"Occupy Southend set up a temporary camp Saturday afternoon, on the open space outside the Odeon Cinema. 15 tents, 35 supporters and a video booth all contributed to a successful occupation. During the afternoon a contingent from the camp demonstrated outside Vodafone, to highlight the billions of pounds the company has immorally avoided in tax payments over the last few years. The group then moved on to Barclays Bank, where they drew attention to huge bonus payments, large-scale tax avoidance and the cosy relationship the Bank has with the Rothschild family. Occupy Southend gave out hundreds of leaflets to passers-by, which set out exactly what the movement in Southend stands for. The video booth was in use from time to time and gave Southenders a chance to voice their concerns about the unjust system under which we live.

Occupy Southend will be establishing a permanent camp in the town next month and looks forward to hearing the views of all Southenders then. By bringing people together we can all understand how little say we really have in the running of our lives. Together we can act on a plan to wrest back the power we have lost to others, and go on to create a far better world than the one we are forced to endure at present."

Occupy Southend