The Young Socialists March from Manchester to London for Jobs and Free State Education reached Sheffield late yesterday afternoon after a massive reception in Glossop on Tuesday.
Arriving in Glossop at dusk, drenched from having marched from Stockport in driving rain, the marchers were welcomed with home made hot soup and sausage casserole.
After drying off in the Glossop Labour Club, they went round the corner for a welcoming meeting in the community centre.
Chairing the meeting, John Costello said: ‘We not only support what you’re doing, we also hope you will succeed.
‘We think you are an inspiration and it’s very important you have a high profile.
‘It’s vital we create jobs. This government is putting the boot in big-style.
‘We fully support what you’re doing.’
Kasey Carver added: ‘We’re really pleased to see you here today and we support your march.
‘It’s a critical situation for young people over unemployment.
‘We have to protect the public sector or we are going to have a permanent underclass.’
Yesterday morning, the marchers split up into two teams. One visited Glossop fire station, sold copies of the News Line and Young Socialist, while the other team campaigned outside the dole office.
At 11am, the marchers set off for Sheffield.
Mark Rochford joined the march for the first four miles out of Glossop.
He said: ‘I just came out of the JobCentre, having been on the phone to the people who are supposed to be helping me.
‘I came out feeling a bit lost and then I found people who do actually care.
‘It was great to join the march and shout all the slogans “youth demand jobs, kick the government out, no army recruitment, we won’t fight your wars”.
‘It makes me think about ordinary people and what’s happening to them.
‘It’s lifted my spirits to be honest, I’m going to rejoin the marchers on the 21st November if not sooner.’
MARCH IS IN SHEFFIELD TODAY & TOMORROW