Momentum urges supporters to 'shut down streets' in protest against Parliament suspension
2 min read
Momentum is calling for its supporters to “occupy bridges and blockade roads” as part of radical action to protest against Boris Johnson’s bid to shut down Parliament.
The pro-Jeremy Corbyn group is joining trade unions and other campaigners to organise a #StopTheCoup movement across the country, following protests on Wednesday which they claimed saw more than 5,000 protestors in Westminster.
Momentum’s national coordinator Laura Parker also said she’ll join an “occupation of Parliament” as she urged followers to “protest, occupy and blockade” at demonstrations set to be held in cities across the UK on Saturday.
The move comes after the Prime Minister announced on Wednesday that Parliament will be subjected to a month-long suspension until a new Queen’s Speech is delivered on October 14.
The move also sparked outrage among MPs and was followed by resignations from Tory whip Lord Young and Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson on Thursday.
Critics believe the temporary suspension is intended to thwart MPs against no-deal's efforts to block the UK from crashing out of the European Union on 31 October.
Ms Parker said: “Eton educated, millionaire Boris Johnson is stealing our democracy so he can sell off our NHS to big US corporations in a no deal, Trump first Brexit.
“This is an establishment coup by a tiny, privileged elite who have been eroding our democracy for decades.
“Real power doesn’t sit with the Queen or in parliament. It’s with us, the people - and that’s why we need to take action."
She added: “There are thousands of us who will join an occupation of Parliament and block the roads before we let Johnson close the doors on democracy.
“Today we’re going to contact all Momentum supporters and encourage them to protest, occupy and blockade on Saturday.
“Our message to Johnson is this: if you steal our democracy, we’ll shut down the streets.”
Events at the weekend have been set up in Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham, Oxford, Sheffield and York, followed by a further London march on 3 September when Parliament returns from recess.
A petition to stop the suspension of Parliament has also reached nearly 1.5 million signatures within a day of Mr Johnson’s statement.
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