Occupy Sheffield marched from their former Cathedral site Photo: Saad Sarfraz Sheikh
The Occupy Sheffield movement staged a colourful march through the town centre at the weekend after being served with an eviction notice from Sheffield County Court.
Members staged a ‘Moving Forward’ march, starting from the temporary tent village outside the Cathedral, which they had been ‘occupying’ for 99 days, to the new site at the Salvation Army Citadel on Cross Burgess Street.
The atmosphere was electric as around 30 members played instruments in various forms of fancy dress, turning what could have spelled the end of the protest into a positive event.
Banners were carried bearings slogans such as ‘You can’t evict an idea’, and a massive cardboard cake emblazoned with ‘99%’, the proportion of people the movements claims to represent against the 1% comprising of the so-called super rich.
A sense of hope prevailed as what happens next for Occupy came into question.
Josie, 34, a mother from Derbyshire who has been involved with the Sheffield site intermittently between caring for her children said: “Camping is only phase one of Occupy. It isn’t going to go away and support from the public has been fantastic.”
Tom, a local Socialist who has past experience with camping protests, said: “The new site is a brilliant space for future events and should hopefully keep the movement going for a long time to come.”
There was even a flash of Sheffield celebrity, as Tia-Anna, the Sheffield drag queen of Britain’s Got Talent fame, led the march in typical flamboyant get-up
Tia-Anna said the movement was heroic, transcending boundaries and giving people a voice.
Photo Gallery
Credit: Mark McKay (1-10)/ Saad Sarfraz Sheikh (11-40)
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