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Anti "Austerity" Demo in Cambridge.

Cameraboy | 02.06.2015 01:43 | Public sector cuts | Social Struggles | Workers' Movements | Cambridge | World

Last Saturday (May 30th) about 200 local residents marched through the streets of Cambridge united in one goal: an end to "Austerity" politics.

Coalition of the Willing, in the Market Square, Cambridge.
Coalition of the Willing, in the Market Square, Cambridge.

Marching up Sidney Street...
Marching up Sidney Street...

Heading up Trinity Street...
Heading up Trinity Street...

Moving past Trinity College.
Moving past Trinity College.

Speakers against SATS for 4 year olds.
Speakers against SATS for 4 year olds.

Peoples' Assembly, who initially called the demo.
Peoples' Assembly, who initially called the demo.

The Green Party were there (in stealth?)!
The Green Party were there (in stealth?)!

All Pain, No Gain.
All Pain, No Gain.

Banker Bashing (and proud of it)!
Banker Bashing (and proud of it)!

A Socialist Manifesto..?
A Socialist Manifesto..?

Prison Reading Room...
Prison Reading Room...

In Unison #1
In Unison #1

In Unison #2 The message crystal clear.
In Unison #2 The message crystal clear.


Gathered together were people from many backgrounds and beliefs, including Unite the Union, SWP, Anarchists, university students, but also doctors, teachers, social workers, cleaners - you name it, they were there.

I could talk about the content of the speakers' speeches, but in this context it seems that there is something far more significant going on here, something I have not seen happening before.

As well as this being a demonstration against the so-called "austerity" imposed from on high by those who already have too much of the pie, this was something else, something new.

Three weeks after one coalition was stabbed in the back by the cynical, Machiavellian manoevering of the Tories, they have left a whole country with nothing to lose and everything to gain, wincing in the glare of the cold light of what they have in mind for all of us, as hinted at in the latest Queen's Speech.

We have a new coalition emerging, but it isn't happening in Westminster Palace or in the corridors of Whitehall behind closed doors, it is happening in a town near you and YOU can be a part of it, because people are coming together to fight a common enemy, a common cause, a greater good.

What we now have is the beginning of an uprising.

To reappropiate the (somewhat gung ho) words of a former President:
"You're either with Us or against Us."

The gloves are off now and we have everything to fight for.

See You on the streets.

Cameraboy

Comments

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People's reaction

02.06.2015 07:28

200 people turned out compared to a population of 124,000 (including 25,000 students who we would expect to be supportive).

Why do you think the support was so low ?

Very surprised

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No failure, the start of a new world

02.06.2015 09:53

Not sure why you think 200 people is a failure, it was a fantastic turnout and a clear message to the Tories that just because they now have a majority on Parliment they should not think they have very long in power. I see a massive rise in working class GB right now with a people's revolution probably closer than it has been for two generations. The Labour party was rejected by the British people because it has moved away from its Trade Union and Socialist roots to be Tory light when in fact as we saw in Scotland what the people want is Socialism.

In my opinion this march is only the begining with groups rising up all over this country and saying "No' to the Tory cuts and rejecting Capitalism in all its forms. The people are on the rise and the day of revolution is close, a lot closer than many realise.

Cambridge Socialist

All well and good

02.06.2015 10:44


But banners, placards and a stroll mean shit in the face of the relentless attack on the poor by the rich scum, however the good intention may be
.
We need to Disrupt, Strike, Occupy with firm resolve if we're taking this at all seriously. Lives are depending on it.

Strike One

Amen to that!

02.06.2015 19:27

You'll get no objections from me Strike One.

Movements always take a while to gather momentum and organise themselves, so my gut feeling is that what you want is on the way in the not too distant future.

As is the way of these things it will probably start to happen when we least expect it, so be ready for when it does.

Cameraboy

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@Strike one

03.06.2015 15:19

OK so people strike, what comes next ?

T

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@T

03.06.2015 15:36

We Organise. Occupy the workplaces. WE call the shots.

Strike One

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@ Strike One

03.06.2015 15:37

OK so what then ?

T

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For Strike One

03.06.2015 15:42

What happens when the factories you have occupied produce goods that nobody wants anymore, will people be laid off or fired ? Who will make that decision and why ?

What will you do about those factories where the workers are not interested in running them, what if they like their bosses, will they be compelled to occupy them, what happens if they refuse, will the occupation be enforced and who by ?

Anne

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The workers will prevail

03.06.2015 15:52

Your comments are childish and irrelevant (who on earth likes their boss !!! )

The workers will do what needs to be done and if there are elements that refuse then yes we may need to establish a people's militia to ensure the collective good is maintained, that is just common sense !

Strike One

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Fucking Militia A

03.06.2015 21:51

"The greater good!"

"The greater good!"

Hot Fuzz

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@strike one

04.06.2015 04:24

Let me guess you see yourself and your mates as being the leaders of this people's militia making the decisions for the rest of us and deciding what is the "greater good" ?

I would suggest a little less time on the internet making posters and a little more time spent reading about Anarchism.

Wolfie Smith

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Leadership and Anarchism

04.06.2015 09:07

There is an obvious role for a Vanguard leadership within Anarchism because without leadership the people are unable to move forward. It may well be me who is at the forefront of that leadership as I have skills and abilities that make that viable but it could equally be others if they can prove their credentials.

The weakness of Anarchism and by extraction anarchists is it and their inability to recognize the need for leadership at times in human development.

Strike One

capitalism is crap, lets get rid of it!

04.06.2015 23:14

its good, but we need to be more radical.
lets get rid of capitalism, a crap system.

d-real

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replace it with what?

14.06.2015 20:04

your system? What if i dont like it?

dave

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not fair

20.06.2015 13:54

People who get up early and go to work, have to give money to people who dont work.

Not fair

i want to spend my money on things i want

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