Tens of thousands to take over London as part of huge anti-austerity demonstration: Here’s where the protests are planned

A major anti-austerity demonstration is expected to take over much of central London this Saturday (20 June). 

 

Organised by the People's Assembly Against Austerity, the protest will include anti-war factions, anti-racism and anti-fascism groups, and demonstration about housing and proposed changes to strike laws.

 

Demonstrations are expected to take place throughout the UK – according to the Facebook group as many as 71,000 people have said they will attend, though organisers claim there will be “100,0000s of people” [sic] – but much of the focus is expected to be in London. 

 

Coaches are being put on for people to travel into London from places as far away as Bangor or Barnsley to Wolverhampton and York. Organisers have also asked for volunteers to act as stewards to keep the demonstration peaceful. 

 

The numbers are expected to be so huge that demonstrations will be meeting at different points throughout the capital, though the main meeting point will be outside the Bank of England at 12pm. Protesters will then march to Parliament Square outside the Houses of Parliament. 

The People's Assembly Against Austerity – which organised the recent Queen's Speech protest – said:  “With the Tories going it alone in government we know exactly what to expect. More nasty, destructive cuts to the things ordinary people care about- the NHS, the welfare state, education and public services.

 

“We'll be assembling the demonstration in the heart of the City of London right on the doorstep of the very people who created the crisis in the first place, the banks and their friends in Westminster. We demand that the bankers and elite should pay for the crisis and not the vast majority who had nothing to do with it.

 

“Now is the time to get organising, to mobilise our communities, to prepare transport and spread the word. We need to do all that we can to make this demonstration bigger and bolder than ever we have done before.”

 

The group added: “This is potentially a weak government that can be defeated if we organise. Please do everything you can to maximise attendance at both these events.”