The New Dark Age

8 August 2011 — Morning Star

Speculation and condemnation have dominated coverage of the riots in Tottenham at the weekend.With the smoke clearing and residents able to assess the damage to their homes, businesses and community, people are starting to come forward to speak lucidly about the events of Saturday and perhaps more importantly what led to them.

Most people on the various news networks seem to agree, although refusing to condone the violence, that underlying issues of Mark Duggan’s death need to be answered, on top of the social devastation already heaped on the area by the cuts to youth clubs and other services.

Getting to the truth of events like Saturday are a minefield. There is so much raw emotion, often exploited by corporate media outlets seeking to paint a certain picture either to undermine working-class communities or misdirect focus away from the root causes of events.

One eyewitness who was ideally placed to give an accurate account of events on the night is freelance photo-journalist and NUJ activist Paul Mattsson.

A photographer for 27 years, Mattsson was on site at the riot for seven hours, from 11pm to 6am, taking some extraordinary photographs. Despite suffering from the effects of smoke inhalation and choking stench of diesel fuel, he captured everything from the terrifying destructive power of the fires as they ripped through building after building to police dishing out rough justice on rioters and bystanders who were arrested.

Arriving after a long bike ride from his home, Mattsson was one of the first photo-journalists on site but was immediately obstructed by police.

‘Initially they wouldn’t let me through their lines on the grounds of health and safety.’

Despite carrying the legally recognised NUJ press card, Mattsson was still refused entry to the high street where youths were massing and throwing missiles.

Undeterred, the intrepid Mattsson flanked officers and slipped on to the main battleground by taking an unknown side street – a risky move.

‘It was dark and unfamiliar territory. I thought some people might take exception to a photographer.’

Sure enough, later in the night a colleague reported to Mattsson that he had been mugged, losing his credit card, car keys and camera gear.

While supporting his colleague, Mattsson adds: ‘Some of the people were hostile but you can’t blame them.’

‘Look at the crap the bourgeois media write about this stuff every day.’

Mattsson is determined not to condone or condemn the violence in Tottenham, instead seeking to focus on the underlying events and causes that led to it.

He immediately takes issue with the word ‘rioter,’ describing it as a ‘convenient media construct.’

‘These people have justified grievances although it did descend into chaotic stuff.

‘If you look at Haringey council closing youth centres, the police harassment and racism, it was a matter of time before this would kick off.’

During his seven-hour stint, Mattsson took a catalogue of pictures that capture the contradictory nature of the fires – an incredible and highly destructive spectacle.

‘The fires were spectacular. I had visibility of 500 yards and it was just constant fire. The fire brigade were not in attendance immediately and it was incredible.’

But as the fires raged, destroying business and the homes of local working-class people, riot police formed up. Mounted officers baton-charged the youths.

Mattsson, now going about his work right in the thick of it, was caught in the middle of several charges, luckily avoiding serious injury.

Perhaps surprisingly he saw no attempt to kettle the youths, with officers sticking to ‘snatch squads’ – targeting individuals and taking them out of the crowd.

Mattsson captured one suspect slammed to the ground with a bloody face and severe damage to his eyes as a ‘result of the arrest.’

‘They were nasty and brutal [the police]. They could have avoided this by talking to the people at the earlier Duggan demonstration and defuse the situation.’

Initially unable to get close to the action, Mattsson managed to speak to ‘rioters,’ some of whom he describes as ‘very articulate.’

‘The first thing you notice was the diversity of the young people. These were white, black, Turkish, men and women.

‘Basically it was working-class youth who had had enough. Some were saying we haven’t got jobs, we have no centres.’

He also witnessed local Hasidic Jews assisting youths on the high street although they did not engage in any violent acts.

Mattsson takes issue with rioters burning the homes of people in the area.

‘It’s not constructive to burn homes of working-class people or cause discomfort or hardship to fellow workers.

‘But the looting and violence is a symptom. You have to put the blame in the right place and that’s with the local council and the government cuts.’

The only solution in Mattsson’s opinion is for the labour movement to engage with young people and to harness their energy in the fight-back against the cuts.

‘You may not agree with the events of Saturday. But what you don’t do is condemn it without looking at the real reasons why they happened.

‘Working-class kids having nothing to lose and they will fight back. A lot of these people should be members of the left and the labour movement. This is our fight – all of us.’

See also: Questions follow night of Tottenham violence, Morning Star, 7 August 2011