Mariam Kamish, Rhondda Cynon Taff Socialist Party
We are reclaiming the fighting traditions of our party in this famous ex-mining area of south Wales.
Two nurses, two young workers, three students – one of them from Nigeria – and a college lecturer we met during the recent strikes, are among those attending the brand-new Socialist Party branch.
Since the pandemic – like Socialist Party members all over the country – we’ve put in a lot of early mornings on the picket lines. And the horrors of the siege of Gaza have speeded up the growth of appetite for struggle locally.
“I’m seeing genocide livestreamed on my phone”, says one of the nurses. “The world is a shit show. But I think you’re doing a really wonderful job of creating solidarity and a sense of community in Pontypridd.”
Solidarity and community
Staff at the Arts Centre where we meet agree. “We love the Socialist Party”, a staffer told us this week.
A Nigerian student took another angle. “Ever heard of motion without movement? We need to see drastic change. That’s why I’m here.”
But Eira, 22, put it most succinctly: “I’m a socialist. I told you that the minute we met!”
Inspired by how rapidly the Socialist Party has grown in Sheffield, where over 50 people have joined over the last 18 months , we’ve been organising a public meeting every month in the lead up to the launch. And we intend to continue.
We are full of enthusiasm, and eager to fight to change society.
