Shoreditch protest: Demonstrators take to the streets 'in support of illegal raves'

Jamie Bullen30 January 2016

Protesters have taken to the streets of east London to stage a demonstration in support of illegal raves.

Some 2,600 people said they would attend the Freedom to Party event in Shoreditch on Saturday after the event was promoted on Facebook.

The organisers said it would be peaceful protest and will “portray the complete definition of peace, love, unity and respect”.

One man said: “We are having a protest to stop the illegal raves being shut down. I know they are illegal but at the same time there is no harm being done in these empty and abandoned buildings.

“This protest is trying to show we are friendly people and we can have a good time without causing trouble.”

Party: Protesters dance in Shoreditch in support of illegal raves
London Live

While another man said: “We do no damage. We clean up behind us and leave places as we found them. All we want to do is dance properly.”

Police said no trouble has been reported.

The event started at 2pm as protesters gathered at Shoreditch Overground station.

The Facebook invite says it’s time “to take back our right in the underground scene… Fight for what we believe in, let the Tory government understand our movement and culture and reasoning behind why we love the free party community.”

Unlicensed raves which are usually held in empty warehouses have often been shut down by police.

Last weekend, six people were arrested after an unlicensed rave was held in Barking.

In November last year, police clashed with ravers as they tried to close the annual Scumoween rave, which was held without a licence in Lambeth.

More than a dozen police officers were injured and 28 people were arrested.

The invite to today's event recalled a protest in Trafalgar Square on January 27, 1990, in which “10,000 ravers danced… in a peaceful protest against the anti-party laws being introduced”.

“It’s now out time as the new generation to take back our right in the underground scene,” it says.

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