These cuts are an attack on working class communities. Education is already seriously underfunded. Schools special needs budgets, IT support and deteriorating buildings all reflect a history of neglect.
Jobs and services in our education system must be defended. Parents, teachers, staff and young people must unite to fight for the resources that are needed to properly fund our schools. Communities in East Belfast need to get organised to fight the cuts. There should be no mistake made, the blame for these cuts lies squarely with the parties in the Assembly Executive. They voted through these cuts and they need to be confronted with mass opposition.
It was fantastic to see so many local people come out onto the streets of the town on Friday night to demonstrate their anger at the threat to Mid-Ulster A&E services. But it is crucial that this is the start and not the end of a campaign. Today, the Health Minister and Trust management to close A&E services, but the fight is not over. It is a purely administrative decision which can be overturned if there is enough pressure applied by ordinary people.
The Ballymacarrett Playzone Centre is an after-schools service in East Belfast that provides children with programmes including picking them up from school, helping them with homework, healthy eating and PE.
On 26 June, a gay couple were violently assaulted in Shipquay Street, Derry. Just a month previously, two men were found guilty of the homophobic murder of Shaun Fitzpatrick in Dungannon in 2008. These brutal attacks must be met with a firm response from the LGBT community and by workers and young people everywhere.