Star date: 7th October 2013

THE DAILY MAIL HATES BRITAIN – AND SALFORD!

"The reason why I'm here burning the Daily Mail is simple - it's poison" Aslan AK

As the Daily Mail was burned by Salford rapper Aslan AK in St Ann's Square yesterday, well over one hundred people joined the almost spontaneous protest organised by Manchester People's Assembly, many carrying home made placards saying why `the Daily Mail hates me'

Amongst those present was Salford councillor John Warmisham, who told the Salford Star that he hates the paper for the way "it's vilified the Council, the people I represent, and the people I work with…"

Full details and more photos here…

Yesterday Manchester and Salford people hit back at both the Daily Mail's slurs against Ralph Miliband and its attitude towards British people… "The one thing we all have in common here is that the Daily Mail hates us" said a spokesperson from the Manchester People's Assembly, which organised the event.

Many people carried home made placards saying why `the Daily Mail hates me' – because `I'm an NHS doctor'… `I'm in a trade union'… `I work for the council'… `I'm a vegetarian'… `I'm an immigrant'… `I'm a striking teacher'… `We had a baby out of wedlock'…`I'm a socialist'…`I'm a woman'...

"It's not just about what the Daily Mail is writing, it's about a whole culture change that the Tories are trying to bring about" explained the People's Assembly spokesperson "All the benefit cuts that we've seen about so-called saving money…it's not about saving money, it's about creating a culture where you turn to the person next to you and you say `Are you on benefits? Are your claiming for disabilities? Well it must be your fault!'

"It's about creating a climate where we're looking at each other instead of looking up at the banks, looking up at the bosses, looking up at the people who think they run this country" she added "The People's Assembly is saying `Look to each other and say `What have I got in common with you?' The proudest thing we've all got in common here is that the Daily Mail hates us, and that's a bloody good thing…"

Salford councillor John Warmisham was amongst over a hundred people who attended the protest in St Ann's Square, Manchester, near the offices of the Daily Mail.

"I'm here because I despise the Daily Mail and its ilk" he told the Salford Star "The way the right wing media portrays Britain and ordinary working people is disgusting. I've lived in Salford all my life and I'm a proud Salfordian, and to see the way it's vilified - the Council, the people I represent and the people I work with…there's just no place for it. The way it described Ralph Miliband recently was unacceptable. I just felt that strongly that I had to be here today."

After many speakers had highlighted just why they hate the Daily Mail and why the Daily Mail hates them, the paper was set on fire by Aslan AK, frontman of Salford rap collective Class Actions, who have also released the top track Rip Up The Sun, in anger at that paper's coverage of the Hillsborough disaster (see previous Salford Star article – click here).

On stage, Aslan rips up The Sun as part of the Murdoch-denouncing song, but is now thinking of producing a new track and an addition to the stage act…

"The reason why I'm here burning the Daily Mail is simple, it's a vile racist rag" he said "My dad's from Turkey, my mum's from Barnsley, and the Mail has been pretty detrimental to both of them. I'm going to give the Daily Mail the same treatment as I give The Sun at my live show. It's poison. Dog shit."

Yesterday's The Daily Mail Hates Britain protest was mirrored in London, where a similar event took place. Campaigners are now putting pressure on companies like Tesco and the Co-op to withdraw advertising from the Mail.

See also Salford Star preview of the protest for more background – click here

* This article is ironically catalogued number 1984...