March for the Alternative
by Baron Halpenny, LincsMag Editor-in-Chief.
Date: 01 April 2011
Literally hundreds of thousands of protesters from around the country converged on the capitol city to demonstrate on mass against the unpopular government cuts that are affecting peoples lives and seeing thousands become unemployed.
This was not some Middle East country though, but London in the United Kingdom.
The demonstration that was called a “March for the Alternative”, was organised by the Trades Union Congress (TUC), and was overall peaceful and well-stewarded event that brought central London to a standstill.
Speaking at a press briefing on Tuesday 22 March at New Scotland Yard, jointly held by the TUC, Metropolitan Police and Liberty, the TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: “We know of more than 600 coaches and at least nine special trains. Thousands will come by public transport, and one person is walking from Cardiff.”
Biggest In Two Decades
It seemed though that the trade unions were a little taken aback by how many people had come onto the streets to show their disapproval at the government cuts. The organisers have claimed that up to 500,000 people had taken part and that figure certainly seemed possible to anyone witnessing the size and scale of the “March for the Alternative”. It is the biggest union organised event seen in the country for more than two decades.
However, there have been a number of separate incidents including the throwing of missiles in the Oxford Street area and criminal damage in Shaftesbury Avenue.
A group of approximately 500 anarchists and anti-capitalists, which Metropolitan Police Commander Bob Broadhurst called “criminals”, operated away from the main demonstration and caused the police a few headaches by “committing some disorder, including throwing paint at Top Shop in Oxford Street and at the police, and scaring the public who are trying to shop.” HSBC bank had their windows smashed by activists and paint and glass bottles were thrown at a branch of the Royal Bank of Scotland.
Fortnum & Mason
Sally Mason, a Uk Uncut supporter from Manchester who was one of a group that occupied Fortnum & Mason said, “We weren’t just going to march from A to B and be ignored, people are prepared to take civil disobedient action because they are angry at the unfairness of these cuts.”
“We are not all in this together - the government, big business such as ABF, banking sector and the wealthy who shop here are in it together and are choosing to make everyone else pay the price for the banks greed and reckless gambling. The government is making a political choice to turn a blind eye to the tax dodging of big business and reward the banks mistakes with the bail out and bonuses and instead cut child, housing and disability benefits as well as decimating the Welfare State.” And she added
“Civil disobedience has a long tradition of driving forward progressive change and we are here to send a powerful message that we are angry at the government’s choice to protect the rich and punish the poorest and most vulnerable people in our society. It’s society that’s too big to fail, not the broken banking sector. There is an alternative through clamping down on tax avoidance and making the banks pay for their crisis, the government is just choosing to ignore it and that is not fair or right.”
The group targeted Fortnum & Mason over what they claim is the tax dodge of over 40 million by its owners Whittington Investments which have a 54% stake in Associated British Foods who produce Ryvita, Kingsmill and others and own Primark.
Arrests
Throughout the day there were a total of 214 arrests, which ranged from a variety of offences such as criminal damage, aggravated trespass, violent disorder and public order offences. Those arrested were taken into custody at various London police stations.
The Metropolitan Police say that in total there were 84 reported injuries over the course of the day, including 31 police officers.
The Big Society verses the Government
Invariably, this is something that is not going to go away for the government; in fact this very likely is the beginning of a long battle that will still be with us for many months to come, especially when you realise that these austerity measures by the government have only just begun to be felt.
The trade unions have just given with this demonstration a very clear and powerful “shot across the bows”, to the government that is impossible to ignore.
The march comes three days after the Budget, in which the Chancellor, George Osborne, refused to change his strategy for cutting the deficit, saying: “We have a plan and we’re sticking to it.”
However, was this plan to involve more Military action in another country? Money that has been wasted that would have otherwise been better spent fighting crime in our own country, as well as providing services where they are really needed most.
Double Standards
Foreign Office Minister Alistair Burt condemned the latest violence in Syria, but noted that one of President Bashar Assad's advisers had said that the government was looking for political reform.
“I call on the Syrian government to implement these proposals without delay and to engage peacefully on the legitimate demands of the Syrian people, who will be looking for action to back up such statements,” he said.
What about the legitimate demands of the British people? What about their demand to stop these senseless cuts to our vital services? What about the referendum they demand (and were promised) on Europe? Welcome to the hypocritical government of David Cameron who preaches to others around the world, “do as I say, but not as I do!”
Is it time for a regime change in this country?
