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It's not about Russell Brand: why we marched against austerity It's not about Russell Brand: why we marched against austerity
(about 2 months later)
A march organised by the People's Assembly attracted an estimated 50,000 to London on Saturday to protest against the coalition's austerity measures. Speakers included Owen Jones, Caroline Lucas, Mark Steel and the comedian Russell Brand.A march organised by the People's Assembly attracted an estimated 50,000 to London on Saturday to protest against the coalition's austerity measures. Speakers included Owen Jones, Caroline Lucas, Mark Steel and the comedian Russell Brand.
Sam Fairburn, the group's national secretary, said: "Cuts are killing Sam Fairburn, the group's national secretary, said: "Cuts are killing people and destroying cherished public services which have served generations."
people and destroying cherished public services which have served
generations."
Guardian readers have been telling us why they attended the protest. Attendees who contacted us were frustrated at the lack of coverage of the march in the media, with the BBC in particular criticised for their lack of coverage.Guardian readers have been telling us why they attended the protest. Attendees who contacted us were frustrated at the lack of coverage of the march in the media, with the BBC in particular criticised for their lack of coverage.
Were you at the protest? Add your own accounts in the comments thread belowWere you at the protest? Add your own accounts in the comments thread below
"I felt the march galvanised us""I felt the march galvanised us"
I was there today in the NHS bloc, the march was very I was there today in the NHS bloc, the march was very diverse but differences aside we were there to put on an united front and let our faces be seen & voices be heard, young and old.
diverse but differences aside we were there to put on an united front To be honest for me this march was for the people, going down Regent Street I hoped the people we passed realised there were people standing up to the ConDems in the analogue world as well as the digital.
and let our faces be seen & voices be heard, young and old. I wasn't surprised to discover the BBC ignored us again as they did the 50,000 in Manchester when people marched for the NHS outside Tory conference.
To I don't pretend to think that a bunch of speakers preaching to the converted will change the way we are but I felt the march galvanised us.
be honest for me this march was for the people, going down Regent Street I hoped the people we passed realised there were people standing There are 10 long months until the election and those that marched today know that if the Tories remain in power that's the death knell of the public sector.
up to the ConDems in the analogue world as well as the digital.
I
wasn't surprised to discover the BBC ignored us again as they did the
50,000 in Manchester when people marched for the NHS outside Tory
conference.
I don't pretend to think that a bunch of speakers
preaching to the converted will change the way we are but I felt the
march galvanised us.
There are 10 long months until the election
and those that marched today know that if the Tories remain in power
that's the death knell of the public sector.
labmonkey181labmonkey181
The view in Parliament Square! @pplsassembly pic.twitter.com/plHuUWhHe2The view in Parliament Square! @pplsassembly pic.twitter.com/plHuUWhHe2
"Even the old bill were enjoying the atmosphere""Even the old bill were enjoying the atmosphere"
It was lovely to see so many families taking part, with the It was lovely to see so many families taking part, with the young and old marching together, and many people of different faiths and ethnicity joining in, helping to create a carnival atmosphere.
young and old marching together, and many people of different faiths Even the Old Bill were enjoying the atmosphere and the weather, with a few of them getting into the spirit, and chatting about the issues such as their shrinking pensions.
and ethnicity joining in, helping to create a carnival atmosphere.
Even
the Old Bill were enjoying the atmosphere and the weather, with a few
of them getting into the spirit, and chatting about the issues such as
their shrinking pensions.
I just hope that yesterday's peaceful march will encourage ten times as many people to take part in October.I just hope that yesterday's peaceful march will encourage ten times as many people to take part in October.
Stephen PorterStephen Porter
"This is people across the social spectrum""This is people across the social spectrum"
Russel Brand was one man at an event of thousands. He was one of a dozen Russel Brand was one man at an event of thousands. He was one of a dozen or more speakers.
or more speakers. This is not rent a mob. This is people across the social spectrum working in the public sector, private individuals who care about the services that the state provides, and standing up for all of us so that we might still have a decent education, a welfare state when we need it, and support when we are sick or elderly.
