Hi Everyone,



As you know Westminster council are in consultation to bring in a bylaw which will effectively criminalise our street friends and us by making it illegal to “lie down or sleep in any public place”, “deposit bedding” and distribute free food and drink in an area around Victoria. Not only does this effectively serve to ‘criminalise compassion’, but will also serve to further marginalise our street friends as Westminster council now deems it acceptable to label any homeless person a criminal simply because they are homeless and sleep near Victoria. It is a profoundly depressing state of affairs, but we must not be complacent and let them get this bylaw passed. So on that note we are planning a sock mobbing and street party (with a potential flash mobbing too!). This will be to celebrate the positive impact of soup runs and groups giving to the homeless in Westminster.



Pre Party Mobbing 12:30pm- Please choose locations



Just an update about Sunday- So that we can get to Westminster Cathedral Piazza for 2pm, lets concentrate the mobbing before the party in 3 areas; The Strand, Waterloo and Victoria. This will be like the usual mobbing so please let me know which area you’d like to do. We can hopefully get some of our homeless friends to come along with us to the street party. We can also take any of our left over food/ drinks/ socks etc to distribute at the party, so don’t worry about bring too much I’m sure we’ll find people to give to. If you can only make the party, that’s fine we will see you there at 2pm!



Consultation Letter



It would be really great if you could print out as many copies of the consultation letter as possible as we’re hoping to get loads of people to fill it out on the day. So please bring some with you if you can! A copy can be found in the ‘files’ section on the Meetup group which you can get to by clicking the ‘more’ tab along the top of the webpage.



Flashmob 1:26pm



There is also a Flashmob taking place at outside the department for Communities and Local Government CLG at Eland House, Bressenden Place, London SW1E 5DU at 1.26pm http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=CLG&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wl . People will be dressing in suits and lying down until Radiohead’s song ‘Just’ finishes playing. So if you’re near and want to join in whilst making your way to the Piazza, brilliant! Otherwise we’ll see you at 2pm.



Party against Criminalising Compassion 2pm



Come celebrate the positive impact of grassroots groups working with London's homeless, with food, music and fun provided!



Westminster Council is proposing a byelaw to ban rough sleeping and giving to the homeless. We invite you to come and see for yourselves the joy and humanity involved in caring for the homeless, and learn how you can respond to this inhumane ban.



Street Party on the Piazza will be a vibrant event that families..., local residents and Londoners from further afield can enjoy. The event will also be an opportunity to get to know your neighbours who both sleep on the streets and those helping them, in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere.



So if you fancy a Sunday afternoon of food and music, seeing the good work done on our streets and learning more about how you can help London’s homeless, then come along to this wonderful event! The Street Party is free to attend and family-friendly, with children and people of all ages welcome.



Where?

Westminster Cathedral piazza (nearest tube Victoria) http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=westminster+cathedral+piazza&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wl



When?

Sunday 20th March, 2-4pm. Before the party starts, there will be a mass sock mobbing across London to gather our street friends to the area - if you're interested in coming along please sign up at www.sockmob.org.uk (http://www.sockmob.org.uk/)



Who?

The day will feature a host of grassroots groups working with the homeless who will warmly invite you for some food, tea and a chat, together with our street friends in the area.



For more info about the proposed byelaw to ban soup runs and rough sleeping, and to have your say, see http://www.westminster.gov.uk/services/housing/supportingpeople/roughsleeping/



With support from: Housing Justice, The Simon Community, Coombe Trust, Street Souls, The Pavement, Open Cinema, Apricots and More, Streetlytes, and many many more!



And most importantly tell everyone you know to join us, it promises to be an exciting and fun-filled and of positive protest!



Looking forward to seeing everyone there!