Pictures from the Peterloo Massacre memorial event

by Martin Odoni

Today is the anniversary of probably the most notorious date in the history of Manchester – 16th August 1819. On that day, St. Peter’s Field – St. Peter’s Square today – at the heart of the city became the site of a bloodbath, as the ruthless Yeomanry of the Hanoverian Prince Regent attacked a large but peaceful crowd of protesters, killing at least fifteen (probably far more than that, given there was no medical care available for anyone receiving injuries), and injuring hundreds more.

With grim humour, this act of state terror by Britain against its own citizens, an act the British Establishment would pompously condemn as “evil” if any other Government committed it, was given the gruesome label Peterloo, to reflect how many of the innocent protesters had recently served in the armed forces, suffering terrible hardships to protect their country during the Napoleonic Wars. What, the name was quietly asking, does it say about any country that treats its loyal defenders with such barbarity?

On Sunday, the closest weekend day to the anniversary, thousands of people gathered and marched in central Manchester to remember those who were murdered by their own masters that terrible day, and to demand the rehabilitation of what passes for ‘democracy’ in a modern Britain that has turned into a caricature of its 19th-century self thanks to forty years of neoliberal politics.

It was another exceptionally hot day, so it is something of a wonder that there was such a positive atmosphere. Here are some images from the day (many tanks to Andrea Faulkner for some of these); –

The Word Newspaper was one of the main organisers of the event

The crowds start to assemble early in Piccadilly Gardens

Me struggling to keep my eyes open in blazing sunlight as usual.

Or to put that more precisely, no help at all.

I was supposed to be one of the people carrying this banner. However, due to a cock-up in the timings, I had to nip to the station to escort a couple of the guests to Piccadilly Gardens, and then the start of the march was moved forwards, and so I got left behind. Oh well, it was probably a bit too hot for marching anyway.

From the march, I believe the photo was taken by Laura Pidcock.

At the end of the march around the city centre, the full rally on St. Peter’s Square itself. Early arrivals gather; –

The new leftist party, Breakthrough, were present for the rally.

Alan Davies and Stella Assange – wife of Julian – are among the speakers

My unparalleled skills as a photographer again on display for all to see, as I not only block a quarter of the photo with my finger but also manage to get nearly half of my head caught in shot as well.

Don’t tell me Jeremy Corbyn “doesn’t engage the electorate”. I’ve never seen another MP whom the electorate are so eager to meet. And yes, I did get to speak to him myself. Lovely fellow.

Jeremy Corbyn interviewed while Lizzie Fletcher of Unity News acts as a sort of ‘bodyguard’. Well, I would never dare take Lizzie on in a full-blown fist-fight, I can promise you that.

My colleague, Dan Mansfield of The Word Newspaper, battles to cope with the searing heat.

Andrea Faulkner hears that Keir Starmer is really unhappy about this event getting way more attendees than one of his ‘official announcements’

He reads it for the sports section, I understand.

Ken Loach delivered an excellent speech attacking Tories and the Labour centrists alike, and with good reason.

Probably the most poignant speech of the day was delivered by Stella Assange, whose husband Julian is under threat of life-endangering deportation to the USA.

Maxine Peake, who appeared in the 2019 dramatisation of Peterloo, was among the guests

Former MP, now chair of the People’s Assembly, Laura Pidcock, delivered one of the speeches from the Fire Engine.

Other events followed the rally, including a series of panel seminars at the Friends Meeting House on the other side of the Library.

At Friends Meeting House, and yes, that’s Jeremy Corbyn in the background again, with his wife Laura Alvarez

More awkwardly, Jeremy’s infamous conspiracy theorist brother, Piers, was also in the Meeting House, and worse, chose to sit directly in front of me and my companions. To be fair, they behaved okay here, but Piers’ own companions apparently caused some trouble elsewhere during the day.

Totoai Mativavarira, myself, and Clare Bickle, at Friends Meeting House, united against the neoliberal world. If you look closely at our foreheads, you will see we were actually all sweating buckets due to the heatwave, but that was never going to stop us taking part.

Cliff Jones, one of Merseyside’s most experienced left wing activists, delivers a seminar during the panel discussions.

Andrea Faulkner getting cunningly photobombed by one of her companions.

Caption, anyone?

Audrey White, star of videos-that-make-Keir-Starmer-look-a-total-wuss, delivered a powerful speech in St. Peter’s Square before also delivering a seminar on her history of law-changing activism.

Jeremy Corbyn’s seminar was on the necessity of re-nationalising public utilities to address the cost-of-living crisis.