Sep 302014
With the Tory’s threatening a new benefit cap and cuts to Local Housing Allowance if they win the next election, it is unsurprising that London’s fucked housing market is emerging as a key site of struggle in the capital.Two diffrent events this week will highlight the grotesque inequality in a city where global billionaires buy luxury penthouses to keep empty as investments whilst people sleep in the streets below
Wednesday (1st October – tomorrow!) the biggest demonstration against the Poor Doors so far is set to take place. This weekly protest, outside 1 Commercial Street E1, began after it emerged that the residents in the meagre supply of social housing in this yuppy block of flats are forced to use a different door to the toffs who occupy the luxury properties.
The protests are now in their 10th week and are growing. Last week the lobby of the building was briefly cccupied, whilst veteran anarchist and fellow blogger Ian Bone, who has supported the protests, was arrested. Unbowed Bone says tomorrow is “likely to be the crunch as Redrow* and the TSG (riot cops) throw their resources into maintaining apartheid in central London…..we’ve got to win this one.” Get down to 1 Commercial Street, E1 from 6pm, Wednesday October 1st and show the rich they are the ones who are not welcome in the East End borough of Tower Hamlets.
*Redrow are the property developers behind the poor doors, you can find them on twitter @RedrowLondon
Then on Thursday 2nd October the Focus E15 mums have called for support outside the courts wher Newham Council will attempt to have them evicted from the flats they have occupied on the Carpenter’s Estate in Stratford.
This group of local single parents have been fighting for secure housing for their children ever since they were kicked out of a hostel that Newham Council decided to close to save money. They have been told they face being socially cleansed from the city and could be rehoused as far away as Manchester.
After repeatedly being snubbed by nasty piece of shit Robin Wales, the Labour Mayor of Newham, last week the group occupied several empty flats on the Carpenter’s Estate which is set to be demolished – no doubt to make way for more yuppy flats. The council are seeking a possession order at Bow County Court this week and the E15 mothers have called for support – be outside the courts at 96 Romford Rd E15 4EG from 9.30am Thursday October 2nd.
Housing Action Southwark and Lambeth (HASL) have also been fighting against evictions due to welfare reforms and rampant gentrification, follow them @HousingActionSL Residents of West Hendon Estate in Barnet have faced arrests after fighting the destruction of their homes to make way for million pound flats. Join their facebook page for more details.
And that’s not all as resistance to austerity, forced work and shit housing bursts back into life. Next week sees a Week of Action Against Workfare with events already announced in Edinburgh, Bristol, Brighton, Haringey, Central London and even Amsterdam! Online actions are also set to take place, keep an eye on the Boycott Workfare website for full details.
Meznwhile Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC) are calling on people to crash the Tory Party Conference Twittersphere by hijacking their hashtag #CPC14. Send your own tweets or visit DPAC’s website for some of theirs.
Please tweet, blog, share and spread the word about all events and join in if you can.
Reblogged from Johnny Void Blog with thanks
