v4. Feedback and further info requested
Let's celebrate and be inspired by some of the key grassroots movements in Haringey from the last 60 years. Here’s a list of some of those movements….
Workers struggles: shop floor organisation, disputes and strikes 100th anniversary of the 1926 General Strike eg. in Tottenham and Wood Green. 1984-5 miners strike support. Sorting Offices strike. Visteon occupation. Bin workers (2006). More recent major industrial disputes (specific ones and an overview). Haringey TUC (1965 -), Tottenham Trades Club (incl Jarrow Marchers visit). + Brabant Rd Club. A current link: HTUC
Poll Tax: How residents defied and defeated the Government's poll tax 1989-1992. Grassroots organising, street reps, mass non-registration and non-payment, opposing bailiffs, protests, street stalls, 1000 attend largest ever public meeting, helping coordinate the movement throughout London and nationally. See: Poll Tax Rebellion (Haringey)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdW3GNM089A
A current link: Haringey Solidarity Group
Claimants Unions and campaigns: defending claimants rights and benefits Tottenham Unemployed Workers Movement in the 1930s.CUs in the 1980s (including occupation of the Civic Centre), related campaigns in the 1990s and 2000s, Mothers March 2014. A current link: Haringey Claimant Justice Campaign
Residents Associations: the growth of community self-organisation, mutual aid and a range of activities throughout local neighbourhoods and on estates See: Haringey Tenants Federation 1967. Muswell Hill & Fortis Green Assoc. Broadwater Farm RA estate improvements. Campaigns for safer streets. Street parties. Haringey Federation of Residents Associations doc Community Action -
[Part 2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=viVdedjc1yk&list=TLPQMjEwNzIwMjWBDeCZWmNd-g&index=2 Street based mutual aid groups during covid.
A current link: HFRA
Planning battles: How communities have mobilised against destructive development, and have come up with their own plans Archway Road 1970s victory https://www.onlondon.co.uk/richard-derecki-how-the-archway-motorway-was-blocked/ Parkland Walk saved. Bull Lane Playing Fields. Hornsey Town Hall. Ally Pally STOPP. Wards Corner. Our Tottenham network www.ourtottenham.org.uk. St Ann's Hospital. Spurs stadium, Love Lane and Nthld Pk. The 2015 anti-HDV campaign/victory. A current link: Our Tottenham
Parks and green spaces: The rise of Friends Groups to improve, animate and protect local greenspace Community events and festivals. Lordship Rec community empowerment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yjvb9MxxDrw
Downhills Park saved late 1990s. Demo to save White Hart Lane Rec in 2006 (ish). A current link: Haringey Friends of Parks Forum
Fighting Fascism 3,000 at the Battle of Wood Green 1977, 1985 Tottenham Hale. 2024's mobilisations A current link: Haringey Stand Up To Racism
McLibel campaign: how 2 Tottenham activists become the face of a successful global defiance campaign against corporations and censorship An example of anti-corporate campaigning. See documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V58kK4r26yk
Black peoples self-organisation and anti-racism struggles Including around education, and in response to policing. eg. Black Parents Movement 1970s, New Beacon Books / John La Rose, George Padmore Institute, Broadwater Farm -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88QFY7gG1BA
Black Lives Matter 2020 - https://www.facebook.com/ReelNews/videos/rally-outside-tottenham-police-station-over-the-disgusting-violent-attack-on-a-y/3637769409641015/ A current link: New Beacon Books
Anti-war From CND in the 1960s to Stop The War over the last 20 years. Conscientious objection. A current link: Haringey CND
Women's liberation movement Including 1970s women's groups, Haringey Womens Centre in the 1980s, women's campaigns eg vs Curzon porn cinema. Plus a nod to the suffragettes. A current link: tbc
International solidarity Haringey residents solidarity with people's struggles for peace and freedom all over the world. From 1960s/80s anti-apartheid action to Palestine Solidarity today. Political exile networks and migrant solidarity campaigns. A current link: Haringey Migrant Justice
Lesbian/Gay liberation movement Including 3,500-strong ‘Positive Images’ march through North Tottenham (1987). A current link: tbc
Disability movement In 1972 N8 resident launches UPIAS, a founding body of the modern disability rights movement.. Local involvement in the 1990-1995 Telethon protests and the Disability Discrimination Act? A current link: tbc
Green/sustainability groups and campaigns eg from Tottenham Friends of the Earth, to Sustainable Haringey network, and Haringey XR Current links: Sustainable Haringey and XR
Defending Public Services: Resistance to cuts to community facilities and public services Esp 2009-2012. Haringey Alliance for Public Services - eg https://www.counterfire.org/article/video-haringey-council-occupied-over-cuts-to-public-services-24-feb/ Local Post Offices. Youth Services. Save the Whittington Hospital Campaign. A current link: tbc
Self-managed radical projects, facilities, bookshops and cooperatives Promoting and showing alternatives to the status quo. + Radical bookshops eg Libertaria Books 1970ish, Reading Matters in 1980s, New Beacon Books, Bookmarks.
Community centres: Community building in every sense of the word The rise of community-run Centres in the 1980s. Haringey Community Centres Network campaign for lease-justice over the last 10 years. Kurdish Community Centre defence, 2024. Irish Centre. N London Community House. West Indian Cultural Centre. Cypriot Community Centre. And other buildings incl Tottenham Community Project 1980s, Tottenham Community Sports Centre (1970s-now), Haringey Unemployed & Unwaged Centres (1983-1991). Tottenham Law Centre. Current link: HCCN
Policing: resistance to oppressive policing and police killings Cynthia Jarrett and Broadwater Farm 1985 + Defence Campaign. Joy Gardner 1993. Roger Sylvester 1999. Mark Duggan 2011 riots, and Give Our Kids A Future march -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Up6_qujh7Fw
A current link: tbc
Decent homes for all: Housing struggles, including tenants action, squatting etc Including Haringey Tenants and Residents Federation in 1967 (paper 'Tenants Voice'), Haringey Defend Council Housing 1990s-now. Sheltered Accommodation protests. Green Lanes Community Inspectors 2012-3. Ladybird Housing Co-op. Squatting. Short life coops. Current links: HDCH & LRU(H)
Youth subcultures and movements Hippies (eg 1970 Oz anti-censorship victory), soul, punks, ravers, goths, hiphop, grime... Incl social events and key local venues?
School students Walkouts: eg. vs corporal punishment 1971 (leading to national ban)?, vs YTS April 1985, and vs Iraq War 2003
College Students 1968 6-week Hornsey School of Art occupation. 2010-11 protests/occupations?
Local Radical/Community Newspapers Tenants Voice (1967), Haringey Globe (mid-1980s), Free Tottenham Times (mid-1980s), Haringey Community Action / Totally Indypendent (1992-), Haringey Community Press.
Misc Other Spouters Corners in Wood Green, Seven Sisters and Finsbury Park (1920s to ?). Alexandra Palace 14hr Technicolour Dream (1967), Thousands attend Reclaim The Streets street party and occupation of Tottenham High Rd (1998). Right To Food March 2023.
Note: The Radical History Network of North East London has documented some of the movements above. https://radicalhistorynetwork.blogspot.com/search?q=Haringey They are self-organised grassroots empowerment movements for improvements and change. Further info & comments welcome – RaHN <davetottenham@gmail.com>
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