Brixton Riots Atlantic Road

Atlantic Rd, Brixton, London

Description of Atlantic Road

Connected with Railton Road in Brixton, the district south of London in Lambeth, is the narrow street of Atlantic Road which although being the main shopping area, has experienced much of the unrest that resulted from racial prejudice. Well known for its shops, markets and other businesses, Atlantic Road was but still is the source for serving the various needs of the wider community. The road has gone through massive reconstruction over the past couple hundred years since its development at the time when Brixton began establishing itself as a middle class suburb of London. Running right through the Brixton Over and Underground train station, built at the time of Brixton's boom in development, Atlantic road was constructed around the arches of the railway tracks. Having been the original site of the famous Brixton Market until the 1920s and other store fronts, like the Dogstar Pub, that don't exist anymore Atlantic Road has seen much change since its construction. Atlantic Road has definitely seen great change, some of which as been the result of major events that shaped the area as a whole. The most critical event to have defined the Atlantic Road took place April 11th, known as “bloody Saturday”, with the 1981 Brixton Riots. Much of the fighting that had continued from the previous day left Atlantic Road, much like its adjoining street Railton road, in wreckage and because of petrol bombs completely destroyed some store fronts. Atlantic road is both important to Brixton’s culture, from its shops to train stations, but also its history with racial tensions and discrimination having been the location from which the back communities display of unrest from the 1981 Brixton Riots played out.

(1981, April 13th). How smouldering tension erupted to set Brixton aflame. Retrieved from: https://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/1981/apr/1...

(2011, April 10th). When Brixton went up in flames. Retrieved from: https:// www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/apr/10/brixton-riot-ap...

(2012, Jan 10th) The 1981 Riots in South London https://libcom.org/history/1981-riots-south- london

(1981, Nov 27th). The anatomy of a riot-by Lord Scarman. Times, p. 13. Retrieved from: tinyurl.galegroup.com/tinyurl/5VHMF6

(1982). We Want to Riot, Not To Work Collective. Riot Not To Work Collective. p.1-23. Retrieved from https://libcom.org/files/We%20want%20to%20riot,%20not%20to%20work%20- %20pages%201-23.pdf

Hodges, Lucy (1981, Aug, 6th). Police face court charges of brutality in Brixton. Times, p. 3. Retrieved from: tinyurl.galegroup.com/tinyurl/5VV4d0.

Urban, M. (October 11th, 2016). "Brixton's old Atlantic pub name honoured in Dogstar refurbishment."Brixton Buzz http://www.brixtonbuzz.com/2016/10/brixtons-old-at... pub-name-honoured-in-dogstar-refurbishment/

(2017)"That's what makes Brixton's covered markets so special," We are Brixton Village & Market Row http://www.wearebrixtonvillage.co.uk/our-origins/

Urban, M(, March 23rd, 2015) "Brixton history: 110 years of Atlantic Road – Pococks, padded cells and David Greig," Brixton Buzz http://www.brixtonbuzz.com/2015/03/brixton- history-110-years-of-atlantic-road-pococks-padded-cells-and-david-greig/

Being one of the most high profile events to have impacted London's perceptions of race, the destruction and racial violence from the finial days of the 1981 Brixton Riots took place on Atlantic Road[1]. Despite being maintained the night before, damages to public property and injuries to both police officers as well as rioters continued the following day, (labeled "Bloody Saturday") until around 4 p.m.[2]. Police cars were positioned down Atlantic Road, and as soon as the first bricks were thrown all hell broke loose. Police cars were set on fire, jewellery and clothing stores were broken into and police officers injured[3]. The road was in utter chaos as police, despite their riot gear continued to be violently attacked and found it difficult to contain the situation. Many black youth (including Oral Morrison) who occupied Atlantic Road, recalls being verbally assaulted with racial slurs and being violently abused by police who later charged him with assault[4]. It was because of this mistreatment that angered crowds of black youth to begin pushing police down Atlantic Road with petrol bombs and bricks. The push to contain the situation was made difficult, as police actions only upset the rioters further. By Sunday around 1a.m., the police were able to subdue the large crowds of rioters on Atlantic Road and begin accounting for the damages done[5]. Atlantic Road, much like Railton Road is a significant location within London's history, having important significance to culture and most importantly reflecting the impact systemic racism has had throughout the decades[6]. With a long history of racial discrimination and prejudice, Atlantic Road stands as a location that demonstrates the pre-existing issues regarding race that has influenced people of colour to revolt against the system that devalued them[7]. The destruction of storefronts and the violent attacks of police officers along Atlantic Road points towards a theme of deep-rooted resentment, as the black community have always detested their mistreatment[8]. The location stands as an important landmark in the change of public perceptions about racial issues, as clearly the events of "Bloody Saturday" emphasized there was a substantial problem with the governing system of the community[9]. Atlantic Road, when considering the tour's focus on Brixton's institutional racism, is a significant site to examine in order to understand the amount of racial harassment and discrimination the members of the black community experience daily.

"When Brixton went up in flames," The Guardian, April 10th, 2011,. https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/apr/10/brixton...

Lucy Hodges, "Police face court charges of brutality in Brixton," Times, Aug, 6th, 1981, p. 3, tinyurl.galegroup.com/tinyurl/5VV4d0.

"The 1981 Riots in South London,"Libcom, Jan 10th, 2012 https://libcom.org/history/1981-riots-south-london

"The anatomy of a riot-by Lord Scarman," Times, Nov 27th, 1981, p. 13, tinyurl.galegroup.com/tinyurl/5VHMF6

How smouldering tension erupted to set Brixton aflame,"April 13th, 1981, https://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/1981/apr/1...

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