Protesters were representing the people of Haringey (From Haringey Independent)

Protesters were representing the people of Haringey

12:20pm Tuesday 8th March 2011 in Readers' Letters

Haringey Civic Centre was occupied on Thursday 24th February by hundreds of anti-cuts protestors for 2 hours. The angry residents were calling on the Council to refuse to implement savage cuts to vital public services.

The spontaneous occupation followed a huge protest rally outside the Civic Centre, in which a wide range of diverse groups of all ages and interests from Haringey's local communities demonstrated their concern to stand up for their local services and facilities. Among the demonstrators were large contingents of children from threatened play schemes, older people defending vital drop-in centres, trades unionists, council workers, turkish activists and many community organisations.

Councillors abandoned their meeting after 150 local residents and workers occupied the Council Chamber and public gallery, chanting 'No Cuts' and 'Whose Town Hall? Our Town Hall'. Local people then held their own meeting, and some Councillors stayed to listen. Over 100 other local people continued to occupy the entrance lobby of the Civic Centre.

Unfortunately many people became anxious and fearful after the Council regrettably called in the paramilitary-style 'heavy mob' Territorial Support Group unit who were very aggressive compared to the local police. Some local residents were injured by police as they pushed people out of the building, and two Tottenham residents were violently arrested for no reason. A friend of mine with learning difficulties was pushed around by police and became very distressed. As a result those occupying the Council chamber and gallery decided to end their peaceful protest and leave together.

The Council then reconvened the abandoned meeting. There were presentations to the Councillors from representatives of the Haringey Alliance for Public Services (whose delegation included reps from the Haringey Federation of Residents Associations, Haringey UNISON, Haringey Friends of Parks Forum, Haringey Forum for Older people and the North London Community House) and members of the Save Haringey's Youth Services campaign. Despite heartfelt and persuasive calls to save front-line services for older people, youth, and the borough's green spaces the Council unfortunately voted through the brutal government-driven cuts, the worst the borough has ever known.

The Haringey protests received national publicity and are part of a pattern of similar mass protests all over the UK in recent weeks as local residents and communities try to defend their local services. The grass roots movement continues grow and the Government is gradually being forced onto the defensive. If the pressure continues to increase, the Government can be forced to reverse its unacceptable and now discredited cuts programme.

In contrast to sensationalist reports of the events, the only 'graffiti' I know of was the words 'NO MORE CUTS' chalked on the side of a table, and a door was accidentally damaged by police as people who were being unnecessarily prevented from entering the Council chamber pushed their way through.

Unfortunately one or two people on both sides may have been hurt during the pushing and shoving at this point. Despite the huge range of people and anger over the impending decimation of local services and facilities, no Councillors were pushed or even jostled - and in fact 2 or 3 of them remained in the peacefully-occupied Council chamber for quite some time.

Dave Morris, HAPS publicity group Another view, from Shaun Dey, Reel News collective - who was filming the events inside the Centre: " Problems on Thursday started when protestors found police preventing them from entering the council chamber. As people tried to push through, the police leaned back on the door, a few inches from where I was filming, and broke it themselves. The TSG squad sent in made things much worse with their aggressive approach. Since several Councillors stayed in the council chamber after it was occupied you have to ask why the police were there at all. "

Another view, from Shaun Dey, Reel News collective - who was filming the events inside the Centre: