J&P head comments on eviction of Occupy LSX protesters

Occupy prayer service on steps of St Paul's

Fr Joe Ryan, director of Westminster Diocese Justice and Peace made the following comments following the eviction of the Occupy protesters from the front of St Paul's Cathedral yesterday.

Fr Joe writes: 'The item I kept before my mind while people were camped on the steps of St Paul's was the initial statement they produced. It was a working statement which indicated some of the following concerns.

"The current social system is unsustainable - some are undemocratic and unjust … we need alternatives … a refusal to pay for the banks' crisis; do not accept that the proposed cuts were wither necessary or inevitable … we want structural change towards authentic global equality … the world's resources must go towards caring for people and the planet; not the military, corporate profits, or the rich".

There were some of the concerns raised and proclaimed by Occupy London. It was a wake-up call to all of us. They were putting into words what many of us were feeling but hadn't got round to voicing our opinions.

We all knew that sooner or later, Occupy would be removed but whether that happened in November or February, they had done their job. It is up to each of us to respond and continue the work they began. That's because whether there are people around St Paul's or not those issues still need to be addressed. They are not going to disappear. This is our challenge now - how do we take up the 'baton' or do we go back to square one and ignore the challenge??

As individuals, church, politician and concerned citizens we need to look around; find out who are already trying to do this work and row in with them. Together we can make a difference - we can change thing to make a better world. The ball is now in our court!!

So as the Occupy Group leave I feel they have done their job. It would seem as if some of those who were finally evicted did not belong to the Occupy movement. The core group had already moved out prior to the police raid.'