15/04/2024
A countercultural and anti-authoritarian meeting space, that has hosted many meetings for the campaign group Lesbians and Gays Support the Migrants, is appealing for funds to help secure the future of the building. The anarchist newspaper Freedom reports that the Freedom Press Headquarters in Angel Alley in London's Whitechapel have been used as a radical meeting space for over fifty years. They say " the forces of the left – particularly in Britain – remain scattered and weak. After decades of defeat, we are in dire need of rejuvenated institutions and infrastructure – spaces to meet; spaces to learn; spaces to grow. The Freedom building at 84b Whitechapel High Street has aspired to be one of these institutions for more than 50 years. Best known as the home of Freedom Bookshop and publishing house, it also plays host to a variety of organisations struggling against the state and capital. Currently 84b provides offices for the: Advisory Service For Squatters, Haven Distribution which sends books to prisoners, National Bargee Traveller Association London (NBTA), campaigning for houseboat rights and the gay friendly, trans inclusive Anarchist Federation. In addition, the building also provides a free space for meetings and events put on by groups from across the anti-authoritarian left, including Latin American Feminist Assembly, and Lesbians and Gays Support the Migrants. Our last fundraiser was in the mid 2010s, which saw generous souls donate towards fixing the roof, repointing and generally getting the place waterproof, as well as sorting out our electrics and lighting. What we put off at the time was a lot of the less immediately vital works, some of which are things we should be starting to address now to keep the place in good fettle into the future. This coming year we’re aiming to raise £15,000 to get ourselves up to scratch. Donations are welcome to kick the process off, and can be sent via: Cheque made out to “Freedom Press” at 84b Whitechapel High Street, London E1 7QX. Or visit the Freedom Press website for other ways to donate.
https://freedompress.org.uk/the-84b-or-not-84b-fundraiser/
