Starbucks opened it's first store in the Whitechapel area last week, and in response the Space Hijackers (many of whom are local residents) organised an East End Knees Up Street party. Inviting people to come and join us giving out free tea and cakes in order to persuade people away from the green nippleless mermaid of Starbucks.

Starbucks has a history of undercutting and closing down local independent cafe's, of treating their staff badly, and their coffee growers even worse.

We set up tables, handed out free refreshments, and leafleted maps of other local independent cafe's in the area. A brass band turned up later on (A bit of a break from samba) and livened up proceedings. The response from our neighbours was very positive, with us constantly having to pop back to one of our agents flat's to refill our thermos flasks with hot water.

Thanks to everyone who came down, thanks for all the cakes and biscuits, thanks to food not bombs for lovely grub, to tower hamlets fair trade for all your help, and to barristas united for your support.

Further reports and pics are available on BBC London here:

 http://www.bbc.co.uk/london/content/articles/2007/03/24/starbucks_whitechapel_feature.shtml

and Urban 75 here:

 http://www.urban75.org/photos/protest/starbucks-protest.html

more details at  http://www.spacehijackers.org