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SUPPORT is flooding in for Yorkshire’s Freedom Riders following the arrest of two pensioners campaigning for concessionary travel eleven days ago.
Hundreds of people and eight national union leaders have signed an open letter calling for the restoration of free travel for pensioners in South Yorkshire.
It also asks Labour to commit itself to free public transport for pensioners and disabled people if elected and calls on South Yorkshire Councils to restore free train travel for the elderly for the rest of this financial year.
The pensioners were arrested during a rally at Sheffield railway station on Monday June 23 after travelling there by train from Barnsley and refusing to pay their fares.
Weekly freedom rides have been staged by pensioners and disabled people since March.
Campaign instigator Barnsley Retirees Action Group said signatories to the letter included Aslef general secretary Mick Whelan, NUT deputy general secretary Kevin Courtney, NUM general secretary Chris Kitchen, UCU general secretary Sally Hunt, Unite assistant general secretary Steve Turner and MP John McDonnell.
The letter further condemns the arrests and police violence inflicted on elderly and disabled people at the rally.
Unite general secretary Len McCluskey supported the freedom riders at Unite’s annual conference this week.
Supporters will demonstrate at the magistrates’ court, Castle Street, Sheffield, on Monday when arrested pensioners George Arthur and Tony Nuttall are appearing at 9.15am.
