Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn joined locals at the People’s Forum in Archway on Wednesday to discuss concerns and community action.
The forum, which has been running since the general election last July, focuses on different topics at each event, including housing, local democracy and social justice.
On Wednesday, the forum focused on ways to protect freedoms and prevent further restrictions on civil liberties.
Corbyn said: “The People’s Forum gives people a voice to come along and discuss a particular issue.”
He added: “This gives people a voice to come along and discuss a particular issue.
“This is what can be done on a local level.”
Corbyn, MP for Islington North, was the last speaker at the event.
During his speech, he said: “There are serious attacks on civil liberties, it’s un-British for the Government to stop protests.
“Our rights are being taken away in front of our eyes.
“We should encourage schools to teach about the right to protest and vote.
“There’s no history without the Trade Union protests.”
He addressed issues around civil freedoms, the ongoing conflict in Palestine and local community campaigns, and he took questions at the end.
One attendee asked: “When is the government going to give back reparations to the Windrush community?
“They built this country and are dying.”
He said that he had been trying to get this brought up in Parliament for a while.
Daniella Lock, a lecturer in law at King’s College London, also spoke at the event about social justice and freedoms.
She stated: “We can’t rely on politicians who are being lobbied.
“The powerful have many tactics to remove our liberties – they won’t give our rights back.
“Human rights are the product of struggles.”
The event was divided into tables to encourage discussion and help attendees meet new people.
Questions were displayed on a board, and participants had 15 minutes to discuss them in their groups.
The questions included: “What kinds of freedoms are important in a society we want to live in?” and “Ideas for campaigns and campaign sign ups.”
When groups shared their feedback, common themes included digital IDs, protests, civil liberties, discrimination, benefits, housing and bodily autonomy.
Sahra, a new volunteer attending the event for the first time said: “I’ve just graduated and have been volunteering for two weeks.
“I have enjoyed it so far, it’s really interesting to speak to different people.”
Jackson Caines, a housing campaigner and community organiser, said: “I was a candidate for the by-election last year endorsed by Jeremy Corbyn.
“This is not my first time at this event.
“I think this is really important for the community.”
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