The day began meeting at Chinatown to help to distribute leaflets and putting up posters to publicise the event. As the time for the demonstration to start drew closer, Gerrard Street became more and more crowded.

There was an overwhelming turn out of demonstrators of all ages. Some were the age of my grandmother,eagerly holding up their placards above their heads. Other supporters came with their entire families. Young children sat on their fathers shoulders, and there was a little boy sitting in his blue pushchair holding a placard smartly with both hands.Shy teenagers stood quietly with their fashionable friends, groups of university students joking and laughing.

When the march began to move, it soon became clear that there were hundreds of us taking part in this demonstration. I don't remember ever seeing all those heads with their jet-black hair, bobbing up and down in a single direction on London's streets.

It was quite a long walk to MAFF's head office and despite the sunny weather, it was quite cold. However, everyone, both young and old, were marching enthusiatically, joining in to chants of 'Hogwash' and ' No justice, no peace.' When we arrived at Smith's Square, our delegates were invited into the building to meet with the Minister. We continued to chant our slogans and I laughed when the office staff had to shut their windows to block out the noise. We stood for what seemed like hours, but we were not ready to give up. I was moved.

I have helped organised a few demonstrations and campaigns before, but this one was different. This demonstration had unified many sections of the Chinese community. It is the first political event in which I had participated,where many British-born Chinese, like myself, were at the forefront of its organisation. This, for me, signals an important turning point of Chinese community politics in Britain. I would like to pay tributes to those trail-blazers, whose tiredless efforts have helped the community build a political voice. Now the second generation of Chinese in Britain are old enough to hold our own, I for one, am honoured to be able to walk alongside them and to receive the benefit of their experience.

Susanna