On Saturday 6 November, Gorgie-Dalry branch members of Living Rent participated in the COP26 Global Day of Action protests alongside other members of Living Rent as well as members from ACORN and London Renters’ Union, forming the Housing Bloc. We marched to assert that housing justice is climate justice, and, alongside tens of dozens of trade unions, community groups, and civic and political organisations, to demand that people and the planet be put before the demands of profit in the face of the climate emergency.
Our peaceful protest was disrupted by the actions of the police who, without explanation or justification, had taken upon themselves to set up a police escort around members of the Young Communist League (YCL) from the beginning of the march, before escalating these powers and locking YCL members in a kettle, preventing them from continuing with the march and separating them from their fellow protesters. Many of those kettled were also members of Living Rent, ACORN, and London Renter's Union. The police’s decision to obstruct the YCL in exercising their individual and collective rights of protest was an unprovoked attack on a working-class organisation and, by extension, on the community.
Living Rent Gorgie-Dalry condemns police violence and state violence in all its forms. We recognise and affirm the YCL and everyone’s right to protest.
