The Vortex, Stoke Newington - Occupied

Stoke Newington's newest old venue, The X-Vortex, is re-opening thisSaturday 20th (daytime), all welcome to come down and find out more.

Below is a draft text of a leaflet we'll be distributing around thearea:

------------------------------------------------------------------------On Sat 7th Jan some local people along with others occupied 139-141Church Street. Previously the home of the famous Vortex jazz club thebuilding is set to be demolished by the notorious Richard Midda tomake way for a Tesco Express or Starbucks on the ground floor withluxury apartments above.

Whether Tesco or Starbucks this development highlights the continuederosion (and unique character) of Church Street as a community hub,where corporate logos increasingly dominate as the cost of living inHackney escalates beyond the means of most ordinary people. Again andagain rich property developers and the overwhelming power of capitaldetermine our social, living and cultural needs - as with the evictionof the original Vortex private greed always wins out against communityneed.

Social centres are a means of people to come together to create,conspire, communicate and offer a collective challenge against thisdomination.

Stoke Newington has always had a rich radical tradition; the AngryBrigade once living in Amhurst road, Mary Wollstonecraft, writerphilosopher and early feminist, working in Newington Green as well asthe London social centre (The Radical Dairy) occupied roundthe corner in Kynaston road. We hope to continue this tradition.

The idea of social centres is not only to occupy social space butcreate a critical visible presence in the community where people canengage with radical ideas and events and encourage participation increating those events.

Already planned for this social centre are a regular café, cinema andjazz nights and well as an exhibition space and events, benefits. Weintend for to be a meeting space for all manner of local campaigns aswell as political meetings. We invite you to participate andcontribute to the success of the new social centre as a radical way oforganising ourselves......------------------------------------------------