Protesters look to save Leyton Marsh from London Olympics
Thursday 29 March 2012
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EmailA spin-off Occupy London group has set up camp at the site of a would-be Olympic venue just weeks after being forced from St Paul's Square by riot police and bailiffs.
They were called in by local campaigners Save Leyton Marsh last week, which opposes Leyton Marsh in east London being used as a basketball training centre.
Local residents had been outraged at losing their public green space to private developers, with resident Vicky Sholund calling the Olympics "disastrous for the East End."
The protest camp, situated behind the Lee Valley Ice Centre, has brought construction work to a standstill, while events planned include protests against Olympic sponsor Dow Chemical over its role in the Bhopal disaster, a torch relay from Glasgow to mark the Poverty Games and a Don't Be Harsh, Save The Marsh rally.
Activist Kerry-Anne Mendoza predicted the Olympic protests would be "more mobile" than the headline-grabbing anti-capitalism camp at St Paul's.
"It will be a mass protest aimed to disrupt and give light to issues we see as critical for our country."
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