Columnist Zoe Williams of The Guardian recently joined a few dozen others on a small protest. It was a promising and energetic meeting that brought together people from all stripes, including US progressives and a leading anti-Brexit campaigner. The workshop itself was held in a beautiful, stub-ended, 1930s-era entry hall. While once beautiful, this street now leads directly on to one of London’s busiest dual carriageways.
The protest was meant to counter the rugged individualism and free market fundamentalism pushed by billionaire heroes, especially Elon Musk. One of the demonstrators was a Ukrainian woman who has been settled in the UK since before the Russian invasion. Her participation drew focus to the international dimension of the protest. It spoke to the anger and the hurt being felt by all those who feel increasingly excluded by today’s socio-political climate.
An impassioned anti-Brexit campaigner brought the meeting to life by brandishing an EU flag. This display was a potent testament to the enduring fight against Brexit-bus-inspired policies. The protest teemed with the dynamic chorus of youth voices. Together, they formed a diverse and colorful movement of rebellion against the evils of money in politics.
Onlookers got a chance to hear protesters chanting creatively rhymed slogans, including one that said, “Honk if you hate billionaires.” This scene was hard to ignore and drew the attention of almost all the passing motorists, providing an inspiration of support and maybe urgency that was infectious.
The feedback loop of a honk is really temporary, no? ” –An anthropologist freethinking in the midst of an action This observation speaks to both the ephemeral quality of public protests and the visceral responses they inspire.
The weekend took a rather unusual turn as it overlapped with the inaugural Prettiest Staffy in Lewisham beauty pageant. The purpose of this contest was to combat the false stigma against Staffordshire bull terriers. This light-hearted competition was a sharp contrast to the serious underlying issues at the protest. It placed an emphasis on the community’s undying spirit and resilience to overcome adversity.