Five things we learned from London’s anti-austerity march

National Demonstration Against Austerity — From Athens to Andalucia, growing numbers of Europeans are taking a stand against austerity. Here’s what we learned from the hundreds of thousands who took to the streets on Saturday to protest the new UK government’s policy of cuts and privatisations.

“It’s a very basic thing that we’re protesting. We need to start thinking about people, not companies. It’s a basic gesture against neoliberalism, in its simplest form,” said Christian, 23, a student at the demonstration on Saturday 20 June.

This sentiment was echoed among participants young and old. A distinct feeling of unfairness reigned – It’s unfair that people struggle to feed themselves while companies continue to avoid tax (Dan, 32), unfair that the Tories have one rule for them and one rule for the rest of us (Susan, 63), unfair that money is pouring out of public services and into shareholders’ pockets (Carrie, 25).

While the government maintains that austerity is necessary to cut the country’s deficit and George Osborne plans another £25 billion of cuts – including a £12 billion cutback on social security – the people have taken a stand and made their voice heard.

Tens of thousands marched from the Bank of England to Parliament Square to protest the proposed cuts and other controversial policies, such as TTIP, health service privatisation and the cut price sell-off of bailed out banks. Here are some of the things that came out of Saturday’s demonstration, and the action that lies ahead.

The people engaged en masse

The People’s Assembly, which organised the demonstration, estimated that up to 250,000 people from all over the country attended the march in what was anticipated to be the biggest anti-austerity protest of the year. Though according to the BBC, “the Met Police have not estimated how many people were there,” this wildly eclipses the original expectation of around 70,000 participants. Among the attendees were many familiar faces, including Russell Brand, Owen Jones, Charlotte Church, Green MP Caroline Lucas and aspiring Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.

Austerity affects all sections of society

A remarkable element of the demonstration was the diversity of the participants and of the issues represented. Ranging across age, gender, nationality and background, the demonstrators that turned up were many and varied.

Although austerity was the main focus of the demo, a huge number of groups attended the protest, campaigning for different issues – a testament to the reach of austerity measures into all sectors of society. Issues raised included fracking, immigration policies, student fees, welfare cuts, homelessness, the NHS and trident.

Democracy is not a one day event

Despite the taunts and sneers flung at protesters and political activists, it’s ludicrous to suggest that because the Conservatives were “voted in” (by just a quarter of eligible voters, but let’s not digress), the next five years are to be spent in meek silence. Democracy isn’t a one-day event where people turn up to vote and let the experts decide from then on. A fundamental aspect of democracy is that politicians are held to account and challenged, and the people have a right to voice their concerns – a right they exercised in great numbers on Saturday.

Peaceful protest is the word of the day

The extensive presence of the Metropolitan Police suggested a revolt was about to break out, but the event was all but entirely peaceful. A handful of bonfires were made with placards and some smoke bombs were set off, but there have been no reports yet of any serious violence. This bodes well for the legitimacy of the movement.  Meanwhile, there were reports of a Metropolitan Police crackdown on activists previously linked to direct action protests ahead of the demonstration.

Concrete action must follow

Although the demonstration was in many ways a success it’s not the end of the road. Many of those who spoke at the rally in Parliament Square emphasised the need to push forward the momentum that has been reached rather than let it stagnate and disperse. Concrete action needs to be taken, opposition needs to be organised and the political effort directed if any real change is to be achieved. It’s to be seen if the People’s Assembly can organise the factions as well in the future as it did in this demo.

Enjoyed this article? Like Huck on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.


Ad

Latest on Huck

A punk rock band performing on stage, with a female lead singer belting into a microphone. Behind them, a colourful mural with graffiti-style text.
Music

Meet the hair-raised radical women of Berlin’s noise punk scene

Powertool — In his new zine, George Nebieridze captures moments of loud rage and quiet intimacy within the German capital’s female-only bands, while exploring the intersections between music, community and anti-establishment politics.

Written by: Miss Rosen

Group of people dancing at a live music performance, with a large "Spaces Beats" sign in the background.
Music

Amid tensions in Eastern Europe, young Latvians are reviving their country’s folk rhythms

Spaces Between the Beats — The Baltic nation’s ancient melodies have long been a symbol of resistance, but as Russia’s war with Ukraine rages on, new generations of singers and dancers are taking them to the mainstream.

Written by: Jack Styler

A person's face surrounded by colourful flowers. The flowers include orange, red, and yellow dahlias, as well as smaller yellow blooms. The person's expression is serious.
Music

Uwade: “I was determined to transcend popular opinion”

What Made Me — In this series, we ask artists and rebels about the about the forces and experiences that shaped who they are. Today, it’s Nigerian-born, South Carolina-raised indie-soul singer Uwade.

Written by: Uwade

Taxidermy alligator with a small monkey sitting on its head, displayed on a wooden shelf with other items.
Culture

Inside the obscured, closeted habitats of Britain’s exotic pets

“I have a few animals...” — For his new series, photographer Jonty Clark went behind closed doors to meet rare animal owners, finding ethical grey areas and close bonds.

Written by: Hannah Bentley

Muscular man with arms crossed in a dark setting, 'Hard Feelings' text overlay.
Sport

Frazer Clarke: “I had a hole in my leg, I’m very lucky to be alive”

Hard Feelings — For our interview column on masculinity and fatherhood, the Olympic boxing medallist speaks to Robert Kazandjian about hard graft, the fear and triumph of his first fight, and returning to the ring after being stabbed on a night out.

Written by: Robert Kazandjian

Close-up view of a woman in a vintage pose, with flowing hair and an outstretched hand, set against a hazy, scenic background.
© Peter Palladino, courtesy of the Peter Palladino Archive.
Culture

Remembering Holly Woodlawn, Andy Warhol muse and trans trailblazer

Love You Madly — A new book explores the actress’s rollercoaster life and story, who helped inspire Lou Reed’s ‘Walk on the Wild Side’.

Written by: Miss Rosen

Signup to our newsletter

Sign up to our newsletter to informed with the cutting edge of sport, music and counterculture, featuring personal takes on the state of media and pop culture from Emma Garland, former Digital Editor of Huck, exclusive interviews, recommendations and more.

Please wait...

Accessibility Settings

Text

Applies the Open Dyslexic font, designed to improve readability for individuals with dyslexia.

Applies a more readable font throughout the website, improving readability.

Underlines links throughout the website, making them easier to distinguish.

Adjusts the font size for improved readability.

Visuals

Reduces animations and disables autoplaying videos across the website, reducing distractions and improving focus.

Reduces the colour saturation throughout the website to create a more soothing visual experience.

Increases the contrast of elements on the website, making text and interface elements easier to distinguish.