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The Gerrard Chronicles 2017 - The Campaign Trail |
THE WOMENS MARCH AGAINST TRUMP January 21st
The first of many this year. Avis (now 81, note) came with Ken to Grosvenor Square, where the march was gathering. We were supposed to meet Denise but it was impossible with the vast crowd. They were so long getting this half million women started that we diced into the Spaghetti House for lunch. Some hand-made placards were amusing, "I really am very annoyed" & "Paternalism is for dicks". There were marches lead by women all over the World.
Avis in Grosvenor Sqaure |
The US Embassy |
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DEMO AGAINST TRUMP VISITING PARLIAMENT February 20th
Ken went to the anti-Trump demo. There were thousands when he arrived at 17:30 & they were still pouring in when he left an hour later. There were many good speakers, including 3 MPs while he was there, Diane Abbott, Rushana Ali & Caroline Lucas. Trump won’t like this. His fragile ego demands continuous ‘love’. While he can still walk miles, at 73, he finds standing around a bit much. |
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STOP THE THREAT TO EU CITIZENS IN THE UK DEMO March 13th
Another demo called at short notice on a Monday, as the Commons were debating the Lords amendments to the Article 50 Bill. This demo focussed on the threat to EU citizens of expulsion, as there have already been threats made by the Home Office, saying some people who's 85 page forms have not been accepted should start packing their bags. I was interviewed by Iranian TV but spent most time chatting to Ian Trewin, a retired RAF engineer, who has joined Labour & on his second demo (at 72). A good 100 press & public wanted to photo me in my Bremain Tee-shirt, so I let them. |
Ken & Ian Trewin taken by the Press |
The Press taken by Ken |
On May 7th, this bit of film appeared on EuroNews, picked up by Ken's brother Geof, who said he had seen a guy with a "Still European" tee-shirt. I said I had one of those & he said, "It was you!". It took them a long time to use that film clip.
THE BIG ANTI-BREXIT DEMO March 25th
I walked to Sadlers Wells, grabbed a bus to Cambridge Circus, then walked to Park Lane to join the huge demo. It was nice & Sunny but with a cool wind. Phil Kelly from Islington South CLP & Facebook friend, was there but I did not stay with him. Sang the EU Anthem twice & Jerusalem once. I chatted to people from all over the country & walked down via Pall Mall to Parliament Square. It was already packed, so I walked back to Trafalgar Square & people were still pouring down Pall Mall, so maybe there were a quarter-million demonstrators altogether. (I had a very late lunch in Chinatown & went home).
A family in Park Lane | 
Coming up Piccadilly |
Ken in Whitehall |
David Malka came up with a great new term for Brexiteers, "Bretards". A bit American-sounding & much appreciated by my US friends.
THE GENERAL ELECTION June 8th
We did what we usually do for the camaign: we wrote Emily Thornberry a big cheque, confident that we were going to get our money's worth. Unlike most of Ken's contemporaries, he is on Social Media, so could see the ferment among the young people, telling each other to vote, so said at the U3A the day before, that we must hope to overturn Theresa May's majority, to some derision. Well, that is what happened & Jeremy Corbyn confounded his critics. We still lost but made great strides & May was still in Downing Street but had lost morally. When in a hole, one should stop digging but she them went into an expensive deal with the execrable DUP, at our expense, not hers.
ANTI-BREXIT VIGIL, WHITEHALL June 23rd
On the anniversary of the Brexit vote, Ken joined the vigil opposite Downing Street that appears about three times a week (near right). At the Opening of Parliament, the Queen had pushed the constitution to the very limit by wearing an obviously Bremain outfit, complete with a hat in the right shade of blue, with yellow blobs. This was much imitated by ladies in the vigil (far right). |
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Things have gone a bit quiet recently. Ken doesn't understand why.
Contact: Ken Baldry or Avis Saltsman, 17 Gerrard Road,
Islington, London N1 8AY +44(0)020 7359 6294 or e-mail him or her
This page's URL: http://www.art-science.com/Xmas2017/campaign.html Last revised 1/12/2017 ©Ken Baldry & Avis Saltzmann 2017 All rights reserved but print it off if you want to.