Two of Britain’s best-known disability campaigners have very recently published this month detailing their views and experiences – and are hosting online launch events during the lockdown.
Ellen Clifford and Bob Williams-Findlay are both veteran rights advocates who have fought many battles over the years.
Ellen’s book The War On Disabled People: Capitalism, Welfare and the Making of a Human Catastrophe covers the last decade of rule under the Coalition and then Conservative Governments which has led to the impact on disabled people being described as a ‘human catastrophe’ by the United Nations.
She is a prominent member of Disabled People Against Cuts, commonly known as DPAC – launched in the first year of the Coalition Government – who are hosting the launch event and rally on Monday June 15 from 6.30-9pm.
Speakers include John McDonnell MP and former deputy leader of the Labour Party, actor Liz Carr, DPAC co-founder Linda Burnip, Professor Colin Barnes (Emeritus Professor, University of Leeds) and Laura Pidcock (national secretary, People’s Assembly against Austerity). There will also be music and poetry performances.
The event will be livestreamed on DPAC’s Facebook and Twitter pages.
Meanwhile Bob’s book More Than A Left Foot places the struggles for the emancipation of disabled people within the context of his own life journey. Bob traces his experience of life, discrimination and political awakening both as an individual and as part of a specific social group. This journey links disability politics to a wider politics within students, disabled peoples, trade union and labour movements. The book concludes with sober commentary on the on-going struggle against disablement and capitalism.
The launch for this book takes place from 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm on Tuesday June 23.
