Poll Tax Rally 1990 (North Walsham)

In 1381 many hundreds of people were slaughtered here in their struggle against the Poll Tax. It was the last stand in the countrywide uprising against the Tax, which was imposed by Richard 11 in order to pay for his war with the French.

The people of Norfolk rose up in revolt as in other countries because they knew that this hated tax was an attack on their families and their communities.

They were being made to pay for the rich to stay rich while they themselves had to struggle to even survive.

LET US NOW STAND FOR A MINUTE IN MEMORY OF THOSE WHO SUFFERED & LOST THEIR LIVES

The Poll Tax was finally abolished because it was obvioulsy un workable. It just couldn't be collected.But over the centuries, the working people of Norfolk had to struggle to feed, clothe & house their families on very low wages. They learned to organise themselves and gradually formed Trade Unions such as the National Agricultural Workers' Union (NAWU) to improve their condition.

Now the Poll Tax has been dredged up from history to be used once more as a battering ram against our communities.

Our local services are all under threat from this tax which was imposed against the will of the majority o-f the people in order to pay for the rich to stay rich and to hlep feed the war machine as before.

Let those who perished all those years ago know that they didn't die in vain By burning these Poll Tax bills we pick up and carry their torch of hope and solidarity "

Spencer Shaw

other speakers Mike Ward & Peter Medhurst (NAWU Officer)

Stump Cross, North Walsham No Poll Tax Rally 13th May 1990