Around 35 thousand people packed into central London on Saturday, March 28 in a militant protest at the upcoming G20 summit. Under the slogan of "Put people first" the demonstrators aimed to bring world leaders to heel over the economic crisis, which were to be followed in a further two events today and tomorrow.

Claire Melamed, who spoke on behalf of the charity group Action Aid, said: "What was a financial crisis is turning into a humanitarian catastrophe. Every day we are hearing stories from around the world of how this crisis is throwing development into reverse."

Every major British trade union was present, with some accompanied by their own marching bands. A large variety of left groups were also on the move, with Socialist Appeal comrades marching en bloc towards the front of the procession.

Trade union contingents from Italy, Slovakia, France and Germany were also in attendance, with militant pro-worker slogans being the order of the day. Matching events took place in Europe, with protesters hitting the streets in Berlin and Frankfurt in sizeable numbers.

The working class has been reeling from the effects of the recession, with unemployment levels in Britain expected to reach 3 million by the end of the year. Many formerly apathetic strata have been galvanised into action as the world economy goes into meltdown and attacks on welfare and wages increase.

The rate of unemployment for this year stands at 6.5% of the total working population. Alongside prospective plans to double university tuition fees, many people are coming into contact with revolutionary ideas in order to explain just what is happening.

Police tops across the country are also preparing for what they have termed as "a summer of rage" where mounting protests are expected to turn violent. Saturday's demonstration however passed without incident, despite police attempts to split up the procession into easily containable sections. Police numbers were difficult to ascertain, although it has been alleged that many were equipped with Tazers in addition to their standard kit.

Socialist Appeal members sold a large number of journals and handed out thousands of leaflets. A meeting was later held at the University of London Union, where comrade Rob Sewell gave an impassioned talk on the nature of the crisis and the need for socialism. It was argued that capitalism's inherent tendency to overproduce due to the absence of economic planning was responsible for the current situation. A democratically planned economy based on the workers themselves was argued for, alongside mass action to defend existing jobs and conditions.

The meeting attracted a fair number of unaffiliated activists, two of whom immediately expressed their full and enthusiastic support. All left in an enthusiastic mood and to prepare for additional action.

[See a photograph of the Socialist Appeal banner in an article of the New York Times.]

See also:

• Britain: Through what stage are we passing? by Rob Sewell (March 17, 2009)
• Support the occupation of the Prisme Packaging Plant in Dundee! by Nathan Morrison (March 13, 2009)
• Class battles on the order of the day by Socialist Appeal (March 3, 2009)
• Preparing for a summer of rage by Fred Weston (February 25, 2009)
• Build on the success of Lindsey by Des Heemskirk (February 12, 2009)
• Banks in meltdown. Take them over. by Mick Brooks (January 21, 2009)
• The Hero of the Hour by Alan Woods (November 23, 2008)
• Now for the economic fall out by Socialist Appeal (November 3, 2008)
• The tension rises by Terry McPartland (October 17, 2008)