This year’s Peterloo rally made connections between the political struggles of the past and the present, yet many Mancunians remain unaware of the significance of this democratic protest.
March and protest in remembrance of Peterloo to oppose tower set to threaten massacre landmark
The events of the 1819 Peterloo massacre still echo in politics today, with our right to protest, strike and protect our city’s heritage under threat from elites. This year’s commemorations feature speakers, music, a talk on media democracy – and a protest to save the historic Britons Protection pub from developers.
Struggle for social justice is at the heart of the People’s History Museum
Three objects that epitomise the successful struggle for change in Manchester are presented from the People’s History Museum’s collection.
Director Katy Ashton raises concerns over the police powers bill, “Peterloo would not have happened with this proposed legislation in force.”
Britons Protection calls for help to fight Heineken takeover and 26-storey development next door
The 200 year-old much loved Manchester pub built close to the site of the infamous Peterloo Massacre faces a double-jeopardy threat to its future as Heineken brewery refuses to renew its owner’s license, and a controversial 26 storey skyscraper towering over the pub threatens to blot out the sky for pubgoers.
‘Kill The Bill’: Manchester protests against contentious government policing bill
Hundreds of people came together in solidarity in Manchester to peacefully protest the government’s controversial and now allegedly delayed Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill. A number of speakers rallied the crowd with chants of “Our Streets” and “Kill The Bill”.
From the Levellers to the Suffragettes: a course on the history of radical women
If you want to know more about the role radical women have played in fighting inequality and shaping modern society then this is the course for you. Local historian Michael Herbert will deliver this comprehensive series of lectures on influential women fighting for social justice, with many links to Manchester, starting 3 March. Manchester is […]
Unrest in Hong Kong and The Peterloo Massacre: is history repeating itself?
“Those that cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” George Santayana 1863-1952 The Peterloo Massacre and the events surrounding it are considered to be pivotal in the UK ‘s history towards obtaining universal suffrage. 200 years later, we are again witnessing the same process going on in Hong Kong where the cry for […]
Mike Leigh hopes small independent media can ‘grow and be heard’ to counter failings in modern media landscape
To round up a host of events to commemorate the bicentenary of Peterloo over the weekend, acclaimed film director Mike Leigh attended a screening of his film Peterloo, at HOME Manchester, and answered the audiences questions on it’s relevance for life in the UK today. Film director Mike Leigh invited us all to join him […]
The Six Acts, inspired by Peterloo, aims to reboot democracy now
It’s two hundred years since Peterloo, where those calling for democratic reform were slaughtered by government forces. A new campaign called The Six Acts aims to honour those who fell, in the struggle for a more inclusive democracy, by rebooting democracy today. And they need your help to do it! On the 16 August 1819, […]
Peterloo graphic novel published as witness to a massacre
Amongst all the Peterloo 200th anniversary events happening this year, a new paperback graphic history, with stunning artwork and verbatim quotes from those who were there, shines out…. “We decided to just get out of the way and let the voices of the time speak for themselves” say the authors. This August sees the 200th […]