FYEO-OFF!
Newcastle's first lapdancing club - For Your Eyes Only (FYEO) opened in November to a flurry of direct action against the club, taking place both on the streets and on computer screens.
On November 7th FYEO opened its doors for the first time, hosting a corporate night inviting Newcastle's finest and sleaziest businessmen. 80 women gathered at the Haymarket dressed in silver and pink with whistles, drums and banners. They took to the streets "Reclaiming the Night" and taking back Newcastle's City Centre as a safe space for women. These women then gathered at the monument where the crowd swelled to 150 protesters(men and women), who all made their way on the road to FYEO. When the protestors arrived at the club there were large numbers of sleazeballs queuing to get in. Protestors greeted the customers with loud samba drumming, whistling and chanting of slogans such as "Get as a sex life" and "Shame on you". Many of the protestors entered into debate with those queuing about how the club exploits and degrades women, why the club is about corporate greed rather then local needs, about the lack of workers rights for the dancers, and about why women may choose to work at the club (including lack of student grants, most jobs in the area being very low paid, benefits being inadequate).
The following day saw the launch of www.theyhavetopayforit.com, a website displaying photos of men attending the club. The aim of the website was to make the customers of this club accountable for their actions, and consider whether they were happy for their wife, boss, or daughter to know they'd been to the club, and if not why not. The website generated much local and national press interest including Radio 4, Radio 1 and even Ester!!!!
The campaign continued with another demonstration on November 16th, the club's first Friday night. More banners, whistles, chanting and a large amount of photo taking occurred. Two men were noted to be taking photos of protestors but refused to explain why.
The campaign was obviously starting to get right up the nose of corporate giants SFI - Surrey Fine Inns (who currently own FYEO). The www.theyhavetopayforit.com site was temporarily shut down. How much clout do these big business have ? Not only can they override public opinion they also seem to be able to challenge freedom of speech. Not to worry though the site is now back up and running.
The mystery of the male photographers was solved when another website appeared, called www.thesewomencan'tevengiveitaway.com. The site displayed photos of female protestors claiming the reason they were against the club was because they were themselves were unattractive and were therefore jealous of the dancers. Presumably the creator of the site was a man with a very small brain (and other small parts?!!?), as aswell as being total rubbish it was totally defamatory and when the potential for legal action was explained to the hosting company the site was rapidly removed.
The campaign continued with a silent vigil and placing of flowers to mark International Day Against Violence Towards Women on November 26th.
Next dates for your diaries are Thursday 6th December and Saturday 15th December, meet 9pm Monument. Bring whistles, drums, banners and cameras!!