Yorkshire meeting in solidarity with the Jobstown Not Guilty campaign

photo Iain Dalton

photo Iain Dalton   (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)

Matthew Hirst, Huddersfield Socialist Party

On 4 May people from across Yorkshire came together for a regional meeting to discuss the background of the Jobstown trial and the impact that the verdicts could have, on Ireland and beyond. Governments across the globe are looking for any ways to subdue and silence the 99% as they continue to implement austerity cuts.

Pat Lawlor, Socialist Party Ireland member, gave a fantastic speech on the conditions that face Jobstown families (61% of families in the area are classed as low paid and struggling to make ends meet), and the implementation of the water charges.

The struggle against them was akin to the imposition of the Poll Tax, with Gardai (police) accompanying water meter installers to essentially force families to let the meters be installed. He also spoke of how then deputy prime minister Joan Burton‘s government was imposing cut after cut, mainly aimed at low income families.

The meeting then opened to the floor, with questions and debates on the current trial, how the effects could have widespread consequences on the right to protest, and whether Joan Burton was actually “scared for her life” as 50 Gardai were protecting her from a peaceful sit-down protest!

Overall, people at the meeting came out feeling inspired to take up the mantle to fight for our right to protest, and a collection raised over £200.