Dying for a cause

"In 1842, a combination of a trade recession and the rise of Chartism was to trigger the darkest moment in Preston's history. A minor dispute in a mill in Ashton-under-Lyne became an all-out general strike from the Midlands to Scotland. On the 12th of August, a meeting at Ainsworth's Mill in Preston, intended only to discuss an internal dispute, escalated - with some help from Chartist agitators - into a turn-out in support of the other striking workers around the country. Within hours, a group of men - growing in numbers with every moment - was marching through the town forcing mills and factories to close. They didn't stop until they were satisfied that every major factory and manufacturer in the town was out of operation, at which point the mob - then numbering about 3,000 - dispersed. The local police, unable to cope with the situation, called in outside military assistance and the small company of soldiers stationed at Preston Prison were put on full alert ...

The following day the mills re-opened in the hope that the previous day's events wouldn't be repeated ? but it was a forlorn hope. Large crowds of demonstrators took to the streets again and the military was mobilized. When the stone-throwing rioters met the armed militia at the top of Lune Street, the mayor had to read the Riot Act. He tried to reason with the mob, but to no avail. The order to fire was given ...

Four men died."

From Preston Cotton Martyrs by J S Leigh.

I walk past this statue every day but have not blipped it (although it is on Geograph with a bit more background information. Tonight it had a dramatic feel that I thought was worth capturing. At a time when people in England are again striking and demonstrating for equality and justice, and in a year when democratic protests have been met with violent repression in the USA, Syria and many other countries, this is not old history.