Ian Holding, our council liaison officer, came to the camp meeting this evening to tell us that the council are now asking us to leave College Green.
Our camp is part of the global occupy movement, trying to stand up for everyone affected by the financial crisis, caused by the banks.
Asking us to leave is not a democratic decision of the full council. It was a meeting of three people – The Council Leader, Barbara Janke: a representative of the cathedral: and the council’s head of neighbourhood partnerships.
They have only asked us to leave – it’s not (yet) the start of an eviction process. So we need to start putting pressure on the council to change their minds. We are sure that many of the councillors are reasonable people who would defend our right to peacefully protest – whether they agree with our aims, or not.
It’s been hard work creating a community and a camp in just a few days, but we are doing everything we can to make sure we do not harm the green or affect the surrounding community negatively. We are here to raise awareness of the causes of the financial crisis which is hurting us all, and the unfair way the banks and companies which caused it are not paying the price. We are here to bring people together to tell their stories of how it’s affected them.
We are all of us being hurt by this unfairness. We are all the 99%.
Please help us by writing to your councillor (if you live in Bristol) and asking them to support our peaceful camp. You can use www.writetothem.org.uk, put in your postcode, and send them a letter within minutes.
Thanks.
