The Socialist 18 August 2010

Action now to defeat cuts!

Action now to defeat cuts!

Pakistan: Workers' solidarity urgently needed

Floods in Pakistan bring devastation - poor suffer most

Youth must fight for a future!

Student demo should be start of the fightback

No to advice service cuts

Decent pay for interns

Uni bosses say cuts will cause closures

Forecasts of fragile economic growth

Cameron sticks the boot into our council housing

Private-profit company granted 'snoopers' charter'

Private Finance Initiative: A licence to print money

Coventry Against the Cuts challenge councillors' 'legal obligation'

Northern Ireland: Belfast Stop the Cuts Alliance established

Bromley care workers fight privatisation and job cuts

Defend Our Community Services launched in Bracknell

Cuts devastate mental health services

The legacy of Leon Trotsky

Kirklees Unison strike ballot launched

CWU members accept BT pay deal

Debate how to fight back at Socialism 2010

Tube staff vote for action against cuts

Jobs under threat at Ministry of Justice

Airport workers win improved offer from BAA

Workplace news in brief

Socialist Party summer camp - book now!

Russia's raging wildfires - a crisis of government policies

Bradford must organise against the EDL

Birmingham: Community says 'No' to racist spy cameras

Previous issues, etc

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Birmingham: Community says 'No' to racist spy cameras

On 3 August an overwhelming majority of participants in a public meeting of over 300 people condemned the installation of a network of police spy cameras around two predominantly Muslim suburbs of Birmingham. The cameras were secretly installed to track the number plates of cars coming in and out of Sparkbrook and Washwood Heath as part of the government's anti-terrorism strategy - known in Birmingham as Project Champion.

Tom Bower, Birmingham Socialist Party

Campaigners have condemned this racist project, which stigmatises the entire Muslim community.

The public meeting was called by the West Midlands Police Authority in response to an outpouring of anger from the local community. The representatives of the Authority faced a hostile audience that almost universally denounced the cameras. Audience members also condemned the 'independent' review of Project Champion, which is being led by the Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police - hardly an impartial figure!

By the end of the meeting the police could have been in no doubt about the message from the community, and the chief constable of West Midlands police sought to mollify the audience with assurances that the cameras had been switched off and that plans for removal were being considered. There was some scepticism from the audience about these assurances and we shall see if the chief constable's words are matched by actions.

Local people will not be fobbed off and will keep campaigning until every spy camera has been removed.

The Socialist Party in Birmingham stands shoulder-to-shoulder with those campaigning against the spy cameras, as well as calling for maximum working class unity in the struggle against Islamophobia, racism and imperialism.

In this issue

Action now to defeat cuts!