Tens of thousands protest in Manchester against gov't cuts

Tens of thousands protest in Manchester against gov't cuts

2011-10-03 01:00:01 GMT+7 (ICT)

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND (BNO NEWS) -- Tens of thousands of people on Sunday afternoon took to the streets in northwest England to protest against government cuts. No arrests were made, but one person was injured.

The protest in the city of Manchester began on late Sunday morning and continued until the late afternoon, although a small group of protesters were still protesting during the early evening. Police estimated that about 35,000 protesters took part in a march which took them through large parts of the city center.

The event was organized by the Trade Union Congress (TUC) to show opposition against pay freezes and cuts which they say are producing rising unemployment, cuts in living standards and stagnation. "We need jobs, growth and justice for a sustainable future and this event will send that message loud and clear," TUC said before the protest.

The protest was planned to coincide with the annual conference of the Conservative Party, which is led by Prime Minister David Cameron. On the eve of the conference, Cameron dismissed calls for extra spending and said there would be no U-turns on cuts.

Despite the massive turnout, there were no major incidents and not a single arrest was made, police said. One woman who fell during the march was treated for head injuries but her condition was not believed to be serious.

"Organizers of the demonstration made it clear that it was their intention to demonstrate peacefully, as is their democratic right, and this is exactly what happened," said Assistant Chief Constable Ian Hopkins of Greater Manchester Police. "We are grateful to those protesters who co-operated fully with the police."

Police were out in large numbers throughout the day to ensure safety and a number of roads across the city center were closed. "As we estimate that 35,000 people attended, and that their march covered significant parts of the city center, we did require a significant police presence, in the interests of public safety and protecting the city," Hopkins said. "A policing presence, albeit scaled down, will remain into the evening."

He added: "We are now focused on delivering the highest standards of security for all involved and affected by the conference, which continues this week. Manchester is privileged to host the conference and the event is good for the city."

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