Socialist Students members on the Wales March for Homes, 17.10.2015, photo Becky Davis (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)
Sebastian Robyns-Landricombe, Cardiff Socialist Students
A major event in the Cardiff Housing Action campaign took place on 17 October: the ‘Wales March for Homes’. From 11.30, students and local organisers arrived outside city hall, setting up stalls, erecting banners and chatting to the press.
The march brought out well over double the numbers of the previous ‘Rent Rip Off’ march organised by Cardiff Socialist Students, and the enthusiasm made for an amazing atmosphere of solidarity.
The ‘March for Homes’ started with several speeches given by campaigners, including the head of National Union of Students (NUS) Wales and the NUS vice president for Welfare, Shelly Asquith, showing the gravity of student support behind the campaign. They joined other campaigners in highlighting the injustice of the housing situation, and the need for radical social and political change to reverse it.
After the rally, the march lined up and started towards the city centre. With the town rammed full of rugby supporters, we proceeded through the huge bustling crowds full of enthusiasm.
Chanting loudly “what do we want? Rent control!”, the message was clear, and well received by the many people who saw the march and heard the slogans.
Passers-by approached us with compliments and support. The eyes of all the rugby fans where fixed squarely on the large shouting block – some even joined in!
