Anger at austerity measures on the rise

Protest across Europe

Yesterday, marches took place across Europe in protest at government cuts to public spending.

In Brussels more than fifty thousand gathered to show their discontent at increasing levels of austerity, and privatisation.

Strikes in Spain yesterday saw most of its car industry crippled.

There were als0 protests in Latvia, and Germany

Here in the UK hundreds of people marched in Sussex – Brighton, Hove, Hastings, Worthing, and Lewes – to coincide with a meeting of European Finance Ministers in Brussels.

Alex Knutsen, Brighton and Hove Unison branch secretary, who organised proceedings which began in the early morning, said “We were busy, despite the weather and had a lot of people giving their opinions – not always in support of us.

“Our aim is to educate people about how serious these cuts could be, affecting front-line services they use every day.

“These cuts are avoidable and we want Government to listen to that message.”

A group of pensioners who were marching held placards reading “Billions for bankers, peanuts for pensioners”

A demonstration is to take place in protest at austerity measures outside Downing Street on October the 20th with keynote speakers including Tony Benn, Jeremy Dear (NUJ), Lee Jasper (BARAC), and John McDonnell MP.

The Coalition of Resistance http://www.coalitionofresistance.org.uk/ a non partisan campaign aims to unite individuals and organisations with the objective of opposing what some see as the dismantling of the welfare state.  They will be organising meetings, conferences, lobbies, rallies, marches, demonstrations and other events.

Read the founding statement of the Coalition of resistance written by Tony Benn and signed and supported by many others here.

Sign the online statement here.

Richard Sudan