Occupy and May Day in London, England

This video from London, England says about itself:

Russell Brand Speaking at Occupy Democracy

19 October 2014

Russell Brand speaking at Occupy Democracy in Parliament Square after the “Britain Needs A Pay Rise” Protest, 18th October 2014.

By Joana Ramiro in Britain:

Activists gear up for May Day protests

Tuesday 21st April 2015

Occupy Democracy targets Parliament Square

DEMOCRACY campaigners will seize Parliament Square on May Day for a week of direct action before the general election, protesters announced yesterday.

Occupy Democracy activists have vowed to “step up” their campaign in the run-up to May 7 by setting up a 10-day long “festival of democracy” in Westminster.

It will follow Leicester’s Jubilee Square occupation, Democracy A&E, which is also running until polling day. Occupy Democracy called for action beyond the ballot box.

“History shows us that the extension of our democratic rights has not been led by politicians, but has been forced onto the agenda by the actions of mass movements such as the Chartists and the Suffragettes,” the group said.

“We are asking people to join us and help build such a movement.” In Leicester, occupier Daniel Ashman said: “We have chosen Jubilee Square for this demonstration because it epitomises the priorities of the elite versus the needs of communities.

“We have launched Democracy A&E, a space for concerned local residents to discuss how to repair our broken democracy.”

According to campaigners, Leicester Council has spent £4 million on Jubilee Square while funding for day-care centres, homeless shelters and homes has been cut.

Fellow Occupy Democracy supporter Michaela Smith said: “Democracy is not a spectator sport — politicians do not build communities, people do.

“As we are in the run-up to the election, now is our time to reclaim this sterile public space as a forum to deliver our priorities to those who seek to represent us.”

The London action is set to commence during the capital’s May Day celebrations and will include a series of debates and workshops on some of the campaign’s key principles.

They will be joined on Parliament Square by Disabled People Against Cuts activists. Co-founder Linda Burnip explained her members will be “supporting the occupation of Parliament Square to highlight the current injustices we as well as others face.

“Disabled people see on a daily basis how corporate greed and corruption impacts negatively on our lives,” she said.

This video from England says about itself:

May Day March and Rally London 2014 Part 1 of 3

1 May 2014

May Day March and Rally London 2014. March from Clerkenwell to Trafalgar Square. Rally at Trafalgar Square – Thursday 1 May 2014.

The marchers arrive at Trafalgar Square. Huge crowd.

From the London May Day Organising Committee:

MAY DAY 2015

FRIDAY MAY 1ST

Assemble Clerkenwell Green 12.00

Rally at Trafalgar Square from 14.20

Speakers including:

PAUL NOWAK AGS TUC; MARY TURNER President GMB;
JOHN HILARY War on Want;
MATT WRACK GS FBU; CHRIS BAUGH AGS PCS
MIGRANT COMMUNITIES

Joint Chairs – Eve Turner GLATUC/Tony Lennon SERTUC

Celebrate May Day

fight austerity – fight TTIP – fight racism

TRADE UNION RIGHTS * HUMAN RIGHTS * INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY

AN ANTI-CUTS comedy show is set to tour north-east England in the run-up to the general election. The Accidental Activist, by playwright Ed Waugh, is “a reflection of the deep anger that runs in society as ordinary working people are having their living standards butchered while the rich are getting even richer,” said Newcastle-based stand-up comedian John Scott: here.

A PACKED Scottish TUC fringe hosted yesterday by the Trade Union Co-ordinating Group discussed how to fight austerity beyond the general election: here.