John Leech MP

John Leech MP calls for Peterloo memorial

11.23.49am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 17th Aug 2007

A depiction of the Peterloo Massacre in Manchester on 16th August 1819

Experts have described the Peterloo Massacre as "Manchester's Tiananmen Square" and a major turning point in the road to democracy in Britain.

John Leech has called on Manchester City Council to recognise the Peterloo massacre on the 188th anniversary of the event.

Museums from across Greater Manchester are calling for a statue to commemorate the events of 16th August 1819, which many believe to be one of the key turning points on the road to Britain becoming a modern democracy.

Soldiers killed 12 people during the demonstration calling for equal voting rights for all and over 60,000 people from across the North-West attended the event.

"This is an amazing part of Manchester's history as a radical and progressive city but unfortunately, so many people don't know about it," said John Leech MP. "We need to celebrate those people who won the rights that we all too often take for granted today."

"At the moment, the site is only marked by a small blue plaque," he continued. "We need a memorial to make people aware of Manchester's radical history. It would be wonderful if we had a fitting tribute to the people who were there on that day."

"History taught in schools is often just about kings, queens and wars but if we want young people to engage in democracy we have to celebrate these kinds of events. Many of the people who walk down Peter Street have no idea that 60,000 people were gathered on that very spot in one of the biggest demonstrations Britain had ever seen at the time."

<<ENDS>>

For more information on the battle of Peterloo, please see http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/peterloo.html

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