Citizen Carter's good cause

Though cowards flinch and traitors sneer, Paul Carter is calling us to the barricades, and this time he’s serious

You can’t possibly have failed to notice that protest and social unrest has been the order of the day recently. Certainly, for the last couple of months, it’s felt like barely a week has gone by without some ragtag group or other kicking off over something or other.

That’s not a bad thing – I think protests are brilliant. Not least for the fact that you get to stand around all day looking like you’re really menacing and threatening when in actual fact your main hobby is floristry, you live with your mum and you have a cat called Petal. (FYI I’m not referring to me).

Such silliness is actually a preamble to a serious point I’d like to make. For once. On 11 May, a protest is being organised in London in which disabled people will march against the swingeing cuts to disability benefits and services being carried out by the coalition Government.

Now, I’m going to stick my head above the parapet somewhat here and say that, when it comes to mass protest and organisation, disabled people have always been a bit, well, crap. Sorry, but it’s true.

Us disableds do like a moan. And, quite often it has to be said, as a movement we tend to misdirect our anger and our passion in the wrong places. Usually at each other, and it all too often descends into infighting and complaining to the point that the whole thing becomes a waste of time before it’s even got started.

This time has to be different. And it will be different. For the first time in as long as I can remember, people are actually working together. Charities and DPOs are coming together to get people mobilised and to get their voices heard. To get OUR voices heard.

Yes it will be difficult for some of you to get out because of social care problems, because of inaccessible transport, because of lack of benefit. But if we do nothing, and we don’t speak our minds, those problems will get worse. If you cannot make it, then the internet and social media has opened huge numbers of doors to make it easier to protest and have a voice.

Whatever your politics, the fact that disabled people are a group being hit hardest by the Government’s cuts programme is inescapable.

Men, women, children, assistance dogs. Whatever. Every single one of us needs to stand up – or sit down – and be counted. It needs all of us together. Every single one of us.

I’ll be there. Come and say hello. I’ll even let you buy me a beer if you’re really nice. However if it kicks off and a rumble starts I’ll be out of there quicker than you can say “anarchist.” I’m dedicated to the cause, but I’m more dedicated to my face.