It was Wednesday 13th April at a pre-arranged hour. The sound of song and short speeches filled South London, hundreds of people gathering to say ‘NO' to the closure of the Golden Years Day Centre.

People began arriving at midday from all around the city, in groups large and small or simply in pairs. They were headed for the front of the Phoenix Building, from where Lambeth Social Services is run.

They came radiant with energy and determination, overcoming the pains in their bones, the inevitable fatigue, the long distances and the debilitations of old age. In some cases, the journey even involved wheelchairs.

But they came. They brought placards, musical instruments and brightly coloured clothing. Above all they brought determination to demonstrate against the attitude of indifference shown by those with the power to change their fortunes. Against the lack of understanding and abandonment shown by those in whose hands their fate lay, Lambeth Social Services.

Those we would classify strictly as pensioners were perhaps not many, 20, 30 or even 40.. The number was irrelevant however. For we can be certain that alongside them were great numbers of boys and girls, teenagers, men and women, grandchildren, children, parents ... dozens if not hundreds.

These various generations of people owed their very existences to this older generation. And now they were demanding in no uncertain terms that their age, their rights and their centre be respected.

The Golden Years Day Centre has been running for more than 20 years, serving London's community of elderly Latin Americans. It carries out a unique service, facing continual challenges of inadequate facilities, funding and an uncertain future. Its fate is now in the hands of Lambeth Social Services.

The centre has enabled dozens of elderly Latin Americans to build lives with the care and attention they need. Its definitive closure would put these lives at risk, yet this does not seem to have been considered by many.

The protest essentially took the whole street over and continued for several hours. Over and over they repeated as one their demands, demonstrators and the council's ‘targets' chanting alongside each other... We heard the voice of Genoveva, the centre's most ‘senior' senior citizen. Also Fernando Vergara's, artist, long-term centre member and husband of Amada Silva, Golden Year's founder and coordinator. They and other centre members were there, each contributing what time and energy they could to the protest.

But this represented, more strikingly, a coming together of allies, individuals and organisations there to express their collective solidarity with Golden Years. This was no chance gathering, some having worked since the beginning and weeks before to ensure that Golden Years was not alone. Some joined the cause the day before, some on that very same day to lend a few hours support. There were those who travelled in from the city's outskirts and those, best of all, who came down from Phoenix Building itself. In this little party of defiance, protest and solidarity, the voices of those experienced in demonstrations uniting with those experienced in life. There were speeches, slogans, placards the length and breadth of the pavement, smiling singing artists.. A beautifully conspiratorial demonstration of solidarity and joy.

At this time of writing, Lambeth Social Services has been in contact with Amada Silva. There are several options on the table but nothing is assured. Promises may be held, maybe not, but they will need to realistically take account of the centre's logistical and financial needs.

The decision to organise this protest as part of the campaign against the closure was the initiative of Golden Years members. They have been supported since the beginning by various groups and organisations however. This includes The Prisma - The Multicultural Paper, Latin American Coalition Against the Cuts (COLACOR), Lambeth Save Our Services, Lambeth Pensioners Group and All Aged Pensioners. Joining the campaign later was the Latin American Migrant Association (LAMA) and other British and Latin American groups set up to fight the cuts, as well as varied private individuals..

For more information, contact latinamgyc@btconnect.com, lagydc@yahoo.co.uk, telephone 020 7793 0469, postal address 1-29 Cancell Road, London, SW9 6HN.

Images saying more than words ever can, The Prisma has reproduced part of this story. Visual record obtained from the participants of this ‘action'.

Time is certainly running out. ‘Compassion' for minorities, the handicapped, or those outside the capitalist system does not even cross the current government's mind. So why should they pay any attention to a group of pensioners, pensioners from Latin American? Immigrants from a region with an alien language and cultural roots, who have struggled falling between the categories of ‘legal' and ‘illegal' and continue to. To be elderly, immigrant and Latin American.. in a time of crisis!

Web address:

http://www.theprisma.co.uk/2011/04/10/13th-april-%E2%80%98los-anos-dorados%E2%80%99-will-%E2%80%9Coccupy%E2%80%9D-the-lss/

http://www.theprisma.co.uk/2011/03/28/the-golden-years-and-their-final-battle/

(Translated by Andrew Edwards - Email: andrewedwards89@hotmail.com)