Manchester: Defiant and Proud
Everybody reading this will have some connection to Manchester. Whether it’s music you love (*waves at Charles*), football you enjoy, science you respect or that radical tradition you’ve read of, Manchester is a World City we all have some connection to.
Rather than write of what some stupid American is saying on cable news I choose to highlight a defiant, a proud, a loving and a united Manchester - because that is what has been on brilliant display.
At the mass vigil tonight in the city’s Albert Square this poem, ‘This is the Place’ by Tony Walsh, got a deafening reception.
This is the place in the north west of England, it’s ace
It’s the best in the songs that we sing from the stands
From our bands that send the whole planet shaking
Our inventions are legends
There’s nowt* we can’t make, so we make brilliant music, we make brilliant bandsWe make goals that make souls leap from seats in the stands
And we make things from steel, we make things from cotton
We make people laugh, we take the mick* rottenWe make you at home, we make you feel welcome
We make something happen, we can’t seem to help it
And if you’re looking for history, then yes there’s a wealth
The Manchester way is to make it yourselfMake us a record, a new number one
And make us a brew* while you’re up love, go on
Make us feel proud that you’re winning the league
And make us sing stronger and make us believe
*Nothing, pi$$, cupo of tea
Defiant poem pays tribute to the spirit of Manchester, written and performed by @LongfellaPoet at the #ManchesterAttack vigil. Watch in full pic.twitter.com/t4vmCocJNP
— Sky News (@SkyNews) May 23, 2017
THAT #Manchester poem in full
‘This is the Place’ by Tony Walsh #AlbertSquare pic.twitter.com/T3tflwYwOB
— Francis Keogh (@HonestFrank) May 23, 2017
Spontaneous chant breaks out in Albert Square. Odd mix of emotions here: moving, defiant, proud. pic.twitter.com/Az6NmjbPlM
— Josh Halliday (@JoshHalliday) May 23, 2017
Man-Ches-Ter, Man-Ches-Ter, Man-Ches-Ter… https://t.co/Mm1ZYHj11Y
— Paul Canning (@pauloCanning) May 23, 2017
“We can react in anger. Or we can react by doing” - powerful interview with blood donor Ian in Manchester pic.twitter.com/SA02U3uYoK
— BBC Newsnight (@BBCNewsnight) May 23, 2017
All around Manchester tonight. The unity is amazing. They will NOT win! We stand together. They can’t take our Unity. #WeStandTogether 💜💙 pic.twitter.com/VZiM9nylFs
— Prossy (@Pkakooza) May 23, 2017
On a grim day for Manchester… all around there’s humanity and kindness pic.twitter.com/w3G7cTApB4
— clare fallon (@clarefallon) May 23, 2017
Pictures from the Manchester vigil. Huge turnout pic.twitter.com/GnyYAuDn6u
— Jen Stout (@jm_stout) May 23, 2017
Mancunians burst in to spontaneous applause as city’s Sikh community march through centre carrying “we love Manchester” banners. pic.twitter.com/a8Y2MoDkJF
— David Leask (@LeaskyHT) May 23, 2017
‘Just because I’m homeless doesn’t mean I haven’t got a heart’. Homeless man Steve, who rushed to help the victims. pic.twitter.com/F93BmuayML
— Jamie Bartlett (@JamieJBartlett) May 23, 2017
There’s a fundraiser for this guy, which appears to be legit. https://t.co/ADplULMF96 https://t.co/5GoG4cYylL
— Paul Canning (@pauloCanning) May 23, 2017
This is lovely. Dig deep people https://t.co/cozT9ASf9l
— (((red-tory))) (@Beasley78) May 23, 2017
Cartoon on #ManchesterBombing #manchester #ManchesterStrong #ArianaGrande pic.twitter.com/Hxecg8jNy5
— Michael de Adder (@deAdder) May 23, 2017
Terrorism is what seems to be what the police are saying. Know this. We stand with the those families bereaving & those harmed tonight.
— TellMAMAUK (@TellMamaUK) May 23, 2017
Hundreds of Muslim Mancunians will be working in police, hospitals, free taxis, offering rooms - and security services. Fox News is BS. https://t.co/TMZGGdBNle
— Paul Canning (@pauloCanning) May 23, 2017
@nomoremister City I know well. These c^nts can f’off. https://t.co/doYKKOFSwu
— Paul Canning (@pauloCanning) May 23, 2017