UK

Travellers protest against police repression in Manchester

Greater Manchester Police forced Traveller children onto trains to carry them away from the city centre last month

Anger and determination on the protest in Manchester



By Thomas Foster in Manchester
Friday 06 December 2024   

SOCIALIST WORKER Issue

Around 250 Travellers and their supporters took to the streets of Manchester on Friday to rage against police repression and racism.

It came after Greater Manchester Police (GMP) stopped Traveller children from attending the Christmas markets and forced them onto trains out of the city at the end of last month.

At one point, there was a police line next to the shopping centre by the Christmas market.

The police then forced Traveller children onto different trains, with many children unsure of where they were going. One 13 year-old girl was sent to Grimsby in the north east of England. She was distraught and her parents had to travel to the town to pick her up.

Rupert, a Traveller, said, “My kids were here two weeks ago at the train station. They rang me up crying their eyes out. The next day my daughter was full of bruises. That’s the perfect definition of the police bullying children.

“There needs to be a stand from all of us as a community. That’s what today is—I reckon this is the start of something great. Unless we stand up, nothing will change.”

Tommy, one of the organisers of the protest, told Socialist Worker, “For far too long we have laid down like sheep and now we need to fight back. Our people will stand firm and fight for this and never give up.”

He slammed the inaction of Labour mayor of Manchester Andy Burnham. “Andy Burnham has done nothing towards tackling racism, he said. “He is all about himself and the high ups. Most people here suffer from racism every day of the week. Our people are the ones who live on the streets in tents outside of St Peter’s Square in central Manchester.”

The Gypsy Traveller League organised the protest, which was full of signs reading, “Defend Roma rights,” and, “Stop police brutality against the Traveller community.”

Martin, another Traveller from Dublin, said, “I’ve been campaigning against racism for 40 years. We are sending out a clear message that what happened was horrible and despicable and racist.

“There was racist profiling involved. The chief constable needs to be held to account—who gave permission to use excessive and brutal force against young Traveller children?

“It’s the hallmarks of deeply embedded institutional racism.”

Maria, an activist for a Roma charity, told Socialist Worker, “I’m a mother in the Roma community and have faced discrimination during my private life and at work.

“It happens to all of us, to all gypsies all over the world. The racism has never stopped, but we won’t give up and will stand up for freedom and fair treatment of children.

“This is the time for our community to unite as one people and to have our voices heard.”

Chants of, “Say it loud, say it clear, Traveller, Roma welcome here,” and, “GMP shame, shame, all the violence in your name.”

Lincoln, who lives in Manchester, told Socialist Worker, “How would you feel if that was your little kid or younger brother or sister?”

Yasmin, a Stand Up To Racism activist, spoke at the demo. She said, “The Roma community is one of the most scapegoated. It’s shameful what the police did. We have to continue to hold the police accountable.

“They are the ones harming our communities and spewing out racism. The GMP has been shown to be institutionally racist and to protect those at the top of society. They aren’t friends of ours.

“And we must fight the government pushing this racism—Labour, Tory and Reform UK—who come along with racist ideas.”

Another speaker said, “We won’t lay down and take racial violence. We demand justice and we demand it now. The police traded their humanity for a badge. But when we are united, we are stronger than them.”

TRAVELLERS IS A TERM USED FOR ROMA AS WELL AS IRISH NOMADIC COMMUNITIES