Protester camps outside City Chambers to highlight inaction over poverty
An activist has decided to turn a cause he's passionate about into a protest because politicians aren’t listening to the plight of poverty-stricken Scots.
Darren Carnegie has set-up camp outside Glasgow City Chambers in protest at “needless poverty”.
Along with his father, Carnegie runs the organisation Glasgow’s Needyand intends to camp in George Square for at least a week from today (15 October) to protest against the daily poverty thousands of Scots face.
A tent and awning has been erected in full view of the main entrance to the chambers – with the intention of attracting the attention of politicians as well as visiting dignitaries and tourists.
The 26 year-old, who hails from Glasgow’s Blackhill – one of the country’s most impoverished areas – was the prime mover behind an impromptu foodbank in the square that led to thousands of food donations from the public over recent weeks.
Carnegie said he has escalated the campaign to a personal protest because politicians weren’t listening – despite the huge outpouring of support from the public.
Politicians still ignore the plight of the poor
He told TFN: “Poverty is something that politics can eradicate. All this requires is the will of politicians but that isn’t happening.
“We’ve seen how the public are supporting the poor – the huge generosity of people here in George Square has been humbling.
“Yet politicians still ignore the plight of the poor.”
Carnegie, who works as a salesman, said his own experiences distributing food to low income families compelled him to act.
“I’ve had children hang on to my leg begging me not to leave their house because they see me as the one who brings them food,” he said.
“That’s how bad it has become. Is this the kind of country we want to live in?”
Support for Glasgow’s Needy snowballed when the father and son team began talking about poverty in the city at a post-referendum rally and were quickly overwhelmed by donations of food.
Carnegie is now urging people to visit him over the next week and pledge support by signing a petition.
The public can also show support at Glasgow’s Needy’s Facebook page: facebook.com/glasgowsneedy
