Demonstration to commemorate disabled people ‘killed by cuts’ shuts Westminster Bridge
It is clear that, while the media may be desperate to tell you everyone outside the Labour Party hates Jeremy Corbyn, the disabled certainly do not.
They were shouting “No more benefit deaths”* as they launched their sit-down protest that closed Westminster Bridge for three hours.
The reason? Organisers Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC), in their press release, stated: “Since 2010 deaf and disabled people have been targeted for cuts and seen hard won rights and freedoms taken away – and as a result, the UK is now the first country to be investigated by the UN for grave and systematic violation of disabled people’s rights.
“Through all this, while much of Labour was competing with the Tories on who could be the toughest on welfare, Jeremy [Corbyn] and John [McDonnell] stood with disabled people and opposed the cuts.”
One person who has not stood with the disabled is Labour leadership contender Owen Smith, who refused to support calls for Labour to pledge an end to the Work Capability Assessment in the run-up to the 2015 general election. Something for Labour members to remember when casting their votes in the leadership election?
Meanwhile, the Work Capability Assessment is still erroneously finding people with severe disabilities fit for work and the death toll is mounting.
Disabled activists … shut down a major London bridge – in a sit-down protest at the people they say have been killed by Tory cuts.
Dozens of demonstrators … brought traffic to a standstill on Westminster Bridge – near the Houses of Parliament – for several hours.
They [were] clutching heartrending banners showing the names and pictures of those they claim have died as a direct result of welfare reforms.
The protest appears to have been timed to coincide with the launch of the Rio Paralympics 2016 opening ceremony in Brazil … although that may be coincidence.
*The Mirror report would have us believe they were shouting “There’s only one Jeremy Corbyn” but Paula Peters, a friend of This Blog who was present, has assured me this is not true. Now, why would a paper with a profound anti-Corbyn preference want to print a falsehood like that?
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It’s surprising the Cavalry have not been deployed to cut these dangerous trouble makers down, O sorry they are in Westminster, not Salford.
“Disabled activists … shut down a major London bridge – in a sit-down protest at the people they say have been killed by Tory cuts.”
You’d think even the Mirror could tell the difference between a protest AT the people killed by cuts and one supporting a group against the cuts that killed them.
Paula Peters who is a member of DPAC that organised the demonstration has said the following :-
#CutsKill
I want to put the record straight here re yesterday Westminster Road Block on 7th September 2016.
The protest was titled Cuts Kill, No More Benefit Deaths, we highlighted the appalling number of deaths due to the pernicious poicies of the Tory Government, due to the WCA, Sanctions and lack of support in the community. We were also highlighting the fact that many people are affected by austerity and suffering greatly as a result. This was part of the DPAC week of action #RightsNotGames.
There are many reports that we all shouted out There is Only one Jeremy Corbyn. That is complete nonsense. We did not shout that out. What we shouted out was No More Deaths from benefit cuts and cuts kill and the only politicans name we mentioned was Theresa May. We want that UNCRPD report published and we want the cuts reversed and the attacks on us to stop.
Second. There was a rumour yesterday afternoon that Gaz and Penny were released yesterday afternoon and without charge. Correction: Gaz and Penny were not released until 8.45 last night. I know that for a fact as I was outside Charing Cross police station waiting for them. Along with Mary Ellen, Sue, Drew and earlier Martin T, Akira, Andy, ellen and Vicki.
Both of them were released on bail until 18th November as i stated on my post last night, and the police are looking at video footage to see if there is a case to bring against them.
I would like to stress, that both Gaz and Penny are personal assistants to disabled people the police were told they were PAs doing their role to support disabled people who were taking part in the protest the police arrested them anyway.
People are saying all sorts about yesterday protest when they were not even there and writing stuff that is not correct.
You want the true facts speak to people on were on that bridge yesterday and get the facts don’t go around making stuff up
if anyone has written a blog please remove it and amend it and to the mirror and daily mail get your facts right
I was there. Nobody was shouting ‘There is only one Jeremy Corbyn’. Nobody at all. At any time. This was an action in memory of some of the people who have died as a direct result of Government Cuts. I imagine many of the people there do support Jeremy Corbyn because of his long term support of the disabled and consistent voting against the Tory welfare cuts regime, but nobody would think it appropriate for such a solemn occasion to be turned into a party political action.
The outright lie that people were chanting ‘There is only one Jeremy Corbyn’ is highlighted at the very top of the daily mirror article about the demo. Despite several of us that were there commenting that this didn’t happen, they have not removed it. One has to wonder why (not)
Interesting, that, isn’t it?
This article only mentioned it because it was in the Mirror piece and we all expect a newspaper to be factually accurate, at least on something as readily-verifiable as this, right?
So one is led inexorably to the conclusion that somebody at that paper, which has a very clear anti-Corbyn leaning, wanted him associated with this event.
Why?