Heart Streatham Web March 2020

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Streatham Stands Together
Streatham locals
took to the High
Road on Saturday
8th February to
demonstrate love,
hope and unity less
than a week after
the terror attack
which shook our
community.
Immediately after the incident
on Sunday 2nd February,
news of the attack and
shocking images of our High
Road headlined national
and international media.
Social media channels were
busy with Streatham locals
checking in on loved ones
and sharing their shock at
the events that had unfolded.
What was unseen by the
world’s media, was the instant
desire to come together
and show that this act of
terror would not fracture our
community or breed hatred
for others. Over coffee,
on WhatsApp, Facebook,
Instagram and Twitter, local
people were beginning to plan
their stand against hatred.
Here was a beautiful, organic
response; that grew quickly
through the strength of
community and networks that
already existed.
Around 150 people met at
St Leonard/s Church to learn
songs led by choir directors
Zoie Kennedy and Xenia Davis,
before processing up the High
Road, singing, “peace, there’s
only peace, there’s only
peace”. Ann-Marie Lugay, who
took official photographs of the
event said, “I felt emotional,
I had to hold back tears as we
all left the church singing.”
One local resident posted on
social media, “Proud to be
in Streatham this morning.
♥️ procession of singers
‘reclaiming’ the high street.
Thank you. Very moving.”
Throughout the day, hundreds
of messages were written
in chalk outside the Odeon,
creating a visual symbol of the
love that is found in Streatham.
Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan,
arrived, thanking attending
police officers for their tireless
work following the terror attack.
Speaking to the crowd, he
praised the spirit of the day,
“You set an example to other
parts of our city, other parts of
our country, and other parts
of the world, because you are
a beacon, and I want to thank
you from the bottom of my
heart… There are some people
around the world who think
diversity is a weakness, I think
the opposite, I think diversity
is a strength, and Streatham
you have shown the world
that.” Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP
also delivered a moving speech
praising the police and the
community spirit.
Streatham showed a united
front as the public bowed their
heads and were led in prayer by
leaders from Jewish, Christian
and Muslim congregations. A
community spokesperson Umar
Mahmood said, “This was an
amazing show of community
solidarity.”
Organiser Georgia Ladbury
summed up the day: “it was
a great opportunity to show
that Streatham Stands
Together no matter what.”