Council Protest pt.2 1973
digital file Black & White Sound 1973 12:30
Summary: This black and white video captures the second part of a heated protest following the eviction of squatters from Guilden Road, as displaced residents and supporters confront local council officials inside a small, overcrowded office.
Title number: 23015
LSA ID: LSA/30248
Description: The footage opens in low light, with a narrator announcing that it is now 6:30 p.m. and that members of the press have arrived. Two men in suits, identified as journalists from The Mirror, are questioned by the cameraman.
Dr. John, one of the protesters, informs the group that the councilman has stepped out to seek further information but states that no one will leave until arrangements for rehousing have been secured. As murmurs fill the room, the councilman returns, dressed in a suit, and enquires about the Collins family. A discussion ensues between Mr. Collins, the councilman, and Mrs. Humphries, a social worker with short curly hair, who insists the family can be accommodated in a bed and breakfast. Mr. Collins reiterates that the protest is about the lack of long-term, secure housing.
The councilman asks if any other families with small children are present and declares that all evicted individuals must vacate the premises. A bearded man with spectacles challenges the council’s claim that notice had been given, stating that a man visited only four days prior to mention a possible eviction — not sufficient legal warning. The councilman stands by the decision to evict and refuses to reverse the action.
As frustrations rise, the squatters demand to know where they are expected to stay and threaten to remain in the office unless housing is arranged. The councilman threatens to call the police, and soon after, tensions escalate when security personnel and men in overcoats attempt to remove the group. A physical altercation breaks out near the doorway, with the protesters shouting “no violence.” The crowd becomes chaotic, voices overlapping, as the doorway jams with bodies. One protester turns to the camera and says, “You’re getting all this on film,” in a confrontational tone. The cameraman responds that they intend to leave peacefully.
In the midst of the noise, a pregnant woman cries out, “I’m three months pregnant—where can I live?” As the situation calms slightly, a bearded man restates the group’s demands and reminds the council of their unfulfilled promises. A suited official declares that the protesters are trespassing and that police have been called.
Uniformed officers soon arrive, visible in the doorway. The group discusses next steps, expressing concern about the potential for violence. In a moment of collective decision-making, they agree to avoid confrontation and return to the Polytantric Centre. The footage concludes with the group shouting and leaving the council office together, maintaining their solidarity despite the lack of resolution.
Credits: Sue Hall (Filmmaker); John 'Hoppy' Hopkins (Filmmaker)
Keywords: protest; council; homeless
Locations: North London
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