Brixton Academy: More than 50,000 help saving ‘iconic’ music venue below menace after crowd crush tragedy

More than 50,000 individuals help saving an “iconic” music venue in London, which was compelled to shut due to security issues after two individuals died in a crowd crush.

A petition calling for the O2 Brixton Academy to reopen has surpassed 50,000 signatures.

Two individuals – Rebecca Ikumelo, 33, and Gaby Hutchinson, 23 – died in hospital from their accidents after the crush outdoors the venue throughout a gig by Afrobeat artist Asake on 15 December 2022.

Ten individuals have been handled on the scene by the London Ambulance Service on the evening of the overcrowding. Eight of them have been taken to hospital for additional care.

Lambeth Council ordered the venue to shut in December by suspending its licence. The Metropolitan Police had requested the council to behave and now helps closing Brixton Academy for good.

On 16 January, the academy’s licence was suspended for 3 months by Lambeth councillors and a call on whether or not to reopen the positioning is predicted to be determined at an upcoming licensing assembly.

The organiser of the petition “Save Brixton Academy”, posted on Change.org, believes the venue can reopen with out placing individuals in danger.

Academy Music Group (AMG), the agency which runs the venue, additionally argue its proposals would “enable the venue to reopen safely”.

‘What occurred there was a tragedy, however brought on by individuals’

The petition, created by Stuart O’Brien, stated the venue’s closure would have a “devastating” impact on the native financial system.

“Brixton Academy is an iconic London music venue and should this cease to be so, another part of the musical landscape and history is lost forever,” the petition organiser stated.

He added: “What happened there was a tragedy, but caused by people.

“Revoke the safety agency’s licence and herald somebody sufficient really useful by the police… Bring in new safety procedures together with crowd management to make sure a repeat does not occur.

“But let’s not turn this venue into soulless flats as would more than likely happen in the event of permanent closure.”

Mr O’Brien continued: “I personally have been to hundreds of gigs in my lifetime, many of them here and I have never once felt like safety was an issue!

“So please, let’s assist maintain music dwell and Save Brixton Academy!”

Members of well-known bands, equivalent to Blur and The Chemical Brothers, have supported the petition.

There can also be sturdy help for the petition on social media.

“Brixton Academy is one of the most storied music venues in London, countless legends have graced that stage along with some of our best and brightest acts today. Shutting it down would be just the latest establishment attack on the arts in the UK,” journalist Roisin O’Connor stated on Twitter.

Metropolitan Police helps full Brixton Academy closure

Momentum to help the petition gathered tempo in April, when it was revealed that the Metropolitan Police helps a full closure of the venue.

The power has apparently misplaced confidence in its operators to run occasions safely.

The Met stated in a press release: “On 14 April, the Met police submitted an application for a review of [the] premises licence to Lambeth Council and will be seeking a revocation of the licence.

“This matter shall be determined at a future council sub-committee listening to on a date to be confirmed.”