There have been a number of newspaper stories suggesting that the Put People First march will not be peaceful. Simon Jenkins in the Evening Standard today says that “Chaos, if not violence, is certain.”

He has no evidence for this, and we are writing to the Evening Standard both to correct this smear and to invite Londoners to join us on Saturday.

Other journalists have written stories confusing our march with a range of other events and demonstrations taking place next week during the G20 summit – none of which are organised by, or supported by Put People First collectively.

Our worry is that these misleading stories will deter people joining us. But there is no evidence that this will be anything other than a peaceful, law abiding and enjoyable event.

This is what we are now saying to journalists who ask about this:

“The Put People First march for jobs, justice and climate brings together more than 150 groups committed to making the event a peaceful and law-abiding call on the G20 governments to commit to policies that will deliver jobs, end poverty and move to a low-carbon economy.

The event has been organised in full co-operation with the police and the Hyde Park authorities.

We have no evidence that anyone attending intends to disrupt our plans, break the law or commit any acts of violence. Nor have the police informed us that they have any such intelligence.

Put People First is not organising or collectively supporting any other demonstrations or protest events being held in the subsequent week to co-incide with the G20 summit.”

The Guardian today corrected a (much-less damaging) story saying that the TUC was organising a jobs rally in Trafalgar Square the same week as the summit.

March 24th, 2009 TUC