Libcom.org: Britain, Wigan celebrates its radical communist heritage - the Diggers' (True Leveller) Movement

Several hundred people converged on the centre of the lovely town of Wigan to celebrate
the life of local radical Gerrard Winstanley (1609-1676) and the Diggers' (True Leveller)
Movement that he played a central role in establishing. ---- The Diggers supported the
abolition of private property, common ownership of the land, and called for total human
equality. They took direct action by occupying and collectively farming common land that
didn't belong to anyone, so they could grow crops to feed their families. Naturally, the
idea of poor folk taking over the land didn't go down too well with the wealthy and
propertied ruling class who sent soldiers in to liquidate these early communist
communities. ---- On offer at the Wigan Diggers' Festival was an array of poets,
musicians, historians, re-enactors, political groups of various persuasions, book stalls,
as well as a beer tent serving specially commisioned ?Diggers 1649 Ale? and 'Gerrard
Winstanley Ale'.

I was helping out on the SolFed stall with some members of the Manchester local, and had a
very enjoyable day in the blazing sunshine making new contacts and selling some of our
anarcho-syndicalist merchandise.

Bron : a-infos-en@ainfos.ca