Four Fallacies

That Protesters Graffitied on the Cathedral Walls

Someone did spray ‘666’ on the side of the cathedral, but there is no evidence it was the work of anyone from the camp. The graffiti was daubed on the wall to the left of the cathedral, the opposite side from the camp, which means any member of the public with an agenda of discrediting the camp could have done it without being seen. It also makes little sense for the camp to antagonise the church; it relies on their goodwill and support for its existence. The cathedral understands this, and released a statement stating ‘there is some evidence people are doing this because of our relationship with the protesters’.

Somebody From the Camp Used the Inside of the Cathedral as a Toilet

A member of the clergy at the cathedral claimed that they found ‘human excrement’ on the floor just inside its doors. The tip off seemed to come from a single anonymous clergy, and it’s no secret that not everyone within the cathedral supports the camp. There is no evidence to prove that this was the ‘work’ of anyone within the camp, nor that the excrement is even human. St Pauls is a place of worship, and its doors are open to anybody. Besides, the camp has its own portaloo’s. The church have, for their part, said that they don’t believe members of the camp to be responsible.

Tourism and Local Businesses are Being Affected

The loss of tourism was one of the reasons cited for the initial closure of the cathedral, but the truth is the camp has become an attraction in its own right. Thousands of people pass through the camp each day, interested in, and supportive of, what is going on there. It is true that some local businesses located within Paternoster Square have seen a big drop off in trade over the past few weeks, but that is down to the decision taken by the corporate owners of Paternoster Square to block access. Other businesses in the vicinity have seen a large increase in trade, both from the camp and its visitors.

Drink, Drugs and Partying are Rife

There are several drug and alcohol addicts on site; people that have long been abandoned by the rest of society, and who have come to the camp for assistance. No apology is made for this, and there are trained counsellors on site to help them deal with their dependency issues. The use of alcohol and drugs have been banned from the camp after a consensus decision was taken by the General Assembly. There is live music, theatre and comedy on most evenings. The arts and protest movements have always gone hand in hand; the camp is there for a serious purpose but it’s not all education and politics, it’s as much about enjoying the occupation!

By David Robinson