#occupylsx – Come to City of London's PUBLIC MEETING regarding the eviction of OccupyLSX
Phone: +44 (0) 845 299 6175; Additional media numbers – +44 (0) 7592 424578 / +44 (0) 7428 076610 / +44 (0) 7780572995 / +44 (0) 7719 626890
Email: press@occupylsx.org
Occupy London: Come to City of London’s PUBLIC MEETING re: eviction of OccupyLSX. Plus response to Bishop of London’s ‘invitation’ to debate
This morning (Friday) the City of London will discuss the possible eviction of OccupyLSX – and their meeting is open to the public. Come join us at 10.30am at Livery Hall, Guildhall, EC2V 7H. Members of the public who want to witness the start of this meeting, and the likely act of their own exclusion from that meeting, have a legal right to do so. Make sure to read this: http://thoughcowardsflinch.com/2011/10/27/the-city-of-london-corporations-public-meeting-on-st-pauls
Occupy London would also like to respond to the Bishop of London’s ‘ultimatum’ to “pack up your tents” and “join the Dean and Chapter in organising a St Paul’s Institute debate on the real issues here under the Dome.” [2] We very much agree with him that the cathedral needs to “recapture the serious issues” and have already arranged an event that he, the Dean and Chapter of St Paul’s and others are welcome to attend. This is our Sermon on the Steps event that will take place at 3pm Saturday 29th October at St. Paul’s, which thankfully means he won’t have to travel far (having not to date engaged on a person to person level with his peaceful and friendly occupying neighbours).
At this event, there will be people of different faiths, beliefs and none coming together to look at what we all have in common and why we’re here – to bring about real social and economic justice for every single person in society. So, rather than inviting us to a debate on Sunday, why not come to this already organised event. Rather that inviting Occupy London and its supporters to “a panel from across the political and business spectrum … [to which you] … invite the protesters to be represented” we urge you come and meet some people in a non-hierarchical forum – where no one person’s view is privileged over another’s.
A wide variety of faith groups and individuals, including Christian churches, Catholic Workers, Pax Christi, Church of England reverends, Jewish outreach groups, Hare Krishnas, atheists, humanists and reverends from denominational and non-denominational churches have already expressed a desire to participate and add their voices in support of our occupation and cause.
We would add that whilst the Bishop and Dean’s offer of a ‘debate’ is laudable, we would ask that they allow us to focus on the real issues of injustice caused by corporate greed, rather than threatening us with legal action, which is distracting us and others from more urgent and fundamental concerns.
Notes
[1] How to get to the Guildhall – Nearest tubes are St Paul’s, Moorgate, Bank and Mansion House and Liverpool Street, Fenchurch Street, Blackfriars, Cannon Street, Moorgate and City Thameslink railway stations. Nearest bus routes are to Bank, Moorgate, Cheapside and London Wall. Wheelchair accessible entrances and facilities are available. Handy map – http://217.154.230.218/NR/rdonlyres/B7887415-4938-4C1D-926A-79A6B25AC323/0/AU_guildhall_guide.pdf
[2] http://www.london.anglican.org/NewsShow_15638
Typical moves.
I am not able to attend (Wrong Country I am afraid) I hope members ofhte Public turn up. People have a right to protest and no local government has the right to take that right away.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/blog/2011/oct/28/occupy-london-live-st-pauls-protests#block-14
Nobody is denying anybody else their right to protest. As a City worker for 30 years, I can tell you that targeting the LSE is tactically naive, and that your protest is equally so, ill-informed, nebulous and doomed to be ignored. But it is still your right to make it.
What is not your right, nor anybody else’s, is the occupation of pavements and public highways. I really don’t see why you have not already been evicted, moved on or simply arrested under perfectly ordinary and existing legislation, ranging from obstruction to fly tipping. Maybe they really are afraid of you? Although why I have no idea. Good luck to you, but please stop your pathetic “camping”. It is impacting the Cathedral, tourism and local businesses, but no bothering “greedy corporations” in the slightest
With respect: the response so far is not only are they “bothered” but “hot and bothered”. The last legal advise I saw is that the camp can be legally moved… in the spring. Unless it goes to the Hague. Which it might! London School of Economics? Good idea for another Camp/Occupation/Protest. GA anyone?
