we'd ever been on -with the 10-week old miners strike.
As women wildl had pressed us most was the thousands organised the wives support groups the march. There had been little obvious police presence on the demonnothing like we've got used to in recent London demonstrations or at Greenham.
The only aggro we'd had was from some of our brothers' sexist slogans But us women tried to put an end to that with some success.
We came to the main shopping precinct, nead Ing for our The police. As we got nearer to where Ine coache. WCIC waiting, long of police. al ill linked, greeted us. Behind them WE'D JUST HAD a cup of tea in Littlewoods, after one of the biggest most determined demonstrations, Mansfield, 14 May, where 40,000 miners. womens support groups and other trade unionists had flocked in to show solidarity scores of SPG vans. They were raring to go. I was terrified.
Eileen Stanford, chair, TGWU 1/208 branch They charged into the growing crowd understandably angry demonstrators. The police was beat us down. round and beat us small snatch squads.
Next to me a member of my union was grabbed and we tried to help him. ourselves dragged kicked by polte was hit on the back of the head by a foulmouthed thug in blue uniform, and ended under a pile of bodies. . The police arrested my colleague, he's of the peace and rioting!
Minutes later I saw a beaten by five policeman His head was pouring with blood. nearer he was encircled by As we tried to more police to stop us seeing. We walked away shaken towards our coach, only find even more police with batons, some on horses.
They were taking it out for being on a sucon us, cessful demonstration for cause the police will never understand. Still, it's what they are paid fo be it in Mansfield, Not thern Greenham Over duc a coul have been charged with several with grevious bodily harm. No police have been charged for the intimidation and brutality inflicted working people defending their right to a job.
Socialist Action 25 May 1984 aMiners'