At the weekend I was one of hundreds of demonstrators who took to the streets of Shoreditch in London, in the third incarnation of Class War’s fuck parade, a protest-cum-street-party against gentrification. During the evening some paint and cornflakes were thrown at the Cereal Killer cafe on Brick Lane, which received a lot of attention, while the issues at the heart of the protest – inequality and social cleansing - were largely ignored.



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While I sympathise with the workers who had to clean up on Sunday, and am deeply sorry that some children were intimidated by the protest, the petty vandalism that occurred pales in comparison to the brutality of the gentrification that is destroying the lives and demolishing the homes of some of London’s most vulnerable people.

Some 49% of the children in the borough live below the poverty line. Property developers and private landlords are making millions forcing these children and families out of their homes, often through violent evictions, and they are regularly moved into inadequate temporary accommodation and sometimes on to the streets. Many parents in the area suffer the indignity of relying on food banks to feed their children while the new Shoreditch residents can make a successful business selling children’s cereal for £5 a bowl.

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The protest had a carnival atmosphere provided by portable sound systems, fire spinners, pyrotechnics and people dressed as pigs (thankfully David Cameron did not attend). People have speculated about who the protesters are, and where they live themselves, and I would describe those I saw as a diverse mix of working-class Londoners, from toddlers to pensioners, some residents of local social housing, while others travelled in from less expensive areas of the capital; many were victims of the gentrification and evictions I’ve mentioned. Class War anarchists, activists, squatters and social housing tenants were joined along the way by local youths and the usual revellers of Shoreditch angry about rising prices or simply looking to join the party.

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There was a child of around five years old, and a man of 68. I certainly doubt that many of those involved could afford to eat and drink on Brick Lane. There have been ridiculous comparisons made between us and Britain First, but many of the people I saw are committed anti-fascists; the second fuck parade in Camden ended in retaliation against some far-right hooligan types who hurled abuse at us, and one of the chants at the beginning of this march was “immigrants welcome, racists fuck off”.

While some people did engage in minor acts of vandalism, most were content with chanting about the issues and dancing in streets where they can no longer afford to live or eat.

While I understand people’s annoyance at property damage please put it into the context of the violence of poverty, hunger and homelessness many thousands of Londoners are being subjected to. The cereal cafe was back open on Sunday morning while the destruction caused by gentrification continues - as will the fight back.