Make that LSX and the Corporation!
Solidarity.
I was fully supportive of O-LSX at the start but have been forced to distance myself from the lack of coherent direction starting on the first Wednesday.
Taking on the church makes you look like a petulant child. They were on your side, gave you grace and favour yet when asked for similar in return, it is shunned and thrown back at them.
The original message has been lost for good now and the media attention and focus is on the battle between Church and the protest camp. You’ve lost the initiative and lost your mass support base. The opportunity was there to move on, work with the Church, keep your protest fluid, yet you decided to entrench yourselves into a pitched legal argument with the Church!
Shame on you all for losing the impetus – your battle is against Corporate Influence in Politics and trying to reform the financial sector.
When you say you were “forced to distance” yourself from the occupylsx movement. Do you mean some person or persons have threatened you if you continue to support. Or do you really mean you have made the decision to distance yourself because you cannot continue to support the movement for whatever reason you choose.
Since when has a petulant child ever done anyone some serious harm ?
When has the church ever done anyone some serious harm ?
The movement is more than just politics and economics, it’s about life and the world we all share.
Shame on you for turning your back on those that want to make this a better place for all.
How do you make the world better? All you do is stink out nice parts of our cities where us wealthy types like to enjoy lunch.
Actually, this comment typifies what the whole debate is about: “it’s all about me, and bugger the rest”.
Why not try get a job to help save the world from financial oblivion rather than having a sleep-over in town centres??? You people are in cloud cookoo land if you think that you are doing anything otherthan alienating your movement from main-stream society. Bankers will always rule the world, as they control the money. I earn a six figure salary, I worked hard to get to where I am; come join me up here!
A lot of us have Jobs, I work for Oxfam all week dealing with global injustices and as it is now becoming an issue at home am spending my weekend in london. As usual your refering to the minority in a pathetic attempt to tarnish the majority go and be a daily mail hack.
So you have a talent and managed to use it to your advantage, good for you (not meant in a sarcastic way.)
I’m pleased for you, and I don’t begrudge you a single penny of your hard earned money. I begrudge anyone or anything that would desire to steal it from you. You’ve earned that money and therefore have the right to keep it. Please tell me, is the money you earn, the motivation for the work you do ? Because I always thought whores work for money. Personally I prefer to live to work, not work to live.
Bankers don’t rule the world, they may have you believe they do but that is entirely your choice, people are fast becoming aware that they truly are the masters of their own destiny.
With regard to your “response” *jazz hands* Is there an emoticon for GA assent & etc?
As a christian, labour party member and committed socialist the decision to take on the church I believe is a terrible move. We had the support of the majority of faith groups and sympathy even from St Pauls. Now we are losing momentum and support as it turns into a fight over how we protest rather than why we are protesting. Getting councillors, activists and local groups onside is what should be the focus rather than fighting over land. I want us to stay there but not at the cost of everything else.
I can’t agree with you, Pete – I feel that Occupy at St Paul’s is just as and where it should be.
It seems to me that the movement (here and generally) has all the hallmarks of something capable of facilitating a major shift in the very ethos of our society, which takes the whole thing onto a whole other level than a single issue protest.
As a movement which knows it is time to say we’re in a wrong place and we can’t/won’t stay silent any longer – that there is something absolutely rotten at the heart of our public and common life and it MUST change fundamentally, Occupy has already been hugely successful in invigorating widespread Hope in the possibility of renewal.
This is a movement that is actually attempting to incarnate what that Hope looks like in practise, and part of this is not trying to dictate and reduce to a formula the outworking of this on the ground.
However, as an authentic movement, it is incumbent on it to respond to challenges as they present, which is just how incarnation works – it is circular; not just planning then doing, but also doing as seems fit at the time and then articulating what this means in theory, which then, in turn, further informs practise.
