London's O2 Academy Brixton venue may be shut down after two people were killed during crowd crush at an Asake show on December 15, 2022. The public does not want this, clearly.
A new petition simply titled Save Brixton Academy has been launched on Change.org to do exactly what it says – save the O2 Academy Brixton from being shut down. The petition comes in the wake of the Metropolitan Police asking the Lambeth Council to permanently shut the venue down, as they've stated they have "lost confidence in the premises licence holder" and that AMG has "not been successful in identifying the remedial measures which need to be in place before the Academy can safely re-open."
Sign the petition here, which is raking in thousands of signatures daily. The petition offers solutions such as finding a new security firm, bringing in new security procedures, and pretty much asks the city for the venue not to turn the whole place into something shitty.
"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," reads the petition.
"What happened there was a tragedy, but caused by people. People without tickets, security taking back handers etc. Revoke the security firm's license and bring in someone adequate recommended by the police (security having been alleged to take back-handers to allow people into gigs, surely lies at the heart of those without tickets attending). Bring in new security procedures including crowd control to ensure a repeat doesn't happen, but let's not turn this venue into soulless flats as would more than likely happen in the event of permanent closure.
"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! The loss of this venue would also have a devastating affect on the local economy!
"So please, let's help keep music live and Save Brixton Academy!"
