June 1984 Remembrance March & Freedom Rally In Central London - Update

[Pyara]

An inspiring picture from yesterday on this link.

http://www.demotix.com/node/2136872?lbclear=73

[JagtarSinghKhalsa]

An inspiring picture from yesterday on this link.

http://www.demotix.com/node/2136872?lbclear=73

This is also a historic picture.

http://www.demotix.com/photo/2136866/sikhs-remember-june-1984-massacres-national-rally-london

[JagtarSinghKhalsa]

The Remembrance March and Freedom Rally is getting bigger each year - despite some showing less or no interest.

What lessons should we take from this . . .

Initiially individuals like Parminder Singh Bal and Jaswant Singh Thekedar (and those linked to them) started to boycott this event and have not been attending for several years. Certain Gurdwaras e.g. Sri Guru Singh Sabha, Southall have at times only partially supported the event, but have had to change their minds due to pressure from the Sangat.

In the last two years the Sikh Channel has shown limited interest - shown very few adverts, Promos, did not cover the event live this year etc.

Those that are a bit cleverer have been asking what is the purpose of the event, what does it achieve . . . and failed to understand the sentiments of many of those who attend.

In the first 24 hours after the Remembrance March and Freedom Rally that took place on Sunday 9 June many have been commenting on the excellent turnout, the need to have the rally in Trafalgar Square with the large screen, to carefully control those speaking from the stage and what they speak about. Many would prefer fewer speakers and more in English.

But there has also been specific comments on those who have pushed the event in previous years, but decided NOT to attend the event this year.

There may be many reasons why some could not attend, but youngsters in particular have been commenting on groups claiming to represent the youth or who work with the youth who not only did not attend but also FAILED to raise awareness through their own web sites, Facebook pages etc. Please raise your concerns with them directly.

Next year is the 30th anniversary of June 1984 and Novemnber 1984 - we should put aside any differences and show a united effort in making the events linked to 1984 a success.

We should put the ISSUE before PERSONALITIES.

[MiddxSingh]

Few thoughts:

It is good that numbers were larger this year but I believe there was a mistake by organisers, although not really their fauly. The rally should've been at trafalgur sq which is a prime location where outside public can see what's going on. This rally last sunday was abit out of the way and not a "prime" location compared to traf sq. Apparently indian gov did cleverness and got traf sq booked earlier in advanced to hold a hindu function so that we could not have out rally there. However our organisers should have also used some intelligence and moved back or forward the march/rally by a week. Let us not give in to their cleverness, if they manage to book traf sqaure before us, then just do it another week!

The previous years have been excellent, with the initial meet up point also being in a prime location - a good march through main streets of london then finishing at traf sq. Even if turn out is increasing it wont matter if the area of the rally is out of the way from such a great prime location as traf sq.

So please organisers go back to the initial meeting point, march and rally! We cannot get a better location.

[JagtarSinghKhalsa]

Few thoughts:

It is good that numbers were larger this year but I believe there was a mistake by organisers, although not really their fauly. The rally should've been at trafalgur sq which is a prime location where outside public can see what's going on. This rally last sunday was abit out of the way and not a "prime" location compared to traf sq. Apparently indian gov did cleverness and got traf sq booked earlier in advanced to hold a hindu function so that we could not have out rally there. However our organisers should have also used some intelligence and moved back or forward the march/rally by a week. Let us not give in to their cleverness, if they manage to book traf sqaure before us, then just do it another week!

The previous years have been excellent, with the initial meet up point also being in a prime location - a good march through main streets of london then finishing at traf sq. Even if turn out is increasing it wont matter if the area of the rally is out of the way from such a great prime location as traf sq.

So please organisers go back to the initial meeting point, march and rally! We cannot get a better location.

Plan is for Hyde Park to T Square next year - although some are already causing issues by direct approaches and saying booked without licence, public liability insurance, stewarding plan, risk assessment, TMO. T Square was booked for whole of June. Police were at one point suggesting 12 weeks (3 months later). June event was critical in prime location - although not ideal.