On Thursday 24th March Tyneside Community Action Against Racism led a march against cuts to English lessons for speakers of other languages (ESOL). Around 200 people marched through the city centre to Grey’s Monument for a rally, where people who depend on ESOL fearlessly got up to speak to defend their right to education. It was a lively action, lots of banners, placards and chanting “They say integration! We say education!” Newcastle College and the Angelou Centre helped to mobilise ESOL students and lecturers and people generally against the cuts to come out to defend ESOL provision. The message was clear: we need to fight against all cuts and cuts to ESOL represent institutional racism aimed at dividing the fight back.
