Hundreds marched through the streets of Manchester and called for action in a demonstration to commemorate the Peterloo Massacre. Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn was among those who addressed the crowd during speeches at St Peter's Square this afternoon (August 14).
Greater Manchester acting stars Maxine Peake and Julie Hesmondhalgh - who both featured in the 2018 film Peterloo about the massacre - also spoke to the crowd. The event took place two days before the 203rd anniversary of Peterloo, which took place on August 16, 1819.
On that day, 60,000 working people gathered on St Peter's Field, Manchester, in a peaceful demonstration to demand representation in Parliament and the right to vote. A cavalry charged in - trampling and attacking those who had gathered, leading to 18 deaths including a two-year-old boy and an unborn child.
