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Holo caus t surv ivor speaks out on
Natio nal Memo rial Day
Highbury Grove School by Carollina Ciro Restrepo
A Holocaust survivor told of horrors at the hand of Nazis at Highbury Grove School last Wednesday, to commemorate National Memorial Day.
Janine Webber, from Poland, shared her testimonial growing up as a Jewish child in the former Nazi Germany. “Day after day, week after week I started seeing things in the walls,” said Webber, 83, talking about hallucinations she had due to lack of food. “They would bring me food occasionally.” More than six million Jews are estimated to have been murdered during 1933 up until 1945 by Adolf Hitler and his regime. Mrs Webber, one of the very few survivors, explained the poor conditions in which she and all the other Jews at the time, including her family, had to live. “It was dangerous to be in the ghetto,” she said. “There was a lack of hygiene and food, and you would see children begging and dying.”
Source: Creative Commons When asked if she ever had nightmares, the Holocaust survivor admitted to having a recurrent dream of boots trying to catch her, but fortunately it had stopped haunting her 10 years ago. Over 100 students and members of the community attended the event, in remembrance of those who were victims of the human genocide. The school’s headteacher, Tom Sherrington, delivered a message to young people, telling them not to be bystanders. “Each life carries the same worth,” he said. Student’s contributions included a brief history of other genocide events throughout human history, as well as their first-hand experience visiting one of the concentration camps in Berlin. A member of the Islington Youth Council, Iqra Finin said: “We make sure that future generations understand the causes of the Holocaust and reflect upon its consequences. We vow to remember the victims of Nazi persecution and of all genocide.” Syrian refugee, Ratip Alsulaimen, also spoke to the attendees about the current crisis that his country is undergoing. He asked the public to offer a minute of silence in memory of those killed by dictatorship.
News
Holloway prison to close
In Brief Appeal for missing Islington man
By Laura Mendes
A Raleigh practical joke
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by Patrice Winn Source: Islington Gazette A public crowd funder page has been set up to get Jeremy Corbyn his dream bike. Earlier in January the Islington North MP gave an interview to Stylist Magazine and told the readership that his “ultimate object of desire” was a £475 Raleigh coveted” a bike. The cycling enthusiast has the lowest expenses claimed in the Commons, but Horton’s article was published the same day the Met Commissioner came under fire for accepting a £65,000 Range Rover, complete with a £1,000 entertainment system. Writing an article for the Independent, Tom Jordan, founder of the campaign, said that it was originally set up as a joke to annoy the Telegraph, the Sun, and the Daily Mail, but has now evolved into “something different entirely”. The web page, which has now reached an astonishing £7,379, had reached its original target within one hour and 22 minutes. Jordan said: “This amazing
A journalism student at London Metropolitan University has been reported missing. 47-year-old, Richard Van Spall, was last seen around Old Street around 11pm before he went missing on January 28th of this year. Also known as Sacha Van Spall he is about 5ft 11ins with short grey and dark hair.
Gardening for a stronger community
By Lea Fourmaux
Tom Jordan, the founder achievement is because people have real affection for the former political rebel who seems to genuinely want to make a difference with a new version of politics.”
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However, the socialist Labour leader will not accept a penny of the fund, but has instead suggested that the money goes towards the charity of the founders’ choice. Cur-
Source: Creative Commons rently, Jordan is awaiting confirmation from Jeremy Corbyn’s office on choosing a charity that Jeremy himself is passionate about. Following David Cameron’s “bunch of migrants” comments during Prime Minister’s Questions last Wednesday, Jordan said that giving any critical aid to refugees was “perfect to stick it to the right wing press.” He mentioned on the crowd funder page that he is provisionally suggesting that excess funds be donated to Calais Action, which he described as “a charity I am aware that our Jezza has already displayed support for.” In the meantime, let’s see if Corbyn really does get on his bike!
Rise in TV licences court cases in a criminal record and court cases concern this In the eyes of the in worst cases - jail time. one offence, you have to law, everyone is considered by Abigail Opiah Highbury magis- ask whether the current innocent until proven guilty. trate court saw 158 court system is really working.” However, this centralisation of courts More than 180,000 peo- hearings for appears to ple in England and Wales the non-paybe justified appeared before the Mag- ment of teleby the unistrates’ Courts, accused vision licence of watching television fees in 2015. written understanding without paying the an- Culture Secnual £145.50 license fee. retary Sajid that TV liEvery week, fines of up to Javid, 46, said: cence hear£1,000 for not having a TV “More than ings are in license are being handed 50 people last name only as there is out to the unlucky victims year were sent who open their doors to to prison over an expectation that a the TV licence officers. Un- TV licenclike non-payment of a gas es and when guilty plea or electricity bill, failure to over 10% of will have enpay the annual fee results magistrates’ Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court Source: Creative Commons been
Arlington Association are hosting a series of community gardening days in Arlington Square until November 12th. Neighbours can meet each other and make a difference in the community. “This Saturday was all about planting, weeding and tender loving care,” said Amy Chapman, one of the organisers. Gardening sessions start at 10am and are held most Saturdays. Bring tools if possible. Check the calendar at arlingtonassociation.org.uk for times of upcoming sessions.
