Meeting hope in the streets of Brighton

I emerged this lunchtime from my first dentist’s appointment in twenty years to find a mass demonstration, consisting largely of people who hadn’t been born when I had my last appointment – these were striking school students protesting the climate crisis which threatens the future of our planet.

The demonstration had all the verve and enthusiasm of young people engaged in the liberating experience of their first political protest. The demonstration was awash with homemade placards (my favourite – “Keep Planet Earth clean – it’s not Uranus” – was one of many imaginative and thoughtful creations).

The spirit of transgression which striking from school – as condemned by the Prime Minister – engendered was expressed in an occasional departure from chanting about climate justice. From time to time hundreds of children and young people chanted the name of the Prime Minister, preceded by a verb which I wouldn’t want to put on this blog (but which rhymes with “duck”).

The hundreds of young people marched – rather too fast in the opinion of this fiftysomething – to the Level, a space where for generations working class Brightonians have gathered in support of radical causes (I remember protesting there against the Falklands War when I was the age of many of today’s protestors). Today a new generation took possession of our public space, in defence of their future and our planet.

Labour Party members, activists, representatives and officials need to be unequivocal in our support for the splendid action taken today by young people in Brighton and up and down the country. Capitalism is bringing our world to the brink of destruction, and the young people who have the largest stake in the future are absolutely right to take radical, militant action to put pressure on Governments to act.