CAMPAIGNERS HAVE started a new petition to keep Brixton Academy open following plans to close the venue down for good after a fatal crowd crush.
Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) along with Save Our Scene and Brixton BID are fighting to keep the iconic music spot open to concert-goers.
A devastating crowd crush in December last year when Nigerian Afrobeats superstar Asake was performing left two people dead.
Rebecca Ikumelo, 33, from Newham, east London and security contractor Gaby Hutchinson, 23, from Gravesend in Kent were victims of the tragedy.
The tragedy sparked calls from the Metropolitan Police for the venue to be shut and their license was subsequently stripped for them.
The NTIA described the venue as the “cultural tapestry of London” which had renowned artists such as David Bowie, Rihanna and the Red Hot Chili Peppers grace the stage.
They warned the venue’s closure would leave a huge void in Brixton’s “cultural economy,” leading to the loss of jobs and without a place for international artists to perform.
“For decades the Brixton Academy under Academy Music Group management has been a safe and inclusive space for people to enjoy a wide range of cultural activities, from awards, live and recorded music, comedy to corporate events and filming,” the petitions reads.
“The venue has a considerable workforce and is one of the key employers of young people within the area, supporting a wide range of businesses and freelancers within the local community and across the UK, making a huge contribution to the local and national economy.”
It added: “We cannot lose sight of the tragic incident that occurred in December, but would respectfully ask that the Authorities consider working with AMG and the venue to learn from what has happened and enhance the licence and safety measures to ensure that this never happens again.”
The fresh campaign comes after live music-lovers already signed a 50,000 strong petition to keep Brixton Academy open, warning that if lost it would alter “the musical landscape and history is lost forever”.
They urged that instead of shutting down the famous venue to instead bring in new security procedures like crowd control to avoid another tragic outcome.
Michael Kill, CEO of NTIA, said: “The loss of this venue would be catastrophic for the industry, so would urge all involved to step forward and engage in productive and meaningful discussions, with an aim to resolve the current challenges and present a unified position on delivering the safe and effective management of this space in the future.”
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A Libyan Muslim immigrant seeking shelter in Protestant-heritage England, exploded a bomb at a Manchester Concert which attracted thousands pop fans, in 2017.
Should all Concert Venues be closed or persecuted by the Police and the Local Authorities as a result?
Fatalities of Patrons at Public Houses and Night Venues occur.
Should all Public Houses and Night Venues be closed or persecuted by the Police and Local Authorities as a result?
Few would welcome the death of Ms Rebecca Ikumel; who was crushed to death at the Brixton Academy in 2022.
Nevertheless, I believe the current Police persecution of Brixton Academy is driven by skin-colour prejudice; segregation, discrimination and racism directed against Brixton’s Community of African, and African-Caribbean, and Dual-African and Caucasian heritage Subjects
Few of His Majesty’s African, and African-Caribbean heritage English Subjects believe the Police; or the Local Authority, or the Labour Left care about the disparity of deaths of London’s African-heritage youth.
The Police and Local Authority attack on Brixton Academy needs to be seen as an attack on Brixton’s African, and African-Caribbean, and Dual-African and Caucasian heritage Subjects of His Majesty, by Voice Readers, and London’s wider African-heritage men; women and youth.