Be part of the action
On Saturday 21st, Sunday 22nd and Monday 23rd February you can be part of legal aid campaigning on a national scale.
What’s happening?
We are taking to the streets! We want to show legal aid matters to people who don’t come into contact with the issue every day. We are marching, rallying and leafleting to raise awareness of the cuts in the media and with the people we meet. Can you help?
Why should we do this?
This year the Government continued its relentless attack on legal aid. Yet at the same time it is celebrating the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta with an event called the “Global Law Summit”. This is an event for big business. They fail to mention the cuts and how these have denied people equal access to the law – which doesn’t sit well with the famous clause in the Magna Carta: ‘to no one will we sell, to no one deny or delay right or justice’.
The Justice Alliance, a group of charities and campaign groups formed to campaign against cuts to legal aid, is organising an alternative. “Not the Global Law Summit” will take place at the same time as the Government’s do, to remind the world about the reality of coalition attacks on access to justice. Read more about it here.
March
From 21-23 February you can join the “relay for rights” from Runnymede where the Magna Carta was signed to London, finishing in a rally at 1pm on Monday 23rd February in Old Palace Yard, opposite the Houses of Parliament.
Grab those walking boots and come along for any or all of the route. Take a friend to join you at the rally in your lunchbreak on Monday. You can see the updated route and get other info here.
In the evening of 23 February Justice Alliance will host a “stand-up for legal aid” comedy night with Stephen K Amos, Angela Barnes, Alistair Barrie, Kevin Eldon, Stewart Lee, Sara Pascoe, Nick Revell and Joe Wells. We need volunteers who are passionate about legal aid to hand out information at stalls at the event. If you can help email justallianceuk@gmail.com.
Are you a student?
Read about how you can join the student contingent at these events here.
Leaflet
We are leafleting about why legal aid matters on Monday 23rd February here:
Manchester – 12.30-2.30, 6-8pm – (meeting between Market St tram stop and Debenhams, the Piccadilly Gardens end)
Sheffield – 12.30-1.30 – outside the town hall
Liverpool – 5-5.30 pm on Old Hall Street
Leigh – 1.15-.1.45pm town centre
If you want to join any of these sessions come along! If you want more info or some leaflets to take to your own location please email ylalnorth@gmail.com.
Social media
Show your support on social media using this hashtag: #NotGLS2015
Tweet Justice Alliance using: @justallianceuk @northernjust
Remember…
To share this short film produced in order to raise awareness on the impact of the cuts which has had over 17,000 views.
If you want to help YLAL support Justice Alliance with ongoing work like organising speaking events or writing articles please get in touch: ylalinfo@gmail.com