ON MANY occasions last week, the eastern leg of the People's march from Sheffield to Nottingham took the form of a triumphal procession of working class solidarity.
to town, but everywhere the warmth of the welcome was the same. In Chesterfield, 3,000 local people joined the march.
In the mining village of Hucknal. macher wee billeted with local people. heir warmth and generosity made for many emotional farewells the next day.
Aim So far the march has achieved its stated aim of stirring the conscience of the 'people'. But it has already done more than that. It has given vent to all pent-up hatred the working class feels for this Tory government.
But instead of going on Irom inis to oller some practical steps workers should take in the tight against unemployment, the Communist Partv the main organisers of the march has fought keep 'politics' off the march.
One little incident sums it up. As we were marching intó Nottingham, an eldershouted: When 'you ge union SOGAT may take action over the lack of reporting of the People's March by the national press.
next week the coverage sider calling action to secure the right of reply or to halt newspaper distribution.
disappeared down a hole on leaving Liverpool.
London itinerary Thursday 28 May, noon, Brent Black People's March TOr TODS.
main march al 2pm at Wembley trading estate. 3pm rally with Benn al Brent lown Friday 29 May, Ser off 9.30am arrive Southall town hall at 2pm and community centre 2.30pm.
Saturday May, The Clash.
ner noon. The size of the reception varied from town down there kick the bastards out!
The marchers cheered back. But added: 'Quick, calla steward She's breaking march discipline!' joke, Dul not a funny one.
Throughout the march the stewards had been attempting to stop the marchers ralsing anti-Tory Slogans The back-up truck kept blasting out Radio One to drown any chanting. Anti-Tory stickers and badges were forcibly removed. Chant At one boint we were informed that it was okay to chant 'Maggie Out' - a non-political chant, were but that "Tories Out' was banned.
Despite promises regular march meetings and our ettorts to initiate them, there has been no democracy on the march, THE Central London branch of the print If by the time it arrives in London at the end of is no better, George Willoughby, who is a full-time official, will conTo judge by the national papers, the march 2pm-7pm, Carnival against Brockwell Park Brixton tube Herne Hill BR). With Pete Townsend and The Who, and Sunday 31 May, demonstrale for jobs. Hyde Park Cort THE no open debate, no election OI stewards. sections of the march have inevitably become a little demoralised and cynical.
While the march has acnuevea manaucen response in all the areas it passeu Inlough. full potential for mobilisworkers benina it lr the fight against ployment and the Tory has barely been scratched Many banners have lined up behind the march as entered the NUM branches have a host of ollous, as have AUEW, UCATT, ,host others CPSA.
But mostly the banners have only been followed small groups of union officials.
There has been no consistent | attempts _to gel large contingents of union members marching by calling for strike action as the march passes through.
In many, cases cases, the even made an attempt to conLaCI workers WIO had already decided to out to greet the march. We simply walked by, , waving. There was no discussion no political contact. Route In a Nottingham pub atter the dav's march we talk evoro Pr. He expalined a local tex tile worker. that the march had generated enormous interest workmates.
They had eventually decid LOlaKe work to meet us.
Unfortunately, although they were massed at their factory gate only a couple of hundred yards the route of the march. thev didn't recerve a single leaflet explaining what was happening.
Interest turned into confusion cynicism. This has been the story on far too many occasions.
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Did the march fall down a hole?