Defend Our May Day!

bath | protests | announcement Sunday April 24, 2011 18:13 by Matt Banning

Defend Our May Day!

As well as its roots in folk history and pagan festivity, ever since the struggles of the Haymarket Martyrs of Chicago in 1886, the May Day festival has long been a celebration of workers' power. Even though the rich and powerful would like us to believe that they have graciously handed us our every freedom, the truth is far different. Whether it's laws to protect people in their jobs, universal suffrage, equality, environmental protection, the welfare state or whatever limited democracy we still have, it's us – or those who have come before us – that have had to fight and win those rights, wrestling them one by one away from those would rule.

Now the Con-Dem coalition have announced plans to scrap the May Day bank holiday and relocate it to the autumn as 'Trafalgar Day'. Yet there are already far too many religious, military, rich or royal figures that we are forced to revere; May Day is one of the few days celebrating the achievements of ordinary people, and our self-styled leaders want to take it from us. It seems that in a time of united struggle against the cuts, and of re-emerging ideas of people power, this is a move to try and erase any memory the common people have of ever winning.

So, to defend our history, Bath Trades Council, the Bath Anti-Cuts Alliance and others will gather on Saturday the 30th April, from 11.30am, outside Marks & Spencers at the bottom of Stall Street. Why not join us with your friends, banners, placards and leaflets?

Remember: the powerful give nothing up willingly, and neither will we.

e-mail: bathagainstcuts[at]yahoo.co.uk

http://www.bathanticutsalliance.blogspot.com