History of Hyde Parks first Unity day and beyond

"LCL Crew" performance in Hyde Park 1987 technically the first young kids to perform on Hyde Park and be given at chance to platform the talents, and represent their area Hyde Park.

IN A NUT SHELL.

Unity day was born out of oppression due to cuts in youth clubs and support for youth activity, mixed with the lack of opportunity for the young people in the area. Hyde park always had a great community, also a great community centre, which was closed due to government cuts the building was sold and turned into flats, this place was called Belle Vue, some people will remember this centre, from back in the day.

In 1995 things heated up in the Hyde Park area, because crime was on the rise due to poverty and nothing positive in the are for the young people to do. On top of all this pressure of crime developing in the area, this lead to heavy handed police tactics and harassment, that targeted area of the community, which was unfair.  This in turn became a on going affair were police treating people harsh in the area depending on what was your status in the area background etc, student or local? It was clear that there was a divide in the area, this then created lots of tension between locals and the police, because there seemed to be 2 rules one for one and one for the other. Locals where continually harassed by police, which then created a riot on the streets of Hyde Park 2 nights of violence and buildings and cars been burnt.

This was an opportunity for the media swarmed the area labelling the area as no good and a unsafe place to be, which was not true if you understood the heart of the community. Quickly the community was gathered together to stand up for its self, where a trues was met with the police and the locals, where things were discussed about the areas problems, this lead to Hyde Park Residents Association to be set up, as a collective of diverse people from the community, that had witnessed pressure been applied by the police, and lack of support by the council.

This then moving on in the meeting, where lot of things were discussed about inclusion and the characters of the areas people and the diversity of us all we called it Unity Day.

We needed a positive solution simply because the residents wanted to fix the divide.

All the residents wanted was to work hand in hand with the people from the community and build a positive platform the the young people in the area. The time is now where we need it more than ever, to remember the people who paved the way for us to enjoy the unity in the area. We must understand this was also set in place has an educational purpose, to train the youth and to platform their talent, this must always be met every year to make unity day the unique project that it is.

Fund raisers where also a good way to generate money and to platform future talent from the area. People that were connected to the area personally, were also invited to be involved. We must never forget the original peoples fight for peace and unity. ( Names..)