On that day, 95 miners were arrested when thousands of police officers from across the country brutally assaulted miners striking to defend jobs and mining communities. At subsequent court cases the evidence presented by South Yorkshire Police was heavily discredited and 39 miners were later awarded out of court settlements.
Yet no police officers, some of whom were told not to write anything in their note books on June 18 were ever charged of any offence despite conclusive evidence of assault, perjury, preventing the course of justice and misconduct in public office. Five years later at Hillsborough, history repeated itself when police officers were also instructed not to write anything in their note books. Some of the same senior officers were involved in the aftermath of both scandals.
John Dunn gave the meeting an account of how he was hit by a police truncheon, thrown onto the floor of a police van and denied medical attention to a wound on his head for hours. Subsequently he was found guilty of trumped up charges in court.
Below are photographs from the miners struggle taken 30 years ago.
Support the miners meeting at Toynbee Hall, East London 1984
Supporting striking miners, Whitehall c.1984
Collecting food and money for the miners in East London 1984
Collecting food and money for the miners in East London 1984
Collecting food and money for the miners in East London 1984
Posters supporting the miners. Brick Lane Bridge 1984
East London women in support of the miners, Kent c.1984
Women in support of the miners, London c.1984
East London meeting in support of the miners, c.1984
Poll Tax Demo with Yorkshire Miners banner, Trafalgar Square 1990
Dog supporting the Miners on strike, 1980s
Protest, Westminster 1984
Protest, Westminster 1984
These photographs are are brilliant image of the events during the Miners strike.
The Labour Movement needs to maintain the pressure against state/police and employers conspiracies. Still campaigning for the Shrewsbury Pickets and other attacks on workers rights.
Phil
These photographic records and recorded accounts are required more than ever now as time passes and audiences and developments in communication alter perception and reception. Impressive photo clarity!