This is not rent a
mob. This is people across the social spectrum working in the public
sector, private individuals who care about the services that the state
provides, and standing up for all of us so that we might still have a
decent education, a welfare state when we need it, and support when we are
sick or elderly.
jimpsonjimpson
Whoop @pplsassembly pic.twitter.com/BVBKxqLFAYWhoop @pplsassembly pic.twitter.com/BVBKxqLFAY
"Two of the best speeches came from non-celebrities""Two of the best speeches came from non-celebrities"
Two of the best speeches came from non-celebrities campaigning in Two of the best speeches came from non-celebrities campaigning in communities: women from East London fighting for homes for families, and health care workers from Bassetlaw fighting cuts.
communities: women from East London fighting for homes for families, and It is that mix of local actions backing the inspiring ideas from people like Owen Jones and Caroline Lucas that make this movement more and more important and Labour sadly less and less relevant for the 21st century.
health care workers from Bassetlaw fighting cuts. A meeting I attended at which Owen Jones spoke was among the most inspiring and positive I have experienced in 30 years of political activity, sparking a wide range of actions by a very varied group of people. I think much more is going to come irrespective of national elections.
It is that mix of I tend to be sceptical about protest marches per se, but I have been impressed how an alternative coalition is developing in communities via the People's Assembly, not only to argue against the impacts of austerity policies and practices, but also to propose alternative measures. I follow online groups which disseminate much information about local actions but also global matters, raising awareness and solidarity.
local actions backing the inspiring ideas from people like Owen Jones I think this is forming an interesting counterpoint to the rise of UKIP from the opposite perspective with its rhetoric of ''the people's army.'' It seems the traditional mainstream parties are caught in those two headlights like rather perplexed rabbits. They also have far fewer government powers given the dominance of global capital, which movements like this are starting to challenge in, I think, some interesting and new ways despite some traditional approaches like coming together occasionally in public events and protests still being part of the mix. But without some visibility of course growth is difficult.
and Caroline Lucas that make this movement more and more important and I am also sceptical about conspiracy theories, but I was surprised that The Guardian seems to have been the only mainstream media to cover the event, despite it being well organised, peaceful, humorous and non-threatening, well received by crowds of shoppers in central London, and starting right outside the BBC to make that point about their coverage of protests compared to the volumes about UKIP. I have made a formal complaint to the BBC and may pursue that further.
Labour sadly less and less relevant for the 21st century.
A meeting I attended at which Owen Jones spoke was among the most
inspiring and positive I have experienced
in 30 years of political activity, sparking a wide range of actions by a
very varied group of people. I think much more is going to come
irrespective of national elections.
I tend to be sceptical about protest marches per se, but I have been
impressed how an alternative coalition is developing in communities via
the People's Assembly, not only to argue against the impacts of
austerity policies and practices, but also to propose
alternative measures. I follow online groups which disseminate
much information about local actions but also global matters, raising
awareness and solidarity.
I think this is forming an interesting counterpoint to the rise of
UKIP from the opposite perspective with its rhetoric of ''the people's
army.'' It seems the traditional mainstream parties are caught in those
two headlights like rather perplexed rabbits.
They also have far fewer government powers given the dominance of
global capital, which movements like this are starting to challenge in,
I think, some interesting and new ways despite some traditional
approaches like coming together occasionally in public
events and protests still being part of the mix. But without some
visibility of course growth is difficult.
I am also sceptical about conspiracy theories, but I was surprised
that The Guardian seems to have been the only mainstream media to cover
the event, despite it being well organised, peaceful, humorous and
non-threatening, well received by crowds of shoppers
in central London, and starting right outside the BBC to make that
point about their coverage of protests compared to the volumes about
UKIP. I have made a formal complaint to the BBC and may pursue that
further.
arteryartery