Resist racism: all out for the weekend!
The Stand Up to Racism protests this weekend in London, Cardiff and Glasgow come at a crucial time. We are seeing an avalanche of Islamophobia and racist attacks on the Palestine movement from the British establishment. It is important we deepen that movement (see below). But the anti-racist movement in Britain also faces a big challenge to build a response that can put the Tories on the back foot, campaign to welcome refugees and mobilise against the far right.
The demonstrations in London and Glasgow on Saturday and Cardiff on Sunday are a crucial part of that.
In London on Sat 16 March as well as the demonstration at the Home Office, there is going to be a big music event involving some of the biggest DJs in Britain. (see below for Oxford transport)
After Saturday: ramp up the movement for Palestine
Saturday's massive demonstration for Palestine was significant. The last few weeks has seen an intensification of islamophobia being used to demonise the protests - and the response from the movement was to come out in massive numbers. It shows that the mood to stand with Palestine is not going away.
This week is likely to see increased aggression from Israeli troops as Ramadan starts, plus the possible ground invasion of Rafah. The SWP will be pushing for the movement to call emergency protests when they enter Rafah including:
- Local protests in as many towns and cities as possible
- Student walkouts and occupations like the ones at Leeds and Goldsmiths
- Workplaces walkouts and protests like the ones we saw last Friday for International Women's Day
Next Oxford and Thames Valley meeting - All welcome
Smashing the Sexist System: The Radical Tradition of International Women's Day
7.15pm Wednesday 13th March
In person: Michael Young Building, Manzil Way, East Oxford, OX4 1YH (map)
Also online via Zoom Meeting http://bit.ly/OTVSWP
We live in a deeply sexist society. In recent years we've even seen the rolling back of previous gains, such as Roe vs. Wade. We’ve also seen the frightening rise of Incel culture and figures like Andrew Tate.
And the ongoing genocide in Gaza has exposed the brutality of war and the unique effects it has on women, particularly pregnant and menstruating people.
In Britain, the jailing of Carla Foster as well as crimes committed by Wayne Couzens and David Carrick have exposed the institutional misogyny of the police and justice system.
We still have a long way to go to win a world free of women’s oppression. International Women’s Day has been celebrated for over 100 years. Many companies use it to sell us gimmicks rather than address the issues women face.
But IWD has radical roots, it is a day to remember those who have fought for liberation. From strikes to revolutions, join us for this special meeting to discuss how we can win real change. All welcome!
Future meetings
- Mar 20: The relevance of Lenin today
- Mar 27: Disaster Capitalism and Climate Change
Titles are subject to change depending on political developments
Anti Racism
Recent weeks have seen an escalation of Islamophobic racism from leading members of the Tory party following the furore in Parliament during the Gaza debate, where Speaker of the House of Commons Sir Lindsey Hoyle claimed his decision to break with Parliamentary protocol was due to the safety and security of MPs, saying he didn’t want MPs to be murdered by terrorists or another an attack on the House. Thus sparking controversy by linking calls for a Gaza ceasefire with terrorism.
At the same time the Muslim Council of Britain demanded urgent action after reporting an alarming surge in Islamophobic attacks, with a staggering 335% increase and over 2000 recorded cases in the last four months, averaging around 500 per month and nearly one case every 90 minutes.
Meanwhile former Prime Minister Liz Truss shared a platform with Steve Bannon, a former adviser under the Donald Trump Presidency, where she claimed “a radical Islamic party” could win the Rochdale by-election and she failed to challenge Bannon describing fascist Tommy Robinson as a “hero.”
Robinson, a fascist, has been using the Islamophobia unleashed by Braverman since Armistice Day, to build a fascist street movement.
This government's rotten racism is dangerous - their toxic scapegoating of refugees and migrants, vile Islamophobia, and role in bolstering fascist, antisemitic far right forces who are seeking to grow cannot be left unchallenged.
That's why it is so important - in a year of big elections where racism will be pushed hard, when European elections are likely to see gains for the far right and when Trump could be back in the White House - that we take to the streets in unity against racist division, in big numbers...
https://worldagainstracism.org/
New pamphlet
1984, the Miners and the strike that could have won
£3 available on local SWP stalls, by reply to this email, or online here
Forty years ago more than 160, 000 miners went on strike in defence of their jobs.
They stayed out for a year, sustained by solidarity from millions of people across Britain who had never previously been near a coal mine.
This was society at war, with Thatcher and cronies engaged in a vicious assault on the working class. It was a struggle that shaped a generation and showed how much people’s ideas can change through collective struggle.
Ian Taylor gives a narrative of the dispute and the key turning points that could have forced the Tories and the Coal Board to their knees.
This is a struggle that could have won.
Book the dates off now!
Marxism Festival 2024, central London
Thurs 4 July to Sun 7 July:
Speaker announcement: Jeremy Corbyn joins the line up for Marxism Festival
Get your earlybird ticket before 1 April: bit.ly/marxism24
Line up also includes:
Yanis Varoufakis · Ghada Karmi · Richard Boyd Barrrett · Sumaya Awad · Tariq Ali · Muzan Alneell · Ilan Pappé · Lowkey · Gary Younge · Sophia Beach · Claudia Webbe MP · Andrew Feinstein · Walden Bello · Alex Callinicos + more