Rudy Omisore joins the march to save Brixton from gentrification.
The gentrification of Brixton has left some of its original community feeling angry. This was clear to see at the Reclaim Brixton demonstration, which though mainly peaceful, ended up with a Foxton’s estate agent window being smashed.
Earlier on some of the protesters stormed their way into the town hall, where they were removed without any arrests being made. Shortly after this incident another group of protesters entered Brixton police station. Although no arrests were made, tear gas was used by the police when protesters refused to leave the station.
The demonstration attracted over 1000 people. Music and the smell of BBQ food mixed with the heart-felt chants of protesters.
“They’re not thinking about the people who actually live in Brixton!” said a young, fiery-haired woman. Complaining about the way high rents were forcing people out, she said: “Where do we go: fucking Slough?”
Like many local residents she was infuriated with the soaring rental costs that have made it almost impossible for residents who were born and raised in Brixton to stay there. “They’re buying up all of the council properties and selling them on as luxury flats; or knocking down all of the council places and building high-rise beautiful luxury apartments that nobody can afford!”
Activists are currently trying to stop Cressingham Gardens and Loughborough Park Estate from being turned into luxury ‘affordable’ apartments that they claim will not be affordable at all.
The transformation of Brixton was highlighted recently by an April Fool’s joke on the BrixtonBuzz site that claimed the area was going to be re-named Clapham East.
Peckham in South East London and Hackney in East London are faced with the same problems.
“We’re here because you’re messing with our homes, you’re messing with our lives, you’re messing with our shops, and you’re pushing people out,” one protester told me.
Meanwhile a sea of people stood back and listened to a woman from a community based organisation in Peckham as she took the stand to describe how life was deteriorating for local people. Not only were rents going up, but community centres and libraries were closing, and small businesses were being faced with eviction.
A common theme throughout the day, and visible on the banners, was that ‘profit before people’ is the ideology that has taken over.
But sadly this is not just in Brixton. What do you think should be done about it?