July 7th, 2022 - Clarification

There appears to be a misconception among several individuals and groups within the Great Dickens Christmas Fair (DCF) community that any and all who would engage with Red Barn Productions (RBP) or participate in RBP events (including and especially DCF) must first garner the "blessing" of the London Solidarity Network (LSN).

The Minimum Requirements for a Safe Dickens Fair contain 25 main requirements, 5 of which contain 4 or fewer sub-requirements. Out of the 44 total main and sub-requirements:

- 9 stipulate that RBP solicit engagement from the LSN or specific member groups of the LSN.

- 3 of those 9 stipulate that RBP garner the approval of the LSN and other stakeholders before moving forward with a decision or policy.

 - None of those 9 stipulate that RBP garner the approval of the LSN alone.

- None stipulate that any specific cast or show be approved by the LSN specifically before they are allowed to exist at DCF.

The LSN has never asked nor demanded that anyone seek our permission before they participate in an RBP event. We do not want that level of control, nor would it be feasible for us to exercise said control even if it were offered to us. We have no interest in becoming the "gatekeepers" of DCF; if anything, we want RBP to open the gates much wider, so that *more* people feel safe enough to join our community *and* stay in it for many years to come.

To that end, we *do* ask that those who have committed to boycotting RBP events with us continue to stand by that commitment, while amplifying our calls to open those gates wider. Naturally, we have strong opinions about any decisions to cross the picket line, particularly from anyone who had previously voiced solidarity with us and does not depend on income from DCF for their survival. Because this boycott concerns matters that directly impact the physical and psychological safety of the community members whom the LSN represents, we would like to see our friends and allies complete their words of solidarity with continued and *effective* action. This requires that anyone who engages with RBP considers the impact not just to themselves and their immediate spheres of influence, but also to the DCF community as a whole -- and whether the ways in which they engage will truly bolster the cause they wish to support, or undermine it.

We understand that the kind of engagement we are asking for is hard. We understand that it was easier to commit to standing with us in the beginning, before we all had endured over two years of increasing loss, loneliness, and exhaustion. We understand that the longing to return to something familiar, comforting, and fun is potent -- even as that comfort and fun remain out of reach for the most marginalized and vulnerable in our community. Some of us within the LSN feel that longing, too.

Nevertheless, true solidarity means doing what is right not just when it is easy, but also when it is hard. Not just when it is hard, but also when it is harder still.

And yet, as the adage goes, "Many hands make light work." Thus far in 2022, we have not heard from any group or organization that could help us bring the boycott to an end. Yet we are always open to hearing from individuals and organizations -- including RBP -- who want to collaborate with us to find ways of making DCF a safer and more inclusive place for all, including and beyond what we have presented in the Minimum Requirements. We invite those who are interested in working with us to email us at info@londonsolidaritynetwork.org.

Thank you for reading,
The London Solidarity Network