“I’m proud to support this demonstration. It makes a simple & crucial point: we cannot go on like this.”
Jeremy Corbyn MP
By the Labour Assembly Against Austerity Team
The demonstration called by the Peoples’ Assembly against Austerity on Saturday 26 June will bring together the whole of all those movements resisting the Tories in opposition to this disastrous Tory government.
Each day, support is flooding in from unions, campaigns and organisations, including Labour Left groups, all over the country who will all be there on the day.
We at the Labour Assembly Against Austerity are organising the Labour bloc on the day under the slogan Take the fight to the Tories – for socialist solutions (more information and sign up here), and this bloc has already received the support of dozens of groups and publications including the Campaign for Labour Party Democracy, Red Labour, Socialist Telly and Arise.
Those included in a press release from the Peoples Assembly explaining those movements supporting the demo include Jeremy Corbyn MP, on behalf of the Peace And Justice Project, who said “On behalf of the Peace and Justice Project, I’m proud to support this demonstration. It makes a simple and crucial point: we cannot go on like this. People deserve decent housing; properly funded schools, hospitals, and public services; fair pay and fulfilling work; and a liveable planet. The pandemic has exposed what happens when health services are run down and government services are outsourced and privatised – placing the interests of the wealthy before the public good. In its place we can, and we will, build a future that works for the many not the few.”
Extinction Rebellion have also added their support, saying “We are in a climate emergency. Without urgent, drastic action we’re heading for the collapse of our society. The end of everything as we know it. We must act now, and we must do so together. This government – and the billionaire press barons who pull their strings – want us divided, because when we’re divided, we’re weak. If we’re going to tackle the climate crisis, and if we’re going to build a fairer, more compassionate society – one that values truth, equality and kindness – we need to stand together. So, Extinction Rebellion will be there on Saturday 26th June, united with other movements to demand a New Normal, and on Sunday we hope you’ll join us oppose the lies, hate and corruption of the media as we free the press.”
Steve Turner of Unite the Union added, “Unite is proud to back the People’s Assembly national demonstration on Saturday 26 June. This year has exposed the growing inequality in our society, the failures of austerity politics and just how incompetent and corrupt this government is. But it’s also shown that when the political will is there, we can take the homeless off our streets, we can protect workers’ pay and we can look after the sick. We can’t have a return to business as usual after covid and that’s why Unite is encouraging all our members to get out on the streets and get involved in building a movement that demands a new normal, a society based on the needs of the majority.”
And the National Education Union said, “The Covid crisis has highlighted many faults and inequalities in our society, not least in education where we have seen all to clearly the impact of poverty on children, inadequate levels of funding and an unfair exam system. There will be competing visions about how we rebuild our society after the pandemic. The NEU stands for equality and social justice and we want to see transformative policies in education and elsewhere – there can be no going back to how things were. That’s why we are supporting the People’s Assembly demonstration on June 26th and encourage all NEU members and their families to join us.”
A spokesperson for Disabled People Against Cuts also expressed support, saying “The coronavirus pandemic has had a horrendous impact on disabled people’s lives, six out of ten deaths related to coronavirus were disabled people. The Coronavirus Act has been a way to violate disabled people’s human rights, placing a blanket do not resuscitate on thousands of disabled people’s medical records without their knowledge or consent. The Care Act easements have given local authorities a way to cut social care packages for disabled people at a time when they are needed the most. During the budget of 2021, Rishi Sunak ignored disabled people and refused to increase legacy benefits with the £20 a week uplift; the same level as universal credit. We demand A fully funded social care system free at the point of need. While the universal credit uplift of £20 per week should remain, we must continue to fight to stop and scrap universal credit and replace it with a fair and just social security system. Disabled people are saying enough is enough. Please support the national demonstration on the 26th of June, solidarity.”
To conclude, as Laura Pidcock, People’s Assembly National Secretary said, “This demonstration will be a coming together of the movement in opposition to the government. One united voice against the handling of the pandemic, against the plans they have to place restrictions on the right to protest in the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, we will be there to reject further austerity and NHS privatisation. We are there to say that there is a different way, it does not need to be like this. We want good quality jobs, we want a properly funded, fully publicly owned NHS, we want decent housing for all, we want and end to fire and rehire practices and we want massive investment in our communities. We are determined and united as a movement.”
Be there and get involved!
- Order leaflets and posters publicising the demonstration and give them out to your friends, family, workmates, etc. Email office@thepeoplesassembly.org.uk
- Get involved in a local People’s Assembly group – activity to help build the demo is being organised through groups across the country
- Put the model motion through your trade union branch, CLP, or any other campaign group you’re involved with
- Invite your friends and share the event on social media
