ON Friday, Tom Franklin, newly-elected co-chair, and Bethan Vincent, vice-chair, along with other members of York Green Party took to Ouse Bridge and St Helen’s Square demonstrations to stand up for a peaceful and just society.

Across the country groups of people did the same thing as Donald Trump was inaugurated as President of the United States, a moment we know for millions was one of despair.

In York, 2016 was a difficult year for a number of reasons, with the consequences for mental health provisions after Bootham Park Hospital closure, the worrying decisions to allow fracking in North Yorkshire and the many, many residents and businesses left in difficulty after the serious flooding.

Nationally, we all witnessed the division caused by a hateful EU referendum campaign.

But when we stood on Ouse Bridge on Friday, January 20, the York Green Party rejected the politics of hate and made our own pledge to make 2017 a year of hope.

Among the difficulties of 2016 we saw what real community can look like, as shown when we won, at full city council meeting, our motion to oppose TTIP - the very dangerous treaty between the EU and the USA which would allow companies to sue countries if they believe that policies would affect their future profit.

York Green Party will always fight to create a fairer society, and to stand up for compassion and equality at every chance we get.

Rosie Baker, Lower Ebor Street, for York Green Party, York