Occupy Sheffield ~ We are the 99%

50 to 60 people gathered at the City Hall steps at 12 noon.

Through consensus we rejected the three potential sites of Devonshire Green, the front of the Sheffield Town Hall, and the Peace Gardens. We decided through a majority decision that the Cathedral would be the best location as it fulfilled several functions: A good place to be seen by a wide variety of people passing by, that the camp would be seen by several banks (HSBC, Lloyds TSB), and also would be very visible to the people inside the Sheffield Cutlers Hall – where the rich and powerful of Sheffield gather.

On arrival the group were met by the Cathedral Manager where he publicly declared that the Occupiers were not permitted to use the Cathedral forecourt. However, a statement that was later released by the Dean of the Cathedral acknowledged that the camp also had a right to demonstrate. The Cathedral did want it to be noted that it had fears that the camp might affect the services that it provides through the Archer Project. The camp does not intend to and will at no time obstruct this project. If problems do arise, the camp is more than willing to listen. In fact, several homeless people have joined the camp on the first night.

In the evening the local BBC television news station Look North clearly and impartially showed both sides of the current conversation between the cathedral and the Sheffield occupy camp, see also BBC: Protest camps set up outside Sheffield Cathedral.

A big thank you to the people of the Blue Moon Cafe who provided the camp with food at the time of their closing, and to the many passers by who have donated money and items to the camp. We want to welcome more people to the camp, as it is for all the people of Sheffield. We welcome a wide variety of views and want them to all contribute to the discussions, development and growth of the Occupy movement.

We are Sheffield’s 99% and we are here to Occupy Sheffield.