Pickles and DCLG stand firm as Friday’s eviction showdown looms
On Friday 19 October, protesters will target the Department for Communities and Local Government to mark the first anniversary of the Dale Farm eviction. They plan to stage ‘the eviction to end all evictions’ at Eric Pickles’ department, holding him responsible for a coordinated strategy to demolish Traveller communities through evictions and slashing site provision.
The protesters will descend on the Department for Communities and Local Government to disrupt operations from 1pm on 19 October. Intending to give Eric Pickles a ‘taste of his own medicine’, some protesters will be dressed as ‘the people’s bailiffs’ to oversee the ‘eviction’.
Oscar Farrell, a supporter who resisted the eviction at Dale Farm one year ago, said, “Last year I couldn’t believe I was seeing 83 families made homeless by the government; but it’s not just Dale Farm, it’s happening all over the UK – and Eric Pickles is leading the attack on Travellers. Evictions can only ever lead to more evictions.”
Mary Flynn, former Dale Farm resident, said “The way we’re treated, it’s like we’re not human beings – we’re seen as a problem that they need to get rid of. There are more Travellers than there are sites, so where do they expect us to live? It’s so hard to tell my children that we’re never going to get to go home.”
The press release is very welcome.It covers all the relevant ground and is concise.In the past week I have posted 6 emails recording my 12 months study of regional newspapers+the police website to the BBC Today programme so that they might record the Anniversary of the Dale Farm eviction if they wish to do so.