The leaders of several community agencies are asking London city councillors to speak out against one of their colleagues.
Susan Stevenson, who is know for social media posts that take aim at various city agencies, has previously been reprimanded by colleagues for posting photos of Londoners who are homeless to her X account.
On Tuesday, a letter was sent to councillors asking them to "hold Councillor Stevenson accountable for her actions" if online attacks don't cease.
Among the signees are Jenna Rose Sands, the Executive Director of SafeSpace, London Abused Women's Centre Executive Director Jennifer Dunn and Jessie Rodger, the Executive Director of Anova - all the heads of organizations mentioned in the letter.
"Organisations and persons who support London's most vulnerable women, girls, gender-diverse and Trans communities have shared with Councillor Stevenson their expertise on the collaborative work toward a continuum of services and supports for a Safe London for Women, Girls, and Gender-Diverse and Trans People. The response from Councillor Stevenson has been a consistent targeting of collective work being done to support those who are unhoused, are engaged in sex work, and those who use substances with immense harmful attention being placed on SafeSpace, Anova and the London Abused Women’s Centre, those who access their services, and the team of caring front-line workers who support them," the letter said.
The letter was also signed by Andrea Jibb and Jaclyn Seeler, co-chairs of London Homeless Coalition, Frances Elizabeth Moore, a board member at Nii’kinaaganaa Foundation, Dr. Lesley Bikos, an Assistant Professor at King's University College, and safer supply advocate Dr. Andrea Sereda.
"This targeting is not just affecting these organisations, but to those who may seek out supports. Publicly questioning an organisation’s ability to deliver service could stop a survivor from accessing critical services in a moment of need," the letter writers added.
Stevenson is also one of three city council representatives on the London Police Services Board.
"It is incumbent on her to remember that as an elected official, her responsibility is to the well-being, health and welfare of all residents of the City of London. Instead, she has consistently used her social media presence, media interviews, and vote to criminalise and dehumanise unhoused community members in London. This is particularly concerning given that she is not only a city councillor, but also a member of the London Police Services Board," the letter said.
Stevenson was elected in 2022, and has been a lightning rod for critcism and controversy ever since.
She addressed her social media strategy on a recent episode of The Craig Needles Podcast.