Residents of Hurst Street Estate in Lambeth were informed earlier this year that, as part of efforts to ‘Resist the whitening of history,’ a group called 81 Acts of Exuberant Defiance would be painting a mural in celebration of the 1981 Brixton Riots on their homes. Residents were consulted about design ideas. They were not consulted on whether they wanted a controversial mural in the first place.

There are a range of legitimate opinions on the significance and legitimacy of the Brixton Riots. But what is proposed by 81 Acts, with the apparent support of Lambeth Council, is not an exploration of ‘the issues.’ It is assumed that these events are something to be celebrated. Everyone is entitled to hold this view, but they do not have the right to force it on tenants who may have valid reasons to disagree. While some may welcome the mural, many do not want their home used as a political billboard.

Don’t Divide Us have launched this petition to show solidarity with residents in Lambeth and to send a message to local councils. Citizens should be full democratic participants in discussions about changes to community spaces. They should not be condescendingly invited to play a tokenistic role in determining the aesthetic character of a project whose political and moral message has already been pre-determined by a minority, who assume consensus exists where it may not.

Please sign to show support for residents of Lambeth and to let local council’s know that citizens are rejecting divisive attempts to politicise our public spaces.