People Before Profit Waterside candidate Davy McAuley yesterday hit out at a “culture of complacency” in Derry city council.   He was commenting on the

People Before Profit will be taking part in the May Day Rally and March in Derry tomorrow, Saturday 30th April 2011. We call on everyone

The night of Monday April 4 saw the launch in Derry for Eamonn McCann’s Assembly Campaign. It was a bit surreal in the City Hotel as the local Tech was holding its annual Fashion Show, so students dressed in outlandish costumes and outlandish haircuts rubbed shoulders in the corridors with paper-sellers in even more outlandish costumes and haircuts.
Between 80 and 90 people came to the meeting which was very ably chaired by Connor Kelly, our candidate for the Derry City Council Cityside ward. He began by reading out messages of support from Jim Barbour of the Fire Brigades Union and others, and then introduced the three speakers.
First up was Diane Greer of the Happy Enchallidas and Council candidate for Waterside Rural. She spoke about her childhood, her work with Women’s groups, and her gradual attraction to the People Before Profit Alliance.
Most memorably she spoke of her father’s belief that "no-one should have two coats when some people had none", and of how that principle had guided her in work and politics. She ended by arguing the need to use elections such as this one as a way of bringing the battle right into the arenas where the currently powerful make their decisions.
Next was Richard Boyd Barrett, recently elected People Before Profit TD for Dún Laoghaire.
Richard began by pointing out that all the other parties, and the Establishment in general, always try to keep the issue of the Bankers’ responsibility for the current financial crisis separate from the question of Cuts. But, he insisted, both issues are linked: the Bankers and the rich caused this crisis so they should pay for it, not pensioners, not schoolchildren, not the sick, not students, and not the unemployed.

"We offer a positive vision to the people of Derry. It is based on the need more public spending, not less. The money is there.

Eamonn McCann says that Derry people “should be proud” of the two Derry men, Eanna O Donghaile and Eddie McBride, who have broken the siege

Eamonn McCann for the Assembly

These are exciting times. We have just seen a popular revolution in Egypt, where people power through mass protest and strikes brought down a dictator who had been in power for 30 years. This shows what people are capable of when they come together. It is, and should continue to be an inspiration for those around the world who are fighting against injustices, be it political repression, poverty, workers rights or fighting against the cuts. It should be an inspiration for us here fighting our own battles to defend jobs and resist the most savage cuts in the history of this country. Surely now, the old slogan should ring true. Think globally! Act locally!
We have just had 5 members of the United Left Alliance elected to Dail Eireann, two of them are People Before Profit candidates. Joan Collins and Richard Boyd Barrett will use their seat in the Dail as a platform to highlight and give public support to grass roots movements against the cuts and for jobs, be they in the community, or in the workplace. This is a massive step forward for People Before Profit across Ireland.

Since the Westminster election last year People Before Profit has been involved in a number of campaigns. Our public meetings and protests were instrumental in the defeat of the Public Assemblies Bill which was an attack on the basic right of free assembly and protest. We have supported the Galliagh Residents Group in their successful campaign to stop the MUGA being built in Bloomfield. The most notable action in recent months was the student campaign against education cuts launched by F.E.E. (Free Education for Everyone) in December. This campaign was originally against cuts to the EMA (Educational Maintenance Allowance) and the rise in tuition fees, but it soon broadened out to be against all education cuts.