After the ‘March for the Alternative’ in London on March 26th, thousands of people joined the TUC ‘Birmingham for the Alternative’ march on the Lib Dem conference on Sunday September 18th. There was a wide range of trade union participation, especially from public sector unions who recently announced a new wave of national strikes for November 30th. Student activists were also present, with a banner drop by the National Campaign against Fees and Cuts reminding conference delegates of Nick Clegg’s broken promises of opposing rises in tuition fees.
Plans for a third TUC demonstration, the Manchester ‘March for the Alternative’, are underway for the first day of the Conservative Party conference on October 2nd. Tens of thousands are expected to march past the conference centre and the ‘ring of steel’ around it, protesting against an agenda of cuts and austerity for the benefit of the rich. A coalition of anarchists, socialists, trade union activists, student unions and democracy campaigners, dubbed Occupy! Manchester, are also calling for an occupation of Albert Square, outside Manchester Town Hall, to create an assembly of protest on the doorstep of the Tory’s conference, and a place for real debate and discussion about the alternatives.
Plans for occupations and assemblies in Britain have been inspired by the large and vibrant student protests that took place last winter and by the popular demonstrations elsewhere. In New York, people’s assemblies were held on Wall Street on September 17th, the occupation there is on-going with a 24 hour camp in Liberty Plaza. a ‘March to Brussels’ has so far reached Paris. In London, another national student demonstration has been called for November 9th.
Links: Occupy Wall Street | Occupy Manchester | Occupy Glasgow
Comments
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New graphic
21.09.2011 21:37
Antigen
Action Concept online now
23.09.2011 19:38
Occupy! MCR
Homepage: occupymanchester.org
Warning to admin of Occupyglasgow
28.09.2011 22:01
Fred Goodwin
cheers freddie
29.09.2011 20:25
py
The occupation is happening now - Come and show support!
04.10.2011 22:16
The camp has permission from the council to be in the peace gardens for now. They hope that more activists will come and join them. Ideas about setting up workshops for the public and other activities that could have a positive influence are going round, input from new people would be welcome and appreciated.
Note that the site is an alcohol and drug free zone.
Please come and show your support.
Peace x
Michelle