to clear the entire Government deficit.'
'Rich people who are not prepared to pay their way are traitors to this country, they're putting their own personal selfishness before the interests of the public,' he added.
Political campaigner Peter Tatchell spoke to the crowds and proposed a one-off 20 per cent emergency tax on the net wealth of the richest 10 per cent of the UK population
A demonstrator dressed as Jesus Christ to take part in Occupy London
Lions, and Tigers, and Bears! Oh, my!
Anarchists, and Socialists, and Commies, Oh, my!
Ongoing: Occupy New York
Movement: Occupy Wall Street moves to Cape Town, South Africa
Occupy Sydney holds signs in front of the Reserve Bank of Australia
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