My name is Peter, I speak only for myself, I do not represent the camp
As most of you already know, occupy Bristol is due to enter its 6th week. The aim from the very start has been to raise awareness of the political and economic corruption which has hijacked our democracy and forced millions into unemployment, poverty and desperation. 10’s of 1000’s of us throughout Bristol continue to experience the daily reality of London and Wall Street’s economic incompetence and criminality. They crashed the economy, robbed us of our future and in some cases destroyed our family life, all for the sake of defending an economic system based on exploitation, criminality and greed.
Personally speaking I now despise Labour as much as I do the Tory party and Liberal Democrats. Labour repeatedly turned its back on the working class of this country through seeking to build an alliance with corporate power. Through prostituting themselves and our country to American imperialism, they showed us all their true colours. If I had my way, I would have Blair and half of the Labour opposition thrown in jail on charges of war crimes and abuse of public office.
Today we find ourselves yet again again at the mercy of another undemocratic National Government. In my opinion the ConDem coalition is illegitimate, they have no clear mandate to do what they are doing, yet we are supposed to sit back, shut up and accept everything they throw at us.
All across Bristol our public services are being butchered for the sake of keeping our undemocratic and ineffective local Councillors in power. I sincerely hope they find the wording of this statement offensive. Day services for the disabled as well as homes for the elderly are closing down. Services to enable the unemployed have a better chance of re entering the workplace have already gone, along with funding to assist organisations helping those with mental health difficulties. Bristol has grave social issues boiling under the surface, which have only been further exacerbated by the lack of representation and political accountability.
Its time to say enough is enough! I would like to call upon everyone throughout Bristol to stand with us and unite in our fight to save our city’s public services. Together we can bring an end to the surge of political opportunism which has plagued our democracy for years. If Bristol City Council won’t fight to defend your future, I’m sure we will. If those elected to represent us won’t do the job they are elected to do, we should take their power back and throw them to rot on the dole.
The time has come for us all to unite in one voice and bring down the council leadership if need be. Together we can bring about a true democratic movement of the people, a movement that both Bristol and our country so desperately needs. Only through exercising our democratic freedoms will we understand the true power we possess.
Occupation is an idea, a tactic. It cannot be intimidated or evicted.
We welcome bold, fresh ideas on how to build our movement and advance our arguments
