Reclaim The Streets – London 2025
Posted: May 13, 2025
SATURDAY 17th MAY
This Saturday is a party, but you should remember that it is also a protest against car culture. 🌿
We will be opening up the street to pedestrians as a free space for creativity and community; in motonormativity speak this translates as temporarily closing the street to motor traffic (which will continue to monopolise the space for the other 99.9% of the year).
You can bring a bike to go on the Critical Mass ride: https://www.instagram.com/p/DI_osvYoCOy/
OR
you can meet at the first muster point, on foot, and await further instructions: https://www.instagram.com/p/DI_n2G9o4Fm/
Not long now! In addition to the toilets on the map, we will have the following spaces marked out:
– Reflective / Quiet space : if you need a break from the main area and just want to chill out for a bit, or have young children and need a place for them to wind down. There will be seating there. We ask that people do not bring any instruments or speakers to this space, or point them in this direction.
– Speakers Corner / conversation space : for if you have ideas, stories, opinions, or experiences you want to share with others, new friends or old, looking back or forward. Feel free to bring whiteboards, markers, folding chairs, etc.
Please
– Respect the location and local businesses
– Respect the toilets facilities for the next person after you
– Leave no trace, use the bins or bring any rubbish home in your bag
– Bring Oyster card, water, cash, and food
– Bring appropriate clothing and protection for the weather forecast
– Put your phone away, live in the moment, and respect others privacy
– Do not bring any glass bottles
– Let any cars that are still parked in the area to leave peacefully
– Do not do anything to cause panic around you, e.g. running
– Treat those around you with respect and dignity
– Call out any problematic behaviour calmly
– Stay happy and friendly with others, even if they are not
We are working on getting food for attendees. It will be free but donations (charity) will be welcomed. You should still fuel up beforehand.
Above all, remember to relax and enjoy yourself. It is a protest against car culture, but it is also a party! ❤️
You should make yourself aware of your rights at a protest.
💻 Green and Black Cross are offering a free “Know Your Rights Training” webinar tonight on Zoom between 6:30 and 8:30pm. The registration link can be found at:
Know Your Rights Training – 13th May, 6.30pm-8.30pm (ONLINE)
The training will cover key messages, interacting with police and security, common offences used at protest and what to do if you are stop-and-searched or arrested. It will be 2 hours long, with breaks. Live auto captions will be available.
If you cannot attend the webinar tonight, we advise that you take time to read the following resources in advance of Saturday:
We also recommend downloading and printing a bust card from either of the above sites to keep with you on Saturday. We have attempted to minimise the risk to attendees under recent changes to legislation with the location we have selected for the event; but each attendee should decide for themselves about whether they wish to continue to protest or not when the location is made public and / or when you arrive there.
Nobody will be “in charge” on Saturday. There will be no marshals or hi-viz jacketed stewards with megaphones telling you where to go and what to do. But with individual liberty and autonomy comes collective responsibility. Everyone is responsible for their own safety and security; and for the safety and security of everyone else around you.
Stay in control, pace yourself, relax, and remember to meet any negativity with a smile. You’re all intelligent, articulate, beautiful people, flowers just waiting to bloom in the May sunshine. “BYO Everything” for fun and games. You’ve got this, don’t worry.
See you in the streets!
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