yesterday i 'marched' (i'd call it a crawl) at the #DurhamMinersGala with the #TeessideRadicalBookfairCollective.
there was a lot of booing, one guy shouted 'EDL' and did a nazi salute. the police hassled the #FreePalestine block, which has not happened before & shows their boldness despite the increased turn-out of people. then a confused bigot pulled my banner from behind a barrier, & started to provoke me into a fight, shouting at me.
i felt very uneasy, and uncomfortable walking down ppl booing. i avoided eye contact with the spectators behind the barriers as i seemed to be the only #trans person in the march carrying the #pride :better_pride:, and #non-binary :flag_nb: flag. there was no #lgbtq+ 🏳️🌈 presence anywhere that i saw, i only saw one other pride flag on the festival ground.
#corbyn spoke after the march but failed to announce a new party to his electoralist socialist followers. i thought he gave a weak speech with no rallying cry or fiery call-to-action.
#AlanMardghum, the secretary of the #DMA (durham miners association), called the leader of the council, run by the far-right reform party, a 'keyboard warrior' and invited him to say the personal insults and lies he spouts online to his face.
for the first time ever at the gala the #Palestinian embassador gave a speech.
#GifsArtidote: #educate people around you on the lies the state and #reform are spouting. #organise your community #resist through direct action, #sabotage & #boycotts.
next year there should be a lgbtq+ block in the march!
☆ edit: there apparently was an lgbtq block according to the bbc so perhaps they're lying as they lie about most other things. i didn't see 'm, but i was at the back.
