Demonstration against Lewisham Library Cuts

A really good turnout on the demonstration today against the threatened closure of five Lewisham libraries. More than 200 people set off from outside Crofton Park Library.

The march headed off down Brockley Rise and then along the South Circular to Catford.

Lewisham Pensioners Forum turned out on the march...

As did St Hilda, or to be more precise the banner of St Hilda & St Cyprian's Church in Crofton Park:

Outside Lewisham Town Hall there was a rally, with a 'Lewisham Libraries' coffin being delivered.

Blackheath and Crofton Park banners outside the Town Hall:

Lewisham People Before Profit - 'Books not Bail outs'

All in all a good day, the only dischord being at the beginning where local Labour MPs Joan Ruddock and Heidi Alexander were almost drowned out by hecklers when they spoke. I'm all for people criticising Labour councils for implementing the cuts as well as the Tory/Lib Dem government for imposing them, and a bit of heckling's fine by me. But one of the good things about the march was that it wasn't just the usual Lewisham politicos, I spoke to some neighbours and work colleagues who had come along with kids and some of them felt uncomfortable with the rancour. If the anti-cuts movement is going to involve people like them, perhaps activists need to be a bit less self-indulgent. Just because what you're saying may be correct, it doesn't mean that you have no responsibility for the impact of how you say it or the atmosphere it creates. Plus chanting 'Labour Out' on its own -as some did - seemed rather a strange slogan and let the ConDems off the hook - remember their local reps are absurdly arguing that cuts in Lewisham are nothing to do with them!