Visual presentation on Lebanon from photojournalist Guy Smallman; PLUS the community occupation to save Ridley Road market; with discussion
Photojournalist Guy Smallman will speak about his two weeks reporting the ongoing war in Lebanon illustrated with his images and focusing on many of the failures of the mainstream media.
Followed by a discussion with Guy & Lebanese journalist Simon Assaf: what can we do in the UK to offer practical support and solidarity to the Lebanese people, and all others being affected by the US and Israel's illegal and horrific war?
We will also be joined by Palestinian, Iranian and other activists to broaden the discussion; including activists from Hackney Votes for Palestine, who are currently campaigning to get rid of the right wing Labour council in Hackney in the local elections, and cancel their £100 million of pension fund investments in companies complicit in the genocides in Gaza, and now in Lebanon.
PLUS
Save Ridley Road market
We'll start the evening with a campaign of crucial importance just 100m from our venue tonight: the community occupation to Save Ridley Road Indoor Village, in Ridley Road market.
The village has been occupied since March 31 to stop the eviction of thirteen traders (mostlyWest African and Caribbean). They’ve been given 6 weeks’ notice, zero respect, and no firm promises about their future.
The Shopping Village is a key part of Ridley Road, which is the non-gentrified heart of Hackney and a sanctuary for all of Hackney’s migrant and lower-income communities -
and has already suffered years of economic neglect, bullying and over-policing.
By contrast, the occupation that has taken off is a brilliant, unifying and inspiring resistance which is key to the wider struggle of fighting gentrification and taking back our cities.
Join people from the occupation to watch a brand new Reel News film and discuss how we can all make sure this campaign gets a much needed victory.
First film on at 7:30pm - as always, FREE but please reserve a ticket to give us an idea of numbers :-)