Together against the far right: on Saturday!  

The war on Iran (see below) promises geopolitical havoc, economic turmoil and a reshaping of politics. That instability makes the Together against the far right demonstration on Saturday even more important. The feeling is it could be huge - one of the biggest anti-racist mobilisations in British history. Over 150 coaches have been booked, 450 organisations are supporting the march and 750k leaflets have been distributed. Plus the day will include a music gig in Trafalgar Square with Jessie Ware, Self Esteem, Joy Crookes and UB40, Billy Bragg and more special guests will be addressing the march. 
 
 The demo couldn't be more timely. Nigel Farage and Reform UK remain top of the polls, promising to bring a British ICE to our streets. The Islamophobic onlaught against Muslims praying in Trafalgar Square underlines the march to the right in mainstream politics. Meanwhile Labour's policies towards refugees and migrants have echoes of the racism at the heart of Reform. 
 
 It is crucial that Saturday's demonstration marks the birth of a renewed movement against the far right, not propping up of the political centre. That means:  

• Stand Up to Racism has to come out of it bigger and stronger, with local groups taking on the far right and Labour's state racism
• More activists are won to building the 16 May protests against Tommy Robinson 
• A big campaign against Reform UK in the May elections            

Opposing the war on Iran  

Trump has backed down  from the 48 hour ultimatum he issued on Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz or the US would strike Iran's energy infrastructure. The impact of the war is already having destabilising effects on the global supplies of oil and gas and shaking the global economy. This is likely to still be felt for months irregardless of what happens next. 
 
 The gamble taken by Trump in attacking Iran has got the US in a bind: to backdown would be an immense demonstration of US weakness but to escalate will likely cause a major oil and gas shock that will severely damage the global economy. There is still immense danger that they will escalate in order to get out of their dilemma having failed to secure a quick victory.
 
 Trump's flailing and contradictory messages about the need for the support of allies in NATO and wider to assist in opening the Strait has so far fallen on deaf ears. But the logic of escalation could still draw the UK further into this conflict. Starmer has already made available UK bases for US bombers. We have to build opposition to this war on Iran and look to build resistance to the UK involvement. 
 
 You can watch back the Zoom Q&A analysis with Anne Alexander and Simon Assaf here. Read analysis in Socialist Worker. 

"Now is the time of monsters”: 

Gramsci for the 21st century

Wednesday 25th March 7pm

Michael Young Building, 

Manzil Way, East Oxford, OX4 1YQ

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Also online. Register c/o https://oxfordswp.org.uk/zoom

Antonio Gramsci was an Italian socialist, jailed for opposing fascism.  He revolutionized socialist thought by shifting focus from pure economic determinism to the role of culture and ideology. His key contribution was the theory of cultural hegemony, explaining that the ruling class maintains power not just through force, but by manufacturing consent through cultural institutions.  

Join us to discuss Gramsci ideas and how they can help socialists today fight back today.

Public meeting

NEW WORLD DISORDER

the modern far right & how we beat them

7pm Wednesday 1st April

New Road Baptist Church, Bonn Square, OX1 1LQ

The world is unravelling. US and Israeli attacks on Iran have sparked the threat of wider war. Abroad Trump wants to spread war and violence in the name of ‘liberation’, whilst ICE agents in the streets of America commit murder and carry out racist raids. In Britain, Starmer is prepared to pander to Trump. He supports imperialist war as well as racism towards refugees, asylum seekers and migrants. All the while, life at home for working class people gets worse. The rise of Reform UK and the global far right pose a threat to everyone and Starmer legitimises them with every racist Labour policy that is announced. The whole system needs to be resisted and brought down. 

We’ve seen the possibilities of that resistance. From Iran to Palestine and from Minneapolis to Britain. Over the last year people have come out against imperialism, racism and the far right. Join us for an evening to discuss how we build that resistance to win. All welcome.