Ridley Road traders and the local community are standing together to resist the eviction of the Shopping Village.
The struggle to keep the Shopping Village has been ongoing since 2018. Years of gentrification and regeneration in Hackney have made this struggle a continuous one.
Follow @saveridleyroad for continuous updates on the situation of the traders and how you can remain involved.
TRADERS DEMANDS:
1️⃣Calling for the return of the original secure and permanent leases for all traders.
2️⃣Rent affordability- there must be a rent cap (to be agreed by traders and landlord) to ensure that traders can continue with their business and not be financially pushed out based on the unaffordability of rent.
3️⃣There must be transparency and clear communication from the landlord with all traders on the terms of the new lease and the return date after the refurbishment is expected to be completed and terms of the new lease.
4️⃣Compensation for the loss of income/earnings during the refurbishment process (which is 2/3 months of forced closure) as this will affect trader’s livelihood and their family responsibilities.
5️⃣No more collective punishment, racist discrimination and over policing of traders. All traders are to be treated equally.
💥‼️Terms of conditions of the lease must be put in writings and concerns must be addressed before traders are forced to leave for the refurbishment process.
On Thursday 30th October in East London, over 100 people came together for the launch of a new coalition called the Anti-Racist Movement (ARM). United in defeating the far-right, this is a cross-community coalition founded by Black Lives Matter UK, @maslaha_uk , @migrantsorganise and @right_to_remain .
Attendees established local groups to organise and meet in the next few weeks! Networks have now been established across London and beyond, building the foundations of ARM.
The event was hosted and chaired by @jessmally , co-founder of @awethu , who had insightful discussions with the audience as well as panel contributors, @aderonkeapata (founder of African Rainbow Family), Kojo Kyerewaa, @taj.ali1 and Zainab Abbas.
You can watch the full video of the panel discussion through the link in our bio.
Sign up to the Anti-Racist network through the link in our bio to get involved, get involved with others in your area and receive the support to take action.
40 years ago today, Broadwater Farm in Tottenham erupted in protest as Black youth demanded justice for Cynthia Jarrett and an end to racist policing.
For decades, the estate has been painted in a negative light by the media and the police.
But speaking to residents today reveals another side to the story, one of community, resilience, and unjust demonisation.
🎥 @kylexay
Today marks 78 years since the Nakba. Tomorrow, and every day, we must protect each other in the fight against fascism and not become intimidated by the hatred we face on the road to revolutionary change.
This day will not be co-opted by Tommy Robinson, this is a day of solidarity, resistance, and continuing the fight for liberation.
Since 2024, our festival has been a collaborative space for Black creatives and organisers. It is a day of big ideas, bold conversations, and care, so we can lay the foundations for liberation, with and for each other. This is not something we are planning to end, just briefly pause as we build capacity internally and prepare for what is to come.
We will continue to curate spaces like these, just a little differently for the next year, so stay updated and watch this space.
For updates on all things BLM UK, you can sign up to our newsletter through the link in our bio.
The rise of the far-right has put all marginalised communities in deep danger in this country.
The blatant and purposeful erasure of the communities which have suffered and continue to suffer by the British state is violence in itself.
The British media and state remain complicit in the racism which goes unreported, misreported, gets erased, and continues to harm and kill our communities.
📣HOLDING SPACE - A POST ELECTIONS EVENT📣
Join the Anti-Racist Movement (ARM) as we gather virtually across the UK to reflect on the election results and explore how we move into action collectively ✊🏽✊🏿✊🏼✊🏾
🗓️Wednesday, 13th May 2026
⏰ 7-9pm
Regardless of the outcome, we know politicians and party-politics won’t save us - we, the people, will!
‘Holding Space’ will be an event for us to collectively process the elections results, whatever they may be and then move into action together.
Hosted by the ARM Core team and Fauzia (they/them), a psychologist and organiser, we will practice holding space for our grief and frustrations (and maybe joy!), move through them together and then orient towards collective action rooted in our ARM principles of transformative organising.
It’ll be an opportunity to meet ARM organisers from across the UK, learn how to join or start an ARM group and find out about other campaigns and actions ARM is supporting.
📲 Register via the link in bio now!
Over the last 12 months, we’ve been working closely with Windrush survivors to create a new petition. We believe this tactic is necessary to end the lesser known Windrush Compensation Scandal.
This petition was started by Windrush survivor Glenda Caesar. It is not enough to end this scandal but it can be a tool for change.
The Reset Windrush Scheme Petition is calling for:
- An independent compensation scheme, outside Home Office control
- Guaranteed free legal help for every claimant
- Fair compensation that covers all losses, including private pensions
Link in bio
Sign the petition. Share it. Talk about the Windrush Compensation Scandal.
📅 6:30pm-8pm Wednesday 6th May
🔗 Event details in bio
Hosted by the International Inequalities Institute and the LSE Law School
This panel seeks to examine how young Black and racialised working-class men involved in Britain's street level economy of heroin and crack cocaine — once criminalised under the war on gangs — are now recast as "modern slaves" and their "masters".
Glodi Wabelua will be central to the discussion, as the first young man convicted under modern slavery laws for a county lines drugs offence. Bringing together ethnographic insights, leading anti-racism campaigners and lived experience, the event interrogates how modern slavery law deepens racial inequality while allowing Britain to deny its imperial past.
If you cannot make it, the event will be live-streamed and uploaded online.
Through rain or shine, the occupation over at @saveridleyroad is still going strong.
10 days ago, we interviewed Trader Wes. The next day, he was harassed and arrested by the local police, though no charges were brought against him.
This is racist harassment for the purpose of intimidation, but it is not working.
Thanks to support from his community and his own resilience, Wes is still standing strong and occupying the Market.
You can support the community and traders resisting eviction by visiting the occupation, signing the petition, donating to the community fundraiser, and messaging @saveridleyroad to help out/bring supplies.
You can also visit the Traders' stalls and support them through making a purchase.
