Tens of thousands of people gathered last Saturday to defend the NHS on the 70th anniversary.
There were banners against austerity, demands for free care for all and trade union representation across the board.
Stand Up To Racism had a bloc on the demonstration named ‘migrants make the NHS’. In the hostile environment which Theresa May has created it’s important to recognise the huge contribution made by migration to British culture and the economy.
The right wing press regularly label migrants as a burden however, the opposite is true. During the post-war years migrants from across the common wealth came to Britain and transformed it’s landscape. We organised this bloc to recognise their contribution and resist the current attacks.
On the bloc there were chants which said:
Passport checks – no way
Migrant doctors – here to stay
and
Migrants made the NHS
Whoever wants treatment – we say YES!
Weyman Bennett, Joint Secretary of SUTR spoke from the stage saying:
We want a society where we can all live together…regardless of where we come from.
Video: Weyman Bennett from @AntiRacismDay on today’s #OURNHS70 #NHS70March calls for protests against #Trump on 13 July and #TommyRobinson and the far right on 14 July Sign the unity statement https://t.co/TfcfOsAG1d… pic.twitter.com/uxXW5tEXt1
— Stand Up To Racism (@AntiRacismDay) 30 June 2018
Next demonstrations:
Friday 13 July – National demonstration against Trump here.
Saturday 14 July – Oppose the Tommy Robinson supporters here.