tered. If a TV licence officer filled a form, the person must be guilty of evasion, because everybody must watch live television, thus shifting the burden of proof onto the individual. In England and Wales, there are 122 magistrate courts that take on TV licence cases as of this year. The increase in court numbers reflects on the increase in cases. The Independent says the rise in courts willing to take on TV licence cases has had a knock on effect on the increase in unpaid fines, rising by 67% in the last six months.
Holloway Prison in 1896 Source: Creative Commons
by Noa Mokhnachi In late November, Chancellor George Osborne announced the closure of Europe’s largest prison on Parkhust Road in Holloway. This
was announced as part of a £1.3billion overhaul of the country’s jails in an effort to reuse that land and provide up to 5,000 new homes. “By selling these old prisons we will create more space for housing and tackle a great issue of housing shortage of our age,” declared Osborne during the Autumn Statement. Three months later, the Holloway Express reflects on the consequences that the prison closure will have on the area. The jail first opened in 1852 and was known for holding women and young offenders. Since 1903 it has often been criticised for over-crowding and poor conditions. “In the future, women prisoners will serve their sentence in more humane conditions, better designed to keep them away from crime,” Osborne said. Prison reform
campaigners seem to have welcomed the announcement. Juliet Lyon, director of the Prison Reform Trust told the Telegraph: “Selling off Holloway for social housing is the clearest message to the courts that prison is not the place to dump vulnerable women who have committed petty, non-violent offences and who have so often been victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse themselves.” Sylvie Rotter, 54, is an advertising consultant who lives a few blocks away from the prison. She said: “I am happy to see this prison closing, I think it will make me feel more secure. Also, we are going to have new businesses opening. It could be a real boom for Holloway.” Even though some people seem happy with the Holloway prison closure, others raise serious concerns. Cllr James Murray, executive member for housing and development, said: “We have a number of concerns over the plans to close prisons in Islington. If these plans go ahead, then it is absolutely essential that any housing built on the sites must include a decent level of affordable homes for local people.” Alexander Molton, a 23-year-old student, said: “I just hope
that whatever kind of houses they are going to build, people are going to be able to afford it. Otherwise we risk to create a massive gap between the Holloway population and that is not good.” Islington MP Jeremy Corbyn also raised major concerns over this project but for different reasons. With the closure, inmates are set to be transferred to HMP Bronzefield and to HMP Downview, which are both in Surrey. In a letter to Andrew Selous, parliamentary secretary of state for justice, Corbyn explained: “Both the alternative facilities that you identify are south of London and not easy to access by friends and families, especially those with children. “It would be helpful to know whether consideration was given to build a new, modern, conveniently located prison on the existing site - and what the reasons were for not doing this.” Holloway HMP prison, which held some of England most famous inmates including Ruth Ellis and Vicky Pryce, is due to close in the summer of 2016 and construction work is reportedly set to start in 2017.
Former Dragon Den star freed after child sex charges
By Sophie Deijkers
Former Dragon’s Den panellist, Doug Richard, has been cleared of all child sex charges after engaging in 50 Shades of Grey role play with a 13-year-old girl. The 57-year-old, Islington based, American millionaire met the girl on a US website called ‘Seeking Arrangement’ in late 2014. Richard paid for her train fare from Norwich to meet in a rented apartment. Afterwards he gave her £60 in cash, which he insisted was a gift and not a payment. Richard, who once advised David Cameron, claimed he thought she was 17 and said he would never “knowingly” have sex with an under-aged child.
Home Office’s laughable irony
By Patrice Winn
All UK immigrants wishing to join their non-European spouse in the UK will have to take an English test two and a half years after their arrival, a government press release said last week. Embarrassingly, the word “language” was misspelled in the release. This spelling mistake, which has since been corrected, caused Twitter users to mock the Home Office. Some suggested that Home Office staff need to take the English test themselves, whilst others said that Theresa May and her fellow colleagues need to be deported. A spokesperson for the Home Office called the mistake “a regrettable typographical error”. Those who fail the test may face deportation.
Cycling safe is not an option
By Marina Mariano
A “Cycling Safe” event took place Friday in Canary Wharf. The event was promoted by Metropolitan Police as part of the Exchanging Places Programme. Participants had the opportunity to experience the view of a lorry driver, in order to understand how easy and dangerous it is to collide with large good vehicles. The next ‘Cycling Safe’ days will take place on February 12th, 13th and 14th from 9am to 5pm at the Cycle show, Excel Centre.