As we draw closer to the new year we’ve asked a very special guest every day to take a moment to reflect on 2018 and to tell us about one photograph that best captures the year for them. It’s a box of treats to surprise you with every day – and conjure our hopes and wishes for 2019. This is our way of sharing the sweetness of the season and of saying ‘Thank You’ to you for inspiring us throughout the year.

Today’s special guest:

Cedar Lewisohn, writer, artist, lecturer and curator based in London, author of Street Art: The Graffiti Revolution and Abstract Graffiti

From Tidemill Eviction Notes:

“Hold the line, hold the line.” The police keep screaming, as if they are some type of military platoon.

“Power to the people!!!” The protesters chant in reply.

I’m in the middle of it. People pushing and shoving all around me. The strong smell of sweat and beer in the air.

I see a placard “GREEN SPACE MATTERS”

“No justice, no peace, fuck the police!
No justice, no peace, fuck the police!
No justice, no peace, fuck the police!
No justice, no peace, fuck the police!”

The chant rings out then fades away.

It’s a bright crisp afternoon in Deptford, South East London. I push my way to the front of the scrum, so I’m facing the line of police and bailiffs. In the mix, I overhear various conversations between protesters and police.

“We can enforce common law or breach of the peace” I hear a policeman explaining. It’s strange, how polite the police are being. Less than two hours ago, there had been violent confrontations.

A tiny squawk of a chant starts up.

“Let him free…. let him free….” Its barely audible, but the crowd pick up on it and soon it’s a booming demand..

“LET HIM FREE! LET HIM FREE!”

The dynamics of protests and the possibilities of civil unrest have always fascinated me. My local council, Lewisham, are spending hundreds of thousands of pounds to clear a small piece of parkland, so new flats can be built. But local residents are unhappy with the plans. It’s gentrification and bad for the environment and air pollution they say. More and more it seems everyone is involved in some type of protest, one way or another. This is the world that’s emerged in 2018.

“His only crime is protecting trees” Screams a voice. It’s the same one that started the “let him free” chant.

“If you charge again, we are going to have start arresting people.”

“We are peaceful people, we are not criminals” comes the reply.

My hope for the future? I just hope there is a future.

~ Cedar Lewisohn 2018

More information: Save Reginald Save Tidemill @oldtidemillgrden www.facebook.com/savetidemill/

Photo credit: Ben Graville bengraville.co.uk

cedarlewisohn.com

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