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Warning to the London Vegan Festival

Ilibertine | 23.05.2011 14:39 | Animal Liberation

At the last festival those who had already paid were refused re-entry and sent to the back of the queue again if they happened to step outside for even a second. They were not informed this may happen so that they could make the choice not to leave the hall.

Beware anyone wishing to attend this year's London Vegan Festival at Kensington Town Hall on Sunday 21st August 2011. The last time it was held there the organisers failed to warn unwitting attendees that once they had paid their entry fee (which gave them access to the hall for the whole day) should they then step outside for a second to look for a friend or have a cigarette, they would be refused entry back into the hall and told to go to the back of the very long queue.

What? I hear you cry! But that's outrageous! It certainly was. A strapping young man was posted on the door to stop those who had already paid from getting inside again sending a stream of bewildered people to queue once more when they had already done so. On being questioned as to why entry was being refused, the 'bouncer' declared that the hall was too full and it was 'health and safety issue'. Well that's all fine; numbers could have been kept down by informing those waiting to pay of the hazard of letting any more people in, but then, of course, less money would have been taken wouldn't it? Much better not to warn anyone handing over their hard-earned wages that once it had been grabbed they could be blocked from re-entering the premises should they step outside.

The person taking people's money at the door was also questioned about this disgraceful behaviour and displayed an arrogant disregard for those refused re-entry to an event they had paid for. He sat at the entrance happily raking in the lucre and making sure he kept quiet about what he knew very well may happen to them. This deceitful little charade did not reflect well on an event that is supposed to embody the principles of fairness and justice; mendacity of this kind will not be tolerated at this year's event. Should anything of this nature occur on August the 21st there will be a robust response! It will not be possible to refuse re-entry to anyone who has already paid because they will have every right under law as well as natural justice to go back inside. No 'bouncer' will have the right to physically impede the entry of anyone who has already paid as this will constitute assault. If the hall has reached capacity then those who have not paid will have to be kept outside. Non-violent protest will occur if any hint of previous behaviour is witnessed. If the organizers behave like decent, civilized people then all will go without a hitch.

Ilibertine

Comments

Display the following 3 comments

  1. clarify — anon by right
  2. Festival Fun — Steve Mclean
  3. Perhaps a reasonable concern, but... — pat