A Manchester activist is encouraging people to donate their pillows to people sleeping rough in a fight against Selfridges’ controversial installation of ‘anti-homeless’ spikes outside their city-centre store.
James McLaughlin, a 28-year-old bid writer from Salford Quays, described the company’s actions as ‘tragic’ and is urging people to get behind his social media-led initiative.
His initiative has won the backing of Manchester Metropolitan University professor Cathy Urquhart, who launched the original petition against the spikes – which has already gained nearly 3,000 signatures in two days.
“I’d like to think if it was me sleeping rough, somebody would cut me a break now and then – it’s tragic,” James told MM.
“For someone who probably feels like there’s no set place for them, it probably makes a bad situation feel even worse.
“I’ve had a few pillows stuck in my wardrobe for a while. I’m lucky to have such luxuries and I hadn’t thought to do anything with them but after seeing the petition it just sparked an idea.”
Ms Urquhart laid the blame for Selfridges’ actions partly down to an uncaring government.
“I don’t think this government is particularly interested in the poor and disadvantaged and I see the spikes as a symbol of the demonisation of people on benefits and who are homeless,” she told MM.
“It’s almost this old fashioned Victorian idea that somehow people are to blame for their own situations and should be punished in some way and that’s not the mark of a caring society.”
Want to beat Selfridges MCR’s anti-homeless spikes? Bring down any spare pillows tonight at 10pm to give to rough sleepers. Who’s with me?
— James McLaughlin (@JS_McLaughlin) February 16, 2015
One explanation given for installing the spikes was to discourage staff and members of the public from smoking outside the building, but James felt this was not the true reason.
“I’d be intrigued to see if they’re to discourage staff smoking, but I’d find it hard to believe,” he said.
“There’s been no official word from Selfridge’s as far as I’ve seen – yet – but there’d be a way of integrating “no smoking outside the front door” into their staff policies if that was the reason rather than impacting on society’s most vulnerable.
“I know it’s a divisive topic but I fall on the side of being thankful for what I have and knowing I’d appreciate a helping hand every now and then if I was in that situation – no matter what reason I’d have for being in it.”
What looks like anti-homeless spikes outside @Selfridges, Manchester city centre. How pleasant of them. pic.twitter.com/i0QnSIVQaT
— Ros Ballinger (@hurricane_ros) January 24, 2015
The 28-year-old, who said he has ‘no end of appreciation’ for volunteers who devote themselves to helping those less fortunate, said it was a ‘travesty’ that people were still homeless on the streets of Manchester in the 21st century and more needed to be done.
“For me, if it’s the difference between £10 donation to a homeless shelter to make life just a little more bearable for someone else and £10 worth of extra drinks on a night out, I know which one makes a bigger difference and makes me feel better the morning after,” he said.
“I totally get that some people would think ‘I earned my money. I deserve to spend it on me’. I also totally appreciate that as a choice and would never preach to someone.
“But there’s only so much money people can spend in their lifetime and it just seems like the playing field should be a little bit more level whether that’s the highest earners – who many will do more than their fair share for such causes – or those getting by just nicely.”
Wigan Councillor Damian Edwardson was one of many people who also aired his outrage at Selfridges over Twitter.
The anti-homeless spikes outside @Selfridges in Manchester are an utter disgrace. Hope whoever agreed them sleeps well at night. Unlike some
— Damian Edwardson (@CllrDamianE) February 15, 2015
@EmmaJFl some slightly better pics the petition did strange things to the photo! Thanks for talking to me. pic.twitter.com/Z00U1S0UJG
— Cathy Urquhart (@cathyurquhart) February 15, 2015
Homeless spikes? In Manchester outside Selfridges. Disgusting. pic.twitter.com/4esdGZFgWz
— Alanya (@ALouCoo) February 13, 2015
