On this day, 18 June 1984, the battle of Orgreave took place when striking miners faced off against thousands of police as they attempted to blockade the Orgreave coking plant in England. The police showed the lengths they would go to to break the strike, with violent attacks, mass arrests and deliberate but fortunately unsuccessful attempts to fabricate evidence and frame miners. And the BBC reversed footage of miners defending themselves from police attacks to try to pretend police were attacked first.
Coal miners were on strike against a pit closure plan by the Conservative government.
Learn more about the dispute in our podcast series: https://workingclasshistory.com/tag/1984-5-miners-strike/ https://www.facebook.com/workingclasshistory/photos/a.296224173896073/1453815848136894/?type=3