Opposing Atos

On Wednesday 19th December scores of protesters gathered outside the offices of Atos Healthcare, in Halford Street, to highlight the extreme violence being waged against the sick and disabled by the Government through their latest corporate cypher Atos Healthcare. The successful Leicester event was part of a much broader day of action organised nationwide against Atos.

A large number of community campaigners spoke eloquently against the cuts from a variety of political perspectives. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEhcKTDx4yY 

Gracefully, the Leicester Mercury gave the determined protesters 112 words to make their case, before following it up with a 175 word quote from a spokeswoman for Atos Healthcare. A spokesperson who, kindly, was allowed to say how Atos were simply making a massive profit from peoples ill health by simply following the Government’s orders. Ever “thoughtful” Atos acknowledged that they were “well aware that being assessed for benefit entitlement can be a difficult experience.” 

Difficult is an understatement, with thousands now lying dead owing to their persecution at the hands of Atos’ relentless dedication to pleasing their Government handlers. Indeed as a recent Freedom of Information Request made all too apparent, between August 2010 and June 2013 Atos (mis)judged that 158,300 disabled people were fit to work, only for the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) to later reverse Atos’ profit-driven (mis)decisions.

As a direct result of this weeks successful protest, a further public meeting organized by Leicestershire Disability Action is to be held at the Leicester Unitarian Chapel, East Bond Street, on Thursday, March 6 at 7.30pm. All are welcome.