The camp being at St Paul’s was not (pro-actively) intentional – it came about organically – ie it was the obvious and natural result of the circumstances, and even the Dean has said:
‘There is something profound about protest being made and heard in front of this most holy place: a gathering together of those concerned about poverty and inequality facing the great Dome of this Cathedral Church.’
and it has really seemed very fitting.
But, having been, as Christians would put it, ‘lead there’ by no direct human planning, it is not at all appropriate to collapse like a stack of cards at the first sign of obstacles in the path.
Indeed it is in the challenge presented, firstly to the powerful all around the protest by the protest, and then by the powerful to the protest, that the positions and motivations of both are laid bare and the battle is joined.
The protesters have not sought to do battle with St Paul’s; St Paul’s has decided to fight them, and therefore that is part of the outworking of the protest. This is what is developing; it is not a directing choice, it is a responding one.
This is exactly what we should expect of a movement of the Spirit. Recognition of what’s wrong – belief that it can change -listening, thinking, waiting – then responding to what is under your nose.
No-one person knows where this will go, and quite rightly too, because if it’s to be as big as it needs to be, it will be beyond us and what we are capable of controlling.
Bring it on!
Instead of fighting the Church – please, please turn your time and efforts to getting your message out. I am constantly defending you to people who believe what they see/read in the Media and dismiss you as lazy layabout scroungers with nothing better to do than cause trouble. You are being portrayed as Unfocussed, woolly minded and disorganised.
You are NOT BEING HEARD.
Please sort it soonest. Credibility should be your priority right now. The Church stuff is a distraction and weakens your time and resources.
Think – where would you have gone if not to St Pauls? – and go there, re-group, and focus.
You are not making it easy for the public to support you. And without their support you are doomed.
see reply (in the wrong place) at 2.16 (after Damien)
The church reaction was just ridiculous, and just the tone of that piece in the standard by the bishop truly nauseating. Don’t worry about it.
Occupy London is in the right place, in the oldest democracy of the realm.
Let them evict us and prove the current absence of democracy, more will come every day.
Solidarity from #OccupyBrussels
ecomaiden –
you can’t convince people who don’t want to believe – if they aren’t willing to listen to you who they know, how will they listen to the occupiers they don’t know? It’s hard not to panic, but don’t!
The revolution/message will be seen, not heard!
And you would need reams and reams of paper to write it down.
And endless words to express it.
Part of the old way of doing things and something that we need to step away from, is the obsession with ‘image’ over ‘truth’. It is important for authenticity, honesty, transparency, that the ‘publicity machine’ doesn’t force the movement into creating it’s own ‘spin’. ‘Spin’ is part of the underhand way of the past.
Although it’s hard to be patient, integrity slowly but surely sends its own message. No-one needs to ‘defend’ it, or anyone who is trying to live in accordance with it.
And whatever Occupy is about, it’s definitely NOT a quick fix, which is all ‘spin’ achieves – we need longevity in this, real change, fundamental change, and this is about the ‘long haul’ even though it is also urgent.
And I think the ‘public machine’ is getting ‘wrong-footed’ all the time, actually.
Louise Mensch must truly regret the day she mentioned Starbucks, frinstance……(a bit like Norman Tebbit is only remembered for the infamous on yer bike comment), and all the powers that be/media seem capable of is nervous side swipes – seems to me everyone is actually pretty scared of outrightly condemning the protests…. and the Mayor and Police in Oakland must be feeling pretty sick right now…..I could go on; there are plenty of examples.
It’s all right, it really is…..and it is REALLY IMPORTANT not to let anyone who isn’t ‘listening’ to ‘the process’ set the agenda.
And the occupiers are dealing with what is right there in front of them and the challenge that has presented itself to them, instead of ducking it. The whole playing out of this is saying FAR more about the C of E and some of what is untenable in its compromises than it is about the occupiers, and already two people at St Paul’s have resigned which is significant in itself. Other important outcomes will follow, and the ramifications will run and run….(eg have you read the list of the powerful on St Pauls board?).
It matters what people do, not just what they say, when the chips are down. It demonstrates the issues, and St Paul’s is not exempted from the challenge to ‘put their money where their mouth is’ – to let them off the hook would really be woolly minded!