Skip to content or view screen version

Oxford Tree Protest Brings Fences Down

Westgate Centre Preventer | 12.01.2008 18:34 | Climate Chaos | Ecology | Free Spaces | Oxford

A demonstration in Oxford against the felling of trees and the building of a monstrous new shopping centre saw hundreds of people gather around Bonn Square. Many of them then took spontaneous direct action to stop the fencing-off of the square, and forced the Council to take the fences back down!

This tree has been occupied for ten days and counting
This tree has been occupied for ten days and counting

The fence starts to go up, the protestors start to sit down
The fence starts to go up, the protestors start to sit down

The security guards aren't delighted as activists block the fence-building...
The security guards aren't delighted as activists block the fence-building...

...but passing shoppers are fascinated and a large crowd gathers
...but passing shoppers are fascinated and a large crowd gathers

Dozens of people spontaneously join the protest, to the cops' dismay
Dozens of people spontaneously join the protest, to the cops' dismay

Each fence panel becomes a battle as more people invade the square
Each fence panel becomes a battle as more people invade the square

Fun on the frontline for first-time protestors!
Fun on the frontline for first-time protestors!

That piece of fencing isn't going up...
That piece of fencing isn't going up...

Local press and TV looked on as young protestors made their point
Local press and TV looked on as young protestors made their point

Victory! The Council admits defeat and takes down all the fences.
Victory! The Council admits defeat and takes down all the fences.


We won this time, but the struggle to save the trees and stop the Westgate Centre goes on. On Monday, the tree-sitter is in court and the Council is seeking final permission to go ahead with the felling. Support is always needed down at the Square, and watch this space for announcements of future actions.

Westgate Centre Preventer
- e-mail: oarc@riseup.net

Comments

Display the following 5 comments

  1. Freedom To Protest — Westgate Centre Preventer
  2. well done — joe m
  3. fantastic — remain strong
  4. Haha — McLiberty
  5. all day every day — citizen smith