Star snippets

Scan page 10

AFTER one woman left the march as a protest against harassdecided to take astaother women A women's advisory committee was set up. It involved all the women; any grievances women had could be brought to it and discussed; and the "committee's decisions were then put to full march meetings as recommendations and voted on. Some victories were won.

On May 24 the Yorkshire and Humberside and East Midlands leg of the march carried flags which stated the full support oi the marchers for the international women's disarmament day. A delegation of marchers also went to a peace camp to show solidarity. This happened on the initiative • of the Women's Advisory Committee.

The first few days after the women began to meet were the *orst as the male comrades on the march were often deliberately ying to get our backs up. This was probably due to their macho pride being questioned.

Some of them then began to •ealise why they shouldn't call roeads, etc. The WAc did meas, 'hat women had a release for the anger they felt, and that the marchers had to listen to what the zomen wanted changing on the march (even though sometimes hey didn't take much notice).

But the WAC has now fallen = the wayside, as have the march meetings. Now • we are all dictated Specid BC20. to by Danny Collins and his band of merry Stalinists. When the command is given to march, a patter of feet can instantly be heard. We are ordered to march until we drop and a line of marchers can t seen Strung across the countryside like a defeated army.

The issues of unemployment, sexism and democracy are thrown out of the window as the slaves are marched from one point te another.

Some examples of sexism on the march: one woman expressed a fear of walking across a room full of men at night when she wanted to go to the toilet because of all the sexist jeers she would receive on the way.

(Separate accommodation was arranged for women who requesmarch ted it, but only after it was demanded by some women. This is necessary as it enables the women to get away from the sexism for a while if they need to).

Another woman was asked if she was a virgin because she wasn't seen to be engaged in any sort of relationship with any of the males. That time, when she objected and argued the point, she did receive an apology. A woman outside the march was asked "How would she like to be ing by the marchers at one of the march meetings.

Two women's sexuality was questioned in an extremely offensive manner, implying that they were lesbians and that there was something wrong with them. The women were extremely upset and '85 of the marchers were women.

continuous sexist harassment. one was about to leave the march. The matter was raised at one of the meetings and more or less cleared up.

Few women have spoken at the rallies arranged by the to committees. This is the type sexism which is hardest challenge as most people do: realise that it is a form of sexisn wn of to isisime of )ne red emlice ely om tly ere .ce. Iser sen ing ace of ted ent lly )se nd tic les From the self-styled paper of the People's March' • "The March of 1981 did provide a vehicle for substantial sections of the churches, for very wide spectrum of politicians, for local authorities, a wealth of democratic organisations and, yes, even some employers, to speak out against the crime of unemployment."

(Mick Costello, Nov. 17)

"The People's March for Jobs provides the opportunity for the construction of the broadest possible alliance of all who agree with the central demand, which of course ranges from bishops to brick•layers, from non-Thatcherite Tories to revolutionary socialists."

(Pete Carter, March 25) "Some people will continue to argue for the People's March to be anti-Tory and pro-Labour, not recognising the need for different levels of struggle and alliances."

(Tony McNally, Feb 1)

"Since this is an appeal to the whole Scottish people to take up the issue we will be looking for the widest possible financial support. Churches, local councils, chambers of commerce, community organisations of every kind will be urged to put themselves on the line for the march."

(Jimmy Milne [STUC] March • "Mr Heseltine might be inter• ested to know that a meeting of Young Conservatives recently had a collection for the Morning Star in tribute to • its support for the Greenham • Common peace campaigners.

"Labour, Liberal, Communist and, yes, Tory, can be in favour CND's demands."

(Editorial, April 28)

Halifax Tories • first claimed the march was political. When that was disproved worries were expressed over possible disruption of a youth (April 28) "An unexpected treat before leaving Halifax was a donation to march funds made by two police constables. One of them was also engrossed in reading the Morning Star.

(April 29) "A moving ceremony took place at St. Mary's Church in Wombwell, where local clergy and lay people washed 'the marchers' feet, dried them with paper towels and dusted them with talcum powder. The ritual was not only symbolic but also therapeutic."

(May 6)

"When Harry Colvin explained in Anna n that the march was not a nti-government as such, but against its policies of mass unemployment, Tory civic dignitaries applauded."

"A rare occasion indeed, Tory civic leaders giving an ovation to a Communist!"

An an

----- pull-quotes -----

fucked by one of the marchers?" - the man was given a final warn-

peoples march for jobs