Last Saturday, 28 March, the #TogetherAlliance March took place in central London. There were more than 500,000 people, according to the media. 

Ten coaches departed from Greater Manchester that day. From the MMU-UCU branch, eight delegates attended: Fiona, Gregoris, Ian, Kathy, Liz, Matt, Miguel, and Pete; some accompanied by their guests; not all travelled by the same means, but they represented our union branch well. Thanks to all of them! Among the diverse UCU delegations, we could identify banners from these Higher Education institutions: University of the Arts, London, Birkbeck, Bristol, City St George, Coventry City adult education college, Croydon, Dundee, Imperial College, London College of Fashion, Manchester Metropolitan University, University of Manchester, Middlesex University, Morley College, North York, Open University, Royal Holloway, SOAS, Strathclyde, Sussex, University of Brighton, University of Edinburgh, University of Lincoln, and West Midlands. 

It was fantastic to be surrounded by people from different ethnicities, ages, and backgrounds, and to march together. It was the best manifestation of equity, diversity and inclusion we have ever experienced. Everyone went with the flow and enjoyed an environment of support, camaraderie, complicity, and companionship, all together for the same cause. Before the march, UCU set up a pink gazebo so people could gather and enjoy some good music. Plenty of UCU woolly hats and small UCU flags were distributed among all the by-passers. It was reassuring and encouraging to meet and interact with people from all over the UK who had decided to travel from long distances to fight against the far right and say it loud and clear, to avoid any doubt, that this country does not want hate, fear or division, but love, hope and unity instead.

Miguel Angel Saona Vallejos (UCU Rep)