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After 35 years it is more important than ever to establish the truth about who was responsible for organising the police assault

SUPPORT has poured in from trade unions for the Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign’s rally today marking the 35th anniversary of the police attack on striking miners at Orgreave coke depot.

Nick Whitehead, district organiser of train drivers’ union Aslef, says: “Thirty-five years is too long to wait for a public inquiry into the planned violent attack by police at Orgreave and the false charges against miners. We need justice and closure for the comrades attacked, injured and wrongfully charged and for history to expose the true perpetrators.”

Joe Rollin, Unite the Union organiser, says: “The police riot at Orgreave was one of many vicious attacks by the police on the NUM during the year-long strike and we must seek justice for those who were ‘beaten up, fitted up and locked up’ on June 18 1984. Unite stands shoulder to shoulder with the OTJC — No Justice, No Peace.”

Steve Jennings of general union GMB says: “The GMB will continue to campaign for a full public inquiry into the policing of the Orgreave coking plant.

“After 35 years it is more important than ever to establish the truth about who was responsible for organising the police assault.

“The GMB believes that if no-one is ever held accountable for this outrage history may well repeat itself.”

David Williams, Yorkshire and the Humber regional secretary of the Fire Brigades Union, says: “Thirty five years ago the NUM highlighted the level of injustice metered out to those who had attended Orgreave up to and including June 18. This campaign has subsequently been bolstered by the trade union movement and wider working classes, but for the last 35 years they have been denied justice by successive governments determined to protect the state.

“For the 95 miners who were arrested, their families, comrades and others, injustice at Orgreave remains unresolved, but like all IOUs there comes a time to cash it in. Now is our time.”

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