McSHANE, Harry
"Three Days That
Shook Edinburgh"
Story of the Historic
Scottish Hunger March
£2.50
pb. 1 873176 77 5.32
Scotland/labour/history
"Three Days That Shook Edinburgh" recounts a part of our past that won't be found in most history books.
The 20's and 30's witnessed militant and sometimes violent struggles by the unemployed against government attempts to reduce benefits and impose Means Tests. In June 1933 the National Union of Unemployed Workers organised an all-Scottish Hunger March to Edinburgh to demand that the government improve conditions for the unemployed. Facing opposition from the Labour Party, the TUC and local councils, over 1000 marchers from all over Scotland converged on Edinburgh, and for three days successfully defied all attempts by the authorities to force them to leave the city. The marchers successfully presented their demands and forced the Town Council to provide free transport home.
"Three Days That Shook Edinburgh" describes such events as: when the marchers slept on Princes Street, Edinburgh's most famous thoroughfare; and marched through the grounds of the Royal residence - Holyrood Palace - singing Republican and Socialist songs.
Written by the late Harry McShane, one of the leaders of the march, and one of Scotland's most widely respected socialists, this is a reminder that it is not through Parliament, but through direct action that we gain our victories.
With an introduction and biographical profiles by Les Forster and Hugh Savage - lifelong working-class militants, friends and comrades of Harry McShane.
