(Manchester Greenham Support Group)
7.20am, Friday 8 July at Blue Gate, THE CONTINGENT from the North West and Midlands numbers several hundred women. A row or poncemen are Denind the gate, a row of women convoy is due.
Many of the women have never been before, but have come to give support to the action. band is playing and womei? are dancing and singing to prevent the paralysis or lear we Know how violent the police Have Deen.
Word reaches us that and exposed 30 yards of fence at Indigo Gate -coach has met the convoy on its way, stopped and that the women lay down In ine road, wnich delayed the convoy by 1½ hours.
There is a feeling of strength and a roar goes up when police vans full or women rus past The police pressure increases block the road. Mounted forcements behind the gate. The helicopter swoops over us - the convoy is due.
Suddenly seas of police pour out of the Halt. some lining the road, some hauling women inside - and at the same time rows of mounted police ride straight into the womert. on the road. There is a hooves, police shouting all women singing in defiance.
The convoy flashes past to a rousing chorus of whoops from the women. The police run back through the gate to prevent us getting in. No arrests but a great deal of Amazingly just extensive cuts and bruising. We have glimpsed, as has everyone at a mass picket, the forces of the state with the gloves off, sanctioned to do anything except shoot to get the workers through.
12 noon The next convoy is due. 'his time there are women in the road from the gate to the main road.
singing and dancing. together a cohesive block.
The motorbikes, vans and horses arrive. The I MAINGATE CARAYAN 12 GREENGATE 3 TURANOISE GATE ID BLUE GATE 5 INDIGO GATE 16 VIOLET GATE ID RED GATE 8 ORANGE GATE helicopter swoops. The convoy flashes into sight and around the corner, roars iowards us and suddenly swings let down s left dowr the road. they have gone through another gate where it is easier to get in, but we feel victory together.
Throughout the day a feeling of solidarity and une quesuon or une future of the movement is discussed. 've heard it said that Greenham is the largest movement of women since the sufAt the end of July eighteen Women for Life on Earth 'star' marches are being organised from All eighteen marches will arrive on 6 August Hiroshima Day. If you want to be put in touch with your local march organiser contact Town, Glastonbury. Phone 0458-34484. Fol Sarah Meyer 054-884 2851 or the Greenham Office 01-251 3133 Greenham Star Marches different points in Britain to Greenham Common.
Stephanie Leland, 2 St Edmunds Cottages, Bove details of the 17 September event in Geneva ring
Socialist Action 15 July 1983 THE GIANT CUTS imposed by Chancellor Nigel Lawson on the National Health Service have completely exposed Thatcher's post-election lie that the health service was 'safe in our hands'.
But the £140m reduction in health spending is only the latest in a series of measures taken against comprehensive and free health care.
The NHS also faces deadly threats from the growth of private medicine and the increasing use of