FOUR WOMEN chained themselves to the base of the pulpit in
St Paul’s Cathedral in the City of London last Saturday, interrupting an
evensong service to mark the anniversary of the start of the Occupy encampment
outside the cathedral last year.
Tanya Paton of Occupy
Faith had been invited to read a prayer at the service. When she finished the
four women – Siobhan Grimes, Josie Reid, Tammy Semede and Alison Playford – got
up and chained themselves to the base of the pulpit.
They announced a list
of grievances against the cathedral and its relations with the neighbouring
London Stock Exchange, accusing the cathedral authorities of colluding with
banks and failing to help the poor.
"In the fight
for economic justice Jesus threw the money changers out of the temple, but you
invited them in and instead evicted us," shouted Alison Playford.
"Your collusion
with the City of London Corporation led to our violent eviction on your
doorstep. You testified against us, which acted to uphold injustice and
inequality that is growing by the day. St Paul's Cathedral you must stand up
and be counted at this great trial of history."
Activists from
Christianity Uncut held a simultaneous protest outside, unfurling a large
banner which called for St Paul's to "Throw the money changers out of the
temple".
Inside the cathedral
the protesters then read out passages from the Bible. After that they allowed
the service to continue as the women, including Josie Reid who uses a
wheelchair, remained chained to the ornate, carved pulpit under St Paul’s
famous dome.
The evensong
congregation looked on as Dean of St Paul’s the Very Reverend Dr David Ison led
the service as normal, as he referred to the “captive audience” at his feet.
Rod Olukoya, who
works for a TV company based near the cathedral, was among the regular
congregation of around 200.
He said: “I thought
it was part of the service. There was no commotion and no running about. It was
all very calm.”
Once the service had
ended, the Dean spoke to the protesters asking them to engage in talks. He said
they had been “discourteous” to interrupt the service, but added that he wanted
to see the cathedral working together with groups including Occupy to help
change people’s lives.
After the
demonstration Alison Playford told the press: “We weren’t sure how it would go.
We were terrified before it started and then once we got there we felt it was
really positive direct action.”
Josie Reid, said: “I
have seen what the austerity that’s been forced on the people of this country
has been doing to the disabled and the needy. The disabled and needy are paying
for the crisis they did not create.
“I know if Jesus was
walking on the earth today he would be with us. He was fairly radical. He was
not afraid to stand up and speak out. And this is what we want our Church
leaders to do.”
The retiring
Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, last year was prompted by the
four-month occupation of Paternoster Square by anti-capitalist protesters to
condemn the extreme greed of the high-flying capitalists who make themselves
vast fortunes out of the impoverishment and misery of working people around the
world.
Nevertheless the
Church of England has investments in hedge funds and is also guilty of
profiteering.
The women brought
their successful demonstration to a peaceful conclusion after seven hours.
Siobhan Grimes, who
works for an environmental charity, said: "I chained myself to the pulpit
in St Paul's Cathedral in protest about women's economic inequality.
"As a Christian,
I know that my faith teaches through the example of Christ's radical action to
protect the poorest and most vulnerable members of society."
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