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Resisting the Tories unsafe plans for schools
Boris Johnson has announced that all schools will be told to fully reopen from Monday 8 March in England. This is a reckless act, driven not by scientific evidence or concern with children’s well-being but with profit and reopening more of the economy.
As a joint statement by the main school trade unions and headteachers unions on Friday points out “the full reopening of schools will bring nearly 10 million pupils and staff into circulation in England – close to one fifth of the population. This is not a small easing of lockdown restrictions. It is a massive step.”
Schools are a key transmission belt for the virus into the wider community. Johnson and the Tories have presided over one of the worst death rates in the pandemic anywhere – yet clearly they have learnt nothing. Just three weeks before the Easter break in most areas of England, they are rushing to restart the Covid engine once again. And Keir Starmer is backing the Tories all the way, also calling over the weekend for schools to fully reopen desperate it seems to get in ahead of Johnson's announcement.
That means the unions must act. As SWP comrades in the NEU say in a statement: “If the Tories try to press ahead with this lethal plan there is only one answer. We must act in the way we did last June and January to stop them and to save lives.” (See - and share - the statement by SWP Educators, ‘March is too soon – don’t let reckless Tories destroy a safe and sustainable return’ here https://swp.org.uk/swp-educators-statement/)
What Are the Origins Of LGBT+ Oppressions?
7 PM Wednesday 24th February
Zoom meeting ID: 861 2001 6477 Passcode: 967537
LGBT+ History Month celebrates the battles for LGBT+ liberation and those who fought for them, but in spite of the advances made in the past fifty years, many of those rights are under attack and in some countries LGBT+ people are still subject to the most vile oppression.
What are the roots of this oppression? Why does it persist? Why does someone's sexuality matter so much in today's society and why should it be seen as grounds for violence and discrimination?
As Socialists, we always side with the oppressed and fight oppression in any form. When we understand where the oppression comes from and why it persists, we can fight back more effectively. Join us for an informative talk & a friendly supportive discussion with plenty of time for questions and contributions.
Before the meeting, you might like to watch this video with Socialist Worker Journalist Isabel Ringrose. It is part of a series of very short videos called Marxist Mondays, released every Monday afternoon by the SWP on the website, swpUKtv, Facebook and other platforms: https://fb.watch/3LGiKovjB6/
Isabel is also one of the authors of the newly updated pamphlet Pride,Politics and Protest which you can download from here: bit.ly/pridepamphlet or order in hard copy.
People Before Profit
Following the news last week about the dire economic hit the British economy has taken during the coronavirus pandemic all eyes are on Rishi Sunak's announcement of the government budget on March 3rd and what it will mean for ordinary and working people. The government's response to the crisis so far has been to prioritise the needs of business and profit making over ordinary people. The budget will likely contain little to address the terrible situation many people in Britain find themselves in with unemployment and poverty growing and the benefit and welfare system cruel and not up to the task.
Day of Action on Wed 3 March which is Budget Day to coincide with TUC planned online rally. Join the Oxford cavalcade 5-6:30 PM. Email oxfordcovidaction@gmail.com for more information
If you would like to join others taking action on UN Anti Racism Day across Oxford and Thames Valley (within Covid restrictions at the time) please fill in this form
Oxfordshire healthworkers and postal workers were among those who joined the day of action on Feb 18th to build the international mobilisation against racism on March 20.
12 Noon SATURDAY, 27 FEBRUARY 2021
Stand Up To Racism & TUC conference 2021 - book tickets here
- From COVID-19 to #BlackLivesMatter... Fighting for anti-racist workplaces
7 PM Monday 1st March
Oxford and Thames Valley Rally Against Racism
7PM Monday 1st March
Organisations from 17 countries, including the TUC in the UK, have called an international mobilisation against racism on March 20 UN Anti Racism Day #WorldAgainstRacism
Organisations in Oxford and Thames Valley have called this rally to build the mobilisation on March 20. Join us to find out why we need to mobilise and what people can do to support the day.
- Across the world Black Lives Matter
- Oppose Islamophobia & Stamp Out Antisemitism
- Refugees Welcome Here - End the hostile environment
- For a Public Inquiry into disproportionate effects of Covid 19
- Stop racial profiling
Speakers include:
- Elise Bryant - United Against Hate (US)
- Brian Richardson - Stand Up To Racism
- Zita Holbourne - PCS National Vice-President
- Jabu Nala-Hartley - Oxford Coalition of Black Communities and Communities of Colour
- Chelsea Jackson - Rhodes Must Fall
- Bill MacKeith - Oxford Against Immigration Detention
- Dr. João Martins - MedAct Oxford
- Rabhya Dewshi - Extinction Rebellion Oxford
SAT, 20 MAR 2021
UN Anti Racism Day - National Day of ActionBLACK LIVES MATTER - NO TO RACISM, ISLAMOPHOBIA, ANTISEMITISM AND FASCISM - REFUGEES WELCOME, DEFEND MIGRANT RIGHTS
Supported by the TUC, Stand Up To Racism is calling for socially distanced events to be organised in every town and city on 20 March - with events in the UK and internationally being linked up online.
In Britain, socially distanced protests will take place across the country, including central London, and a national online rally, will take place with speakers representing the broad alliance of communities and organisations that make up the anti-racist movement.
If you would like to join others taking action on UN Anti Racism Day across Oxford and Thames Valley (within Covid restrictions at the time) please fill in this form
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