International Womens Day Event

International Women’s Day

Birmingham Against the Cuts and Women2Gether celebrated International Women’s Day with a noisy protest in the town centre on Saturday.

Women speakers from local campaigns explained how the cuts would devastate vital services such as women’s aid, adult and children’s social services and advice centres for refugees.

Students and teachers spoke about the impact of fee hikes, cutbacks to English as a Second Language courses and the loss of the Educational Maintenance Allowance. We heard about the fightback launched by Birmingham Unison and by workers in the NHS and pledged our support to all those fighting for their jobs and conditions.

A special moment came when representatives from the Palestinian delegation from Birmingham’s twin city, Ramallah, brought solidarity greetings. Poems and chants were followed by a rousing chorus of “Bread and Roses” and finally we decorated the Council House with a washing line spelling out our opposition to the cuts.