The thieving Tory bastards have made this personal attack on us all. We are the 99%. They are the 1%. The Liberal Democrats know they are facing, as a good friend of mine described it, “political armageddon”. There’s now no distinction between these two forces of darkness. They have cynically manipulated the democratic process with bare-faced pre-election lies about protecting the National Health Service. Now they’ve signed its death warrant.
This treason will never be forgotten. This heinous crime against the most precious achievement of our civil society is far, far worse than a mere breach of the social contact between state and people. It is a direct attack by the rich against the poor, an ambush against our community spirit and a low point in British political history.
From here on in the ordinary rules of political combat have changed. The MPs who voted for the bill must be challenged every waking moment of their day. Everywhere they go, wherever they live, whatever they do. Politics is no longer polite or respectful, they have made that true. The gloves are coming off.
If you feel even half as angry about this as I do, this is the time to work out what you can do to assist the campaign of mass civil disobedience now beginning. If you can’t be involved personally as much as those of us who intend to occupy the London Stock Exchange on Saturday 15th October (see info below), please consider what else you can do. Remember, this revolution is not being televised.
Be creative, be peaceful, be persistent. Jam their phone lines, decline to cooperate wherever possible, donate cash and goods to the occupation camps.
I had been really looking forward to celebrating David Ingledew’s 60th birthday on Saturday and am gutted to miss it. My wife will go. She does plenty for the NHS already – she’s one of their doctors. One of our doctors! I’ll be heading to London with a sleeping bag, a tent, some solar power, some video cameras and an internet connection. I’ll be staying until necessary and if that means choking up the prison system, so be it. As Nye Bevan famously said, the NHS will only survive for as long as people are prepared to fight for it.
If you can’t be spared for this level of involvement, please do whatever you can to help those who can. There’s also plenty you can do on the home front. Follow the activists online to find out where this movement is going and what you can do to help. Doing something every day, even if it is just a telephone call in protest.
If you want to join us in London on Saturday, here’s how:
Occupy the London Stock Exchange
15th October
12pm
St Paul’s Cathedral
The words ‘corporate greed’ ring through the speeches and banners of protests across the globe. After huge bail-outs and in the face of unemployment, privatisation and austerity we still see profits for the rich on the increase. But we are the 99%, and on October 15th our voice unites across gender and race, across borders and continents as we call for equality and justice for all.
In London we will occupy the stock exchange. Reclaiming space in the face of the financial system and using it to voice ideas for how we can work towards a better future. A future free from austerity, growing inequality, unemployment, tax injustice and a political elite who ignores its citizens, and work towards concrete demands to be met.
Assemble in front of St Pauls Cathedral at Midday – please try to be on time and not early or late. When you are there be ready and attentive. Make sure to follow @OccupyLSX on twitter for updates on the day.
Try to come with a friend or group of friends. If you are thinking of staying for a while bring plenty of food and water, wrap up warm and you may want to bring tents and a sleeping bag.
Bring your energy and excitement, and be ready to create a better world!
If you have any questions or comments, please get in touch
Email: general@occupylsx.org
Twitter: @OccupyLSX
Website: occupylsx.org
This is not a party political affair…