AN ANGRY mob of around 200 protesters launched a “terrifying” attack in Shoreditch, east London, armed with makeshift missiles and flaming torches.
It was not the headquarters of government buildings being attacked, however, or even the offices of a global corporation, but a small cafe selling a range of breakfast cereals.
The word “scum” was daubed on the window by activists, some wearing pig masks, while customers – including children – were left cowering inside.
Unhappy with the state of the country? Why not attack a small business #smart pic.twitter.com/gt3oL8Z4Vm
— Cereal Killer Cafe (@CerealKillerUK) September 27, 2015
The Cereal Killer Cafe has gained a reputation as one of the more “hipster” retreats of east London and its owners feel it was targeted because it was “one of the biggest symbols of gentrification in the area”.
Those involved claimed to be marching against gentrification, with pictures also showing an estate agent’s with its windows smashed in.
But what is gentrification and why has it prompted such a display of public disorder?
What is gentrification?
Gentrification occurs when lower-income families and local trade are priced out of a neighbourhood by a lack of affordable housing and higher living costs.
This is typically caused by property being bought out by wealthier people and property developers, causing both house prices and rents to rise.
Many believe gentrification is particularly prevalent in London, with the gap between house prices in the capital and other major cities at a 20-year high, according to the Cities House Price Index.
This phenomenon is often labelled as a form of “social cleansing” by those who oppose it, which drives the poorest in society out of cities.
The first sign of social cleansing/gentrification is actually a local corner shop/supermarket being turned into a Tesco/Sainsbury's local
— Jason (@jvson_) September 24, 2015
What has this got to do with Cereal Killer Cafe?
Organisers of the Shoreditch protest claimed they were marching to stop their community being “ripped apart” by unaffordable luxury flats and “cutesy” boutique shops.
A Twitter account which appeared to be run by protesters, with links to far-left political group Class War, posted a picture of the trashed cafe with the caption “£5 for cereal when people are starving”.
The attack on the shop and the letting agents feeds in to the wider aim of the activists to “reclaim east London from developers and hipsters”, according to tweets.
But not everyone agreed this was the best way to tackle the issue of gentrification.
Attacking a cereal cafe makes a powerful statement. We will no longer stand for independent businesses that have no impact on our lives.
— Guy Lodge (@GuyLodge) September 27, 2015
Don't blame hipster cereal shop owners for gentrification. Blame governments and big business.
— Blerg (@blergstein) September 28, 2015
Smashing up a cereal cafe because you're against gentrification is like punching a packet of bacon because you're against animal cruelty.
— Rhys James (@rhysjamesy) September 27, 2015
Does everyone have similar views on gentrification?
By and large, people across the political spectrum agree there needs to be better access to affordable housing.
The Government announced plans to build around 200,000 discounted homes for first-time buyers to help ease demand on the market.
Similarly, the Labour Party called for more stringent rent controls in its 2015 election manifesto, with new leader Jeremy Corbyn also saying housing has reached “crisis point”.
But some feel there is a grey area between a city becoming more modern and affluent and it turning into an active hotbed of social cleansing.
Question: where does Making An Area A Bit Nicer stop and Gentrification start?
— A lady bear (@bear_faced_lady) September 28, 2015
If community took responsibility for their neighbourhood in first place there wouldn't be a need for regeneration & gentrification
— TrafficBasher (@trafficbasher) September 27, 2015