Tomorrow night sees the first Manchester People's Assembly that "aspires to bring together campaigns against cuts and privatisations with trade unionists in a movement for social justice".
The aim of the Assembly is to "develop a strategy for resistance to mobilise millions of people against the ConDem Government…A People's Assembly can play a key role in ensuring that this uncaring government faces a a movement of opposition broad enough and powerful enough to generate the conditions where successful co-ordinated action called by the unions, including strike action, is possible".
Basically, the idea is that Parliament, like local councils, is providing virtually no opposition to ConDem policies, so it has to be an extra Parliamentary movement that does it.
Speaking tomorrow night will be Mark Steel, known as a comedian but well serious on this issue; Owen Jones, columnist for The Independent and cred heavy for his book Chavs: The Demonisation of the Working Class; and Francesca Martinez, comedienne and War On Welfare campaigner. For those who want to have their say, there will also be an open mic.
The Assembly was launched with the backing of people like John Pilger, Ken Loach, Tony Benn and left leaning trade union leaders and MPs, plus a wide array of campaign leaders from organisations like Coalition of Resistance and War On Want.
The Assemblies are being held all over Britain, with a huge one planned for London on 22nd June.
Manchester People's Assembly
Tuesday May 21st from 5:30pm
Central Hall, Oldham Street, Manchester M1 1JQ
The event is free but people are being asked to register first – click here to register and for further details on The People's Assembly
Meanwhile, Salford Against The Bedroom Tax meetings continue this week with Little Hulton and Walkden happening at the same time as the Assembly - Tuesday May 21st 7:30pm in the New Albion, Manchester Road East, Little Hulton.
Thursday's meeting of Ordsall Against The Bedroom Tax has now been cancelled, as its leading light, George Tapp is in hospital following the blacklisting picket `hit and run horror' of last week (see here).
The Salford Star can confirm that Greater Manchester Police has finally identified the driver responsible… "The driver has been interviewed under caution. He has not been arrested. Enquiries are ongoing", the GMP stated this evening.
Saturday 1st June will also see another big anti Bedroom Tax Protest at Piccadilly Gardens Manchester