We had parades in support of the established church
Godly folk in their white starched best with banners
And imported brass bands, hired from outside
Former mining towns (with colliery names)
To march us down between the shuttered shops
On Market Street to honour the certainties of sin
The unchallenged link between church and state
A vicar agreed on rotation speaking familiar blessings
Into an unfamiliar microphone, his voice wavering
In the breeze before he reached for ever and ever
Amen. The biggest walk we had was at Whitsun
When all of Hyde came out, curious
To watch us pace and rally in our splendour
As though we were the circus come to town
You don’t think when you’re taking part
But there’s a kind of madness involved
In religious certainty
For ours was the power
The glory. The Kingdom come
Marching As To War
1,314 people were arrested in Trafalgar Square
Steven Taylor
Photo Anti-fascist demonstrator protesting against a National Socialist Party rally, Trafalgar Square, London, 1962 © Don McCullin
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