CP - Conflcit In Place: Brick lane

Question 1

What are the 2 types of conflict that have occurred?

Answer 1

Race related conflict and violence
Gentrification

Question 2

What was the timescale for race related conflict?

Answer 2

1970s/80s

Question 3

Which groups were involved in race related conflict?

Answer 3

Local Asian residents / neo-fascist groups

Question 4

What has happened? What are the changes in place as a result of race related conflict?

Answer 4

Conflict caused by change in demographic characteristics

Late 1970s - racist attack on Asian community who faced street violence and racism.
Anti-racists in area grouped together against racism in self-defence.
Council fitted flats with fire proof letter boxes to prevent arson attacks on Bangladeshi homes.

Key event: stabbing of young Bengali man (Altab Ali) near Brick Lane - triggered wave of protests including march of 7000 people.
Local park named in Ali’s honour and monuments created

Question 5

Which groups were involved in gentrification conflict?

Answer 5

Locals including Bangladeshi community

Question 6

What was the timescale for gentrification conflict?

Answer 6

During last 10-20 years
Protests in 2015

Question 7

What has happened? What are the changes in place as a result of gentrification conflict?

Answer 7

Change in economic, social, demographic characteristics in area:
Social housing companies destroying flats and replacing with more upmarket properties which will be sold for profit.
Rents could be 6x higher
Mixed views - some pleased to be able to sell properties bought for high prices and move to other areas, others unhappy at the changes in the area eg) Some businesses moving away

Change in cultural characteristics - sadness at loss of community that had existed

Anti-gentrification protests occurred in September 2015, demonstrators from Class War threw paint at cereal killer cafe and graffitied it.