CAMPAIGNERS have been busy writing letters to City Hall under an old railway arch in London’s East End calling on Boris Johnson to save the capital’s only remaining Rape crisis centre. They launched their cabaret show’ campaign at Bethnal Green’s hip Resistance Gallery under the arches in Cambridge Heath

By Mike Brooke

CAMPAIGNERS have been busy writing letters to City Hall under an old railway arch in London’s East End calling on Boris Johnson to save the capital’s only remaining Rape crisis centre.

They launched their cabaret show’ campaign at Bethnal Green’s hip Resistance Gallery under the arches in Cambridge Heath Road last Thursday.

The Boris Keep Your Promise’ cabaret is a campaign organised by the Fawcett Society to remind the Mayor of his obligation to London’s million four women.

Statistics suggest one-in-four will be sexually assaulted at some time in their lives, they point out.

CONSTANT THREAT

The staff and volunteers who run the last remaining centre in south London work under constant threat of the axe because of “erratic funding” which isn’t guaranteed year to year.

Boris’s pre-election material included promises to pay for three new rape crisis centres and fund the last remaining one for at least four years, say campaigners.

It won him many floating’ voters and now they say they’re calling in the debt.’

Thursday’s shindig was free, with those turning up having to write a letter supporting the campaign to Boris and to London Assembly members at City Hall, including East London’s John Biggs. All the letters were displayed on the gallery arch as trains to Liverpool Street thundered overhead.

Paper and pens were provided. The letters were posted off at the end of the evening.