Cardiff – ‘we’re suffering under the same system’

John Williams, Cardiff Central Socialist Party

Thousands demonstrated against the Supreme Court ruling that disgracefully attacks trans rights. We haven’t seen a demo this big since Donald Trump’s first state visit.

The sense of solidarity was overwhelming. From start to finish, anger was clear.

The first speaker said, if you stand with trans women, you also stand with disabled people facing cuts. If you stand with trans women, you stand with the Palestinian people.

It set the tone for the whole event, that all different oppressions are linked to the vile capitalist system that we live in.

We had four speakers at the event from the Socialist Party, three of them are also on Cardiff Trades Union Council.

Katrine Williams said trade unionists fight for all women, for full funding for all, and reject the lie that there is only so much money and resources to go around.

Dave Bartlett spoke about attacks on trans people coming from Trump in the US. He said we should give Trump the same treatment, if he ever dared come here.

“The aggression against a minority of people is classic divide and rule. United we stand, divided we fall”.

His answer to those that say that trans rights conflict with women’s rights, because there’s only so much resources to go around, is tax the rich! But don’t stop there: “Build a mass movement to fight for a society for the millions, not the millionaires”.

Socialist Party member Eilonwy, from PCS Proud, representing the LGBTQ+ members in the civil service union, said: “The patriarchy system is not separate from the system of capitalism. Austerity and the oppression women face are part of the capitalist system, where a small minority owns the wealth.

“They profit from the exploitation of the working class. Women and trans women are exploited under this system.”

Eilonwy called for socialist change and, through nationalisation, for workers to take control of industry, and the NHS etc, so we can implement the change we need.

Socialist Party member and trans man, Eira, said: “Unlike Labour, I’m not a coward, and I will fight for trans rights”.

Compare that to big business backer Keir Starmer, who’s U-turned on his previous support for trans rights. That statement got shouts of “Fuck Labour! Fuck the red Tories!”.

Eira also said: “Trans people are the scapegoat of a failing capitalist system. Capitalism has failed to give people a functioning NHS. Failed to give us peace in Gaza. Failed to give us affordable and secure housing.

“We are all suffering under the same system. We need to come together to fight it.”

I was so proud of all the Socialist Party members who turned up and helped. Especially those who are new, some were at their first demo of this size. It’s not easy, especially being LGBTQ+, and putting your neck on the line.

Queues at Socialist Party stall

After our members spoke to say they were in the Socialist Party, and give our perspective, people came up to the stall. Queues were forming. I was struggling to keep up. And I work in a pub!

The organisers, Trans aid Cymru, provided excellent stewarding, had an open mic, and were very thankful for trade union support.

People didn’t criticise the Tories. But why would they? We have Labour in charge, who are pursuing the same anti-trans, pro-capitalist policies.

The mood of anger isn’t going away. The anger at Labour isn’t going away.

We gave out over 400 Socialist Party leaflets. Every person we spoke to agreed with our demand for a new mass workers’ party.

The Supreme Court ruling is just the start of attacks on LGBTQ+ rights. Just like the Labour Budget was just the start of austerity mark 2.

But these protests are just the start as well.

Cheltenham – ‘We can’t rely on courts to protect us’

Billy Jones, Gloucestershire Socialist Party

A driving force behind organising the event of 200 people in Cheltenham was the thriving local drag scene. One of the organisers told the Socialist Party: “For such a small place, I didn’t realise how many people were allies or trans themselves. This is not the final protest, and none of us will be silenced.”

Speaker after speaker came up to the microphone, many of them transgender people expressing their pain, anger, and feeling of betrayal by the system.

“This ruling is going to kill people”, one person said. Considering that hate crimes against transgender people have already risen in the past few weeks, this statement feels horribly accurate.

Swindon Socialist Party member Ryan spoke: “When Starmer and Streeting say they are defending women, they are lying. They are using trans people as a scapegoat to scavenge support from anybody who has not already felt betrayed by their lies and broken promises. It is about dividing the working class in an attempt to stop us from getting organised and fighting back.

“This Supreme Court ruling shows that we can’t rely on the courts to protect us. Every legal protection we have was not given to us by the system, but won through collective struggle.”

The crowd cheered as Ryan called on trade unions to be more energetic in backing LGBTQ+ rights, as well as the need for a new mass workers’ party that will represent the interests of the working class, not the elites.

Southampton solidarity

Francis Coultas, Southampton Socialist Party

Up to 600 people marched right through the city centre. Despite threats from the far right, there was no sign of them. Instead, many locals and local businesses showed their support, even joining in.

Trans people are understandably hurting, distressed, and anxious. But the message of the march ignited a real air of hope and solidarity.

Southampton Trades Union Council president and Socialist Party member Maggie Fricker gave a rousing speech. She brought solidarity from local trade unions, leading members of the crowd breaking out into ‘solidarity forever’.

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Pass this motion in your trade union

This branch notes:

• That the Supreme Court ruling on the interpretation of the definition of ‘woman’ can lead to people being excluded from the services and spaces they need
• That the ruling will also embolden those who wish to attack trans and non-binary rights and identities
• That the Labour government has welcomed the ruling, following on from the years of attacks on trans people by Tories seeking to distract from their cost-of-living crisis
• That women are at the sharp end of austerity – in terms of job cuts, low pay, and the destruction of public services that women are more reliant on because of pre-existing oppression

This branch believes:

• That the Supreme Court ruling will not improve the situation facing women in austerity Britain
• That any division in the working class will weaken our ability to fight the attacks on all our living standards and rights

This branch instructs the NEC to:

• Work with the TUC for a mass trade union-led campaign against austerity and division, which can draw together all sections of the working class, including a national Saturday trade union-led demo, and coordinating industrial action
• Call on the TUC to announce public backing of all members and branches who challenge employers who discriminate against service users or workers, including the excuse of the Supreme Court ruling to do so
• Begin a discussion within our union on the need for a political strategy that fights for the policies our union and members stand for, and to support those political candidates who back those policies, as a step towards a real political voice for workers