Reclaim Brixton

[reposted in solidarity from the Reclaim Brixton Facebook page]

Brixton is widely known for its vibrancy, which is another word for social & cultural diversity. But Brixton’s vibrancy now has a question mark on it. Will Brixton turn into a living museum or will it live?

Meet up in front of the Black Cultural Archives on Windrush square on Saturday 25 April, midday to reclaim Brixton.

Earning less than £25,000? Or long-standing Afro-Caribbean resident? Maybe artist, musician? Shopkeeper? Librarian? Community worker? A teenage skater? A senior resident? A child who likes to play outside pens? Show the world your love for Brixton.

The fight against gentrification starts here!!

Homes are ripped apart? Recreate Brixton homes & interiors on the square!

Businesses, community spaces, venues get shut? Re-enact Brixton’s bustling activist & artistic scene on the square!

Bring deco, props, musical instruments, picture frames, explanation tags, organise audio-tours, anything that highlights the threat of disappearance & tokenisation of Brixton people and Brixton culture. This is a demo and a party, create, participate, think, share and have fun!

****Reclaim Brixton is all for change and regeneration in areas that existing communities benefit, the antithesis of gentrification.*****

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Brixton is known for its vibrancy, its social & cultural diversity, not only throughout the UK, but also internationally.

When Nelson Mandela came to the UK as a free man, his first stop was in Brixton, to thank the community for its unwavering support. One of 2014’s most acclaimed British films, Pride, tells the story of a colourful alliance between a resourceful Brixton LGBT group and Welsh striking miners. Prince Charles shopped in our markets to help launch the Brixton pound (and bid to turn the Railway Hotel into a community centre, now sold to the Wahaca chain of restaurants). And Will Smith himself visited our schools (where he spun a Fresh Prince rap) in a quest he said to ‘see London’s Harlem’. Examples like these are never ending. Or are they? Will the Brixton of 2017 be visited, admired, celebrated?

Today vibrancy is sold to garnish property development posters and overpriced bar branding, but in doing so, it is also slowly being killed.

Social diversity is driven out by lack of truly affordable housing. Local businesses are driven out by increasing rents and redevelopment schemes that benefit national & multinational businesses, siphoning money out of the area. Local spaces for people to meet, celebrate, get support or education are being decimated as community groups, long-standing pubs, music venues, libraries & colleges are being relocated, down-sized, repurposed, disappeared.

Brixton’s vibrancy now has a question mark on it. Will Brixton turn into a living museum or will it live?

Join us on April 25th to celebrate, group and regroup around what makes Brixton Brixton.

*****Reclaim Brixton is all for change and regeneration in areas that existing communities benefit, the antithesis of gentrification.****

Details

Date:

25 April 2015

Time:

12:00–15:00

Venue

Windrush Square,
Brixton,
SW2 1JQ,
London,
United Kingdom

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