On this day in 1819 people walked onto the centre of Manchester from towns and villages for miles around. They made their way to St. Peter’s Field, on the edge of town (where the Free Trade Hall was later built). High unemployment, rising food prices, poverty made people feel frustrated with politicians and the political system. Only the rich and privileged had the vote and some 60,000 people gathered in St Peter’s Field to call for democracy. They were peaceful, orderly and cheerful. There were lots of women and children. Many people wore their Sunday-best clothes. There was music and hymn-singing. Some carried banners which called for the reform of parliament, the right to vote and fairer taxes. Some banners had just one word: ‘Love’.
When the speeches started, magistrates called for the speakers to be arrested. Special constables pushed the crowd back so that cavalrymen could reach the speakers. The horses got trapped on the crowd. Cavalrymen panicked and struck out at the crowd. More cavalrymen were sent in to quell the chaos. Shooting and bayoneting followed.
At least 15 people were killed and over 600 injured. An unknown number of injured died at home later of their wounds as they could not afford medical treatment.
The speakers and organisers were all imprisoned. The government ordered the arrest of anyone who called for reform or anyone who tried to hold a public meeting. The newspapers were all strictly censored. The official story that was put out was that a “mob” had attacked the soldiers and started a “riot”. The Prince Regent sent his thanks to the Manchester magistrates for their "preservation of the public peace".
This was the Peterloo Massacre.
It’s not been forgotten … and yet people are being arrested nowadays protesting peacefully. Protest movements are being proscribed as terrorist organisations. 200+ years after Peterloo, you would think we might have learnt to do better.
Life goes on. Stay safe and well, everyone!
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