Quakers and ‘Occupy’
Meetings offer support to 'Occupy' camps facing eviction
Quakers in Bristol and London have offered their support to members of ‘Occupy’ camps who are facing eviction. Bristol Cathedral have begun legal action to attempt to evict occupiers from cathedral-owned land. A court in London is expected to rule this week on the City of London’s request for the eviction of the ‘Occupy London Stock Exchange’ camp near St Paul’s Cathedral.
Bristol Area Meeting have exchanged letters with the dean of Bristol Cathedral, David Hoyle, challenging his opposition to ‘Occupy’. They began by sending him a copy of the national Quaker statement supporting the movement.
The dean replied, raising concerns about rubbish and disruption. He insisted it was possible to engage with the ‘important principles that are at stake’ without endorsing the camp. Bristol Quakers thanked David Hoyle for giving them ‘food for thought’. They offered to help the camp to resolve these practical issues and said they were worried about the cathedral’s plans to go ahead with eviction.
Meanwhile, Quakers involved in the ‘Occupy’ camp near St Paul’s Cathedral held a Meeting for Worship for Business last Sunday and agreed to support nonviolent direct action if bailiffs or police attempt to remove the occupiers. A Quaker Meeting has been held there every Sunday for ten weeks. They welcomed plans for a ‘circle of prayer’ around the camp in the event of eviction.
The plan was launched by Christianity Uncut, a network of Christians campaigning for economic change. Some will refuse to move when requested, confronting the authorities with the choice of either leaving the camp in place or being seen to forcibly drag away people who are peacefully worshipping.
‘Nonviolent direct action shows a level of commitment to the ideas of Occupy,’ said Michael Wood of Muswell Hill Meeting, who helped to begin the regular Meetings for Worship there. He related it to the Quaker testimonies, which ‘really call upon Quakers to take action when necessary’.
Supporters of the plan have been asked to send hymn books, Bibles or other books for use by participants in the circle of prayer. Quaker Peace & Social Witness (QPSW) have offered to collect them if sent to Friends’ House.
Cathedrals taking legal action to gain evictions have come in for criticism from within the Church of England. Chris Howson, an Anglican priest in Bradford, told the Friend he would travel to London to join the circle of prayer. ‘The Occupy movement has been the most liberating experience for the church since the 1980s,’ he said. ‘We cannot worship both God and Mammon’.
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