Day of Rage London protest – who are the Movement for Justice and why do they want to ‘shut down’ the city on June 21?
ACTIVISTS are hoping to bring the capital to a standstill with a day of demonstrations today.
But what is the Day of Rage, who are the Movement for Justice and why do they want to “shut down London”? Here’s everything we know…
What is the Day of Rage protest?
The Day of Rage is a demonstration in central London on June 21, organised by the Movement for Justice By Any Means Necessary (MFJ).
Protesters will march to Downing Street at 1pm as they aim to "bring down the Government", sparking fears of riots in the capital.
In fliers handed out over the weekend, the MFJ says the working class victims of the Grenfell Tower blaze in Kensington were “murdered by the rotten capitalist system”.
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The group was slammed for trying to "hijack" the tragedy to use for its own political goals.
The Clement James Centre, which has been helping Grenfell residents, said: "There has been a 'Day of Rage' announced for Wednesday, trying to bring London to a standstill.
"We cannot emphasise enough how against this many of the affected residents we've spoken to are and they do not want their grief hijacked for any violent or destructive means."
Jeremy Corbyn sparked uproar by refusing to condemn the calls for what one Tory MP called "anger and insurrection".
Who are the Movement for Justice?
The Movement for Justice is the far-left organisation behind the planned Day of Rage on June 21.
It bills itself as a civil rights protest group, campaigning against racism and injustice.
The group, named to echo a speech by American civil rights campaigner Malcolm X, was formed in 1995.
Tony Gard, now 76, set up the organisation with students from London’s Kingsway College.
The former primary school teacher has links to several far-left and communist groups such as the Workers Socialist League and the Workers Revolutionary Party, according to the .
Another key member helping to organise the Day of Rage is Karen Doyle, who describes herself as a “revolutionary”.
Gard and Doyle, along with two others, were convicted of assaulting Conservative Party Chairman Brian Mawhinney and his wife at a similar protest targeting the Queen’s speech in 1995.
Tory MP Sir Alan Duncan, who cornered the four attackers until cops arrived, said of the planned Day of Rage: “These are obviously agitators with two decades of form.
“It is disgusting beyond measure that they should exploit the Grenfell Tower fire for their own revolutionary politics.
“But then that is exactly what the hard-left do.”
Another organiser is Antonia Bright, 40, who works at the students’ union at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) in London.
She is quoted as saying: “Rage expresses anger and anger is palpably felt towards the Government and the local council and the decision makers that allowed that tower to be unsafe. They treat the working class with disdain.”
She also said any violence which might happen at the Day of Rage demonstration would pale in comparison to the “violence” suffered by victims of Grenfell Tower, according to the Telegraph.
Why do the Movement for Justice want to 'shut down London' on June 21?
The MFJ called on supporters to turn out and “shut down London” on June 21.
The date was chosen to coincide with the Queen's Speech, in which PM Theresa May will set out her legislative programme for the next two years.
Referencing the Grenfell Tower fire and "brutal austerity, cuts and anti-immigrant attacks", the description on the MFJ event page reads: "Politicians and many community and religious leaders will be looking to divert our rage and fury into inquiries, investigations, reports, court hearings, and parliamentary processes.
"We will not accept those brush-offs and diversions, we will not settle for less than the destruction of May's coalition of austerity and bigotry – we must bring down this government."
Organisers are seeking the permanent right to remain in the UK for all Grenfell Tower residents, and for survivors to take over unoccupied flats in Kensington and Chelsea.
Jeremy Corbyn himself sparked uproar after urging followers to “occupy” empty buildings across London’s wealthiest borough for families left homeless by the harrowing blaze.
