The Activist Speaks #2: In Limbo

What is predictable is no doubt inevitable – not least, terrifying. Occupy London is in limbo, shrunk to a state of confusion where its future lies in waiting, creeping up unsuspectingly without witness. The last few weeks have seen a series of evictions, all low profile in terms of media coverage, but crushing to the state of occupation in Britain.

Camps across the country look towards London for answers, but the hub of it all is being shut down, slowly, camp by camp. The politics has been put on the back bench; February is about rescuing a dying movement. It’s a sad state to see, especially for something that started with such energy and prosperity.

With Occupy LSX due back in court on the 13th February, there is some element of hope amongst the negativity. St Paul’s have said they’re happy to keep an information point open if the camp does lose, but it’s hardly going to be the source that brings the point to hand, and really grapples the reasons why we’ve all visited.

Instead then, the focus moves to the camps future. How can we effect without using the standard means of protest. “We need excitement, we need fresh ideas” says one protester to me as he wonders round the camp in search of some familiar faces (there’s none to be seen, they’re all elsewhere). Perhaps the best idea to come to light is one that takes to communities to write Occupy’s story further. Thanks to the excellent work of Jeremy Kelsey-Fry, Occupy is already finding its way into schools, but why not further? Why not teach those in boroughs the skills needed to become a pressure movement? It seems, at least, only then will Occupy immerge as a stronger, more connected force fighting for ‘the 99%’.

“We’ve played the corporations game, now it’s our chance to play ours”.

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