Socialist Historians say the struggle for political rights from Peterloo to Palestine is a key part of a people’s history
The London Socialist Historians Group is supporting the London demonstration in support of political rights for Palestine on 28th October.
The struggle for political rights is perennial feature of a people’s history.
At Peterloo in 1819 the problem the Government had was that although Britain was nominally a democracy, in reality it was not, and the only way they could deal with protests was through official violence. It took many years starting with the 1832 Reform Act for the Government to come terms with the need to deal with matters by democratic dialogue. The point has to be continually renewed.
When the Manchester Yeomanry cut down and killed and injured protesters for the vote at Peterloo in central Manchester on 16th August 1819, the authorities did blame this on fleeing protesters.
Frustrated that peaceful protest achieved no movement to political rights for the many, 1820 saw attempts at armed risings and at Cato St a plot to murder the Cabinet.
The historical pattern repeats itself. Peaceful methods to gain political rights were preferred. However if the authorities frustrated this, from Peterloo to Palestine now, resolute that no political rights would be conceded, other methods to try and achieve change get support.
LSHG Convenor Dr Keith Flett, there is a duty of solidarity to those fighting for their political rights. Progress in history depends on it. The attack on Gaza, much,much larger in scale than Peterloo, with far more dead and injured, has the same root. A refusal to countenance democratic rights and a violent response to those who protest for them
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