Changing Occupations: From Finsbury Square to Shoreditch Park

Just hours after being evicted from Finsbury Square, Occupy activists have set up a new camp on Shoreditch Park in Hackney.

By 6am around 40 activists had converged at the site, many of whom had been camping at Finsbury Square since the eviction of the St Paul’s occupation.

The OT understands the new site, located amongst trees on the New North Road side of Shoreditch Park, was established before last night’s eviction of Finsbury Square. As word spread about the new camp, evictees began to arrive to cheers from their fellow activists.

Shoreditch Park hosts the annual lottery funded Shoreditch Festival, due to begin on July 14th.

An activist who witnessed the Finsbury Square eviction but wanted to remain anonymous told the OT: “There were emotional scenes at Finsbury. One man was crying. It was amazing to see how occupiers were still looking after each other.”

Describing scenes at the new encampment, he said: “There was a sense that it was initially about caring for long-term activists who have been occupying since right back at the start of Occupy London. There was a sense of jubilation – people cheering when old friends arrived. People embracing. That’s really solidarity.”

It is unknown if the new site is intended to be permanent or temporary, but there has already been talk among occupiers about establishing a kitchen tent and recreating some of the other amenities which existed at the Finsbury Square and St Paul’s occupations.

Earlier in the day an Occupy group known as the “Nomads” were forced to leave Hampstead Heath by police only hours after setting up camp. By 9.00am three police vans had arrived at the Shoreditch Park site. Many of the people occupying the park are vulnerable and/or homeless.