People Power Grows in Wyndford, Maryhill, Glasgow!

SAVE OUR SCHOOLS!         

 

More photos from the Save Our Schools campaign:

SOS campaign photos

 

Our Lady of Assumption photos

 

Lobby of Scottish parliament photos

 

VIDEOS

Wyndford demonstration

Part 1  Part 2  Part 3

 

18th April Wyndford rally after 15 day occupation

Part 1     Part 2

 

Wyndford community sings its heart out in defiance of the council who want to take the heart out of the community

“The Wyndford Wynettes”

 

Parents encircle Wyndford schools in defiance of council’s vote to close them

Hands round the Schools Protest

 

SOS demonstrations at George Square

Parent speaks out

 

Our Lady of Assumption (OLA) school occupations

Rooftop Protest

 

Lobby of Scottish Parliament

Part 1   Part 2   Part 3

 

Help the parents save your community:

Email: saveourschoolsglasgow@yahoo.co.uk

            

For more information on organising visit:

http://sosglasgow.wordpress.com/

 

Other campaigns on schools:

Free School Meals Campaign

 

Back to home page

http://www.maryhillssp.org/

 

For other information and news visit:

 http://www.scottishsocialistparty.org/

A very successful demonstration was held on 9th April. A large number of local people marched around the Wyndford, G20 area. SOS campaigners including parents, children and local supporters made their presence felt in Maryhill with colourful banners, chants and whistles. Passing motorists tooted their support. Save Our Schools posters and banners hanging from balconies could be seen en route. It finished with a short but rousing rally in front of one of the occupied school buildings. Representatives from the groups occupying St Gregory’s and Wyndford primaries spoke, a spokesman from St Agnes’ primary was there as well as local councillors, the local minister and SSP’s Richie Venton finished off with a rousing speech. “Wyndford, St Gregory’s will never be divided!” was a popular theme.

 

On Sat 18th April after two weeks of occupation, the parents marched out with banners, singing and defiant and determined to continue the fight to save their schools. The council met on Thurs 23rd for the final decision where there was a blockade organised by the SOS campaign. Unfortunately the council still voted to close 22 out of 25 schools and it has emerged that they have earmarked another 34 primaries for closure. However, the council will still have difficulty implementing it in practice as the parents have vowed to fight on. Parents encircled schools on 27th April as a sign of defiance and will continue to campaign. On 14th May parents lobbied the Scottish parliament for the second time and held a meeting where several MSPs signed a declaration to support their cause. Richie Venton and a group of parents have subsequently been up at the parliament again which has been very slow at putting their concerns on the agenda of the parliament.

 

On 27th June parents have re-occupied Wyndford Primary as council vans tried to remove materials from the school. Parents formed a picket line at the school gates and refused to let the vans take the materials away

 

Below are some photos from the start of the Wyndford and St Gregory’s occupations on Fri 3rd April 2009 by P Kirk            Links to more photos, videos, campaigns at foot of page.

 
School fence covered in Save Our Schools Campaign banners. Three large banners made from white sheets display several messages in bold colourful letters: "Hands off our school", "Education first!", "Kids come first!"Glasgow Save Our Schools Campaign supporter reattaches a large red "Save Our Schools" banner which had come loose on the school fence.Turquoise sleeping bag being passed through open top window of St Gregory's. At the side is a decorated T-shirt taped to a main window and reading "Hands Off! Save St Gregory's Primary School"DVDs being passed up to parents occupying St Gregory's primary to help them while away the time as they could be in there for a long time. They spend 15 days in occupation during the Easter holidays so as not to disrupt the children's education, unlike the council who would happily disrupt the kids by closing the schools and sending them to larger classes in a far-away school.A hooked window pole comes in handy for catching hold of a sleeping bag being passed up in a black bin-bag to one of the occupiers.Women look out of St Gregory's Primary School window beside home-made T-shirt banner which reads: "Keep your dirty hands off" and a drawing of a pair of hands. Parents warn the Labour council to keep their hands off the schools.Parent occupying Wyndford Primary successfully hooks the sleeping bag being passed up. Beside him a poster on the school window reads: "No one can do everything but everyone can do something."3 police cars can be seen through fence parked in the grounds in front of one of occupied schools, Wyndford primary, two of the cars bearing CCTV cameras. Some officers are in vehicle while others stand around at the school building, a couple of pupils standing by to watch what is going on.Occupier looks out from behind home-made T-shirt-fabric banner sellotaped to occupied school window reading "Labour collect your P45's if these proposals go ahead"Supporters of those occupying the schools threatened with closure stand around the school gates of Wyndford Primary.Friends and relatives of parents occupying St Gregory's Primary school communicate with them through the windows. An array of banners can be seen attached to the windows.