More stories of action for economic justice – singing, striking, sewing – from history and today.
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Women taking up roles in the workplace which were emptied of men as World War One began, soon showed conflict was not confined to the front line. One group of Cumbrian textile workers making khaki uniforms made sure the fight for their rights got national attention when they went on strike for better pay. See this 7 minute film.
With thanks to Whitehaven Archives and the BBC.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p02b0l5z
A local campaign brought together activists, residents and officials on the Council. The campaign provided a chance for people to tell the Council what the bus services meant to them and how they could be improved, and helped to bring about additional bus services and improved timetables.
With thanks to Sue Bond and Jack Madden.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppkpGAieiRg
Changing the world through creativity. Using crafts – sewing or making things by hand, to try and achieve political or social change. A form of ‘gentle protest’. You can hear one of Craftivism’s most well known practitioners, Sarah Corbett on BBC Radio 4’s Four Thought.
With thanks to Sarah Corbett and the BBC
https://craftivist-collective.com/blog/2020/11/bbc-radio-4-four-thought-full-script/
A year on from the August 2011 riots, the streets of Tottenham were brought to a standstill for all the right reasons, when pupils of Gladesmore Community School (GCS) recorded the video for their single ‘Everybody Dreams’. 100s of students recreated a Flash Mob in the middle of Tottenham High Road which stopped traffic while they danced in the streets with local retailers who shut up shot to support them. GCS pupils wanted to counter the negative images of Tottenham, broadcast during the riots, by drawing attention to the fact that their area is full of positive young people, who are embracing life, are keen to achieve and want to encourage others to achieve their dreams.
With thanks to Tyrone Lowe, Mark Galloway and Exposure – Youth Communications Charity
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_16BxMne68
In 1968, a group of women from Hull staged a campaign to improve safety in what was then one of the world’s most dangerous industries. See this film made by the BBC about the ‘Headscarf Revolutionaries’.
With thanks to D. Brian Lavery. You can read the full story in his book, The Headscarf Revolutionaries: Lillian Bilocca and the Hull Triple-Trawler Disaster by Dr. Brian Lavery
https://www.bbc.co.uk/ideas/videos/hulls-headscarf-revolutionaries/p061zdfs
Journey to Justice patron Jean Stallings is a long time campaigner against poverty. As a young mother in the 60s, Jean got involved with the National Welfare Rights Organization (NWRO). “It changed my life. I got involved in local campaigns, we talked to politicians about childcare and it gave me confidence to speak. We had dignity. We got jobs, they provided childcare and a community centre. It’s so important to feel part of something. It doesn’t have to be big – you don’t have to be famous. I wasn’t a leader but a little seed – I had a voice. I learned to speak without fear.” Jean has been an activist with ATD (All Together in Dignity) Fourth World for over 20 years.
With thanks to Jean Stallings and ATD Fourth World.
https://vimeo.com/295566929
In 1996 a Year 7 class at Forest Gate School successfully campaigned to stop their classmate being deported. In this Your Shout programme for Carlton TV they described their action.
https://vimeo.com/559595531
Police Spies Out of Lives (PSOOL) is a campaigning support group working to achieve an end to the sexual and psychological abuse of campaigners and others by undercover police officers. After the initial live streaming of opening statements made by lawyers at the Public Inquiry into Undercover Policing, there was no public access to live streaming of the proceedings so PSOOL organised a projection of a campaign video on to the Royal Courts of Justice in order to raise awareness of the Inquiry:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tPcFC5nF_0
During the First World War, rent increases across Glasgow provoked massive working class opposition, mainly from women organised in tenants’ groups. The bailiffs who tried to evict the strikers were driven from the doors by Mrs Mary Barbour’s Housewives Committee. Their month-long rent strike of 30,000 Glasgow residents against profiteering landlords forced the government to freeze rents for the duration of World War I.
Thanks to Women’s History Scotland for this link:
http://womenshistoryscotland.org/2015/12/24/centenary-of-glasgow-womens-rent-strikes/
The 100 Black Men Walk for Health which was set up in 2004 and inspired Eclipse Theatre Play “Black Men Walking” (read more in the Guardian Newspaper). They changed the name from ‘100 Black Men Walking Group’ to ‘Walk4Health’ as the group is now diverse with women and young people. See this short ITV feature with Mark Hutchinson and Maxwell Ayamba.
With thanks to Sheffield Environmental Movement and ITV
https://www.itv.com/news/calendar/2020-10-01/we-have-to-change-that-narrative-sheffield-walking-group-aims-to-widen-access-to-nature-among-bame-community/
