Saad H, Hackney Socialist Party
The Israeli state’s genocidal slaughter in Gaza has reached its fourth year, backed by Britain and Western powers. So far, it has been responsible for 74,000 deaths, the displacement of 97% of Palestinians, and the destruction of 80% of buildings in the Strip.
Recognising its importance, we attended the national demonstration in central London on 10 October. We spoke to protesters about their motivations for coming.
Socialist Party members said how war is not an accident, but an inevitability under an expansionary capitalist system that constantly requires more land, more people, and more avenues to exploit and colonise. The working class internationally – horrified by endless war, and shattered by austerity – can oppose this system through mobilisation.
Europe youthquake
A particular discussion point was the inspiring youth-led movements taking place across Europe. In France, 500,000 students, teachers, and parents across 40 cities have taken to the streets to fight back against €54 billion cuts to public services, proposed by the Emmanuel Macron government.
In the Spanish state, mass marches erupted after Maricarmen Abascal, 87 years old, was evicted from her Madrid home by a hedge fund that raised her rent from €500 to €2,650. She tragically died shortly after, following hospitalisation for severe anxiety and exhaustion.
Over 500,000 marched in Madrid alone, demanding housing be treated as a human right, rather than an asset controlled by international financiers. The movement won Maricarmen the right to return home on her old rent, before her death.
In Germany, over 50,000 school students walked out against proposed military conscription. Students realise that the same government mismanaging dilapidated German schools is pouring €784 billion into its war machine by 2030, expecting young people to fight and die for capitalists.
Genocide, cuts to public services, housing crises, and mass militarisation – these are the same issues fuelling anger among youth in Britain. The average graduate leaves university crushed under £47,000 in debt, competing with 140 applicants for every entry-level role, while spending over half their income lining the pockets of landlords.
Yet while the government claims it has no money to invest in our futures, multibillion-pound pledges have been promised for so-called ‘defence’.
This contradiction cannot hold. We encourage youth in Britain to follow Europe’s inspiration, and mobilise against a system that creates war abroad and implements austerity at home. We said this at the demonstration, ahead of the International Youth Walkouts on 20 November.
War and austerity
At the protest, students from Ravensbourne University in London expressed interest in organising and printing posters. They recognised the links between international wars and domestic crises.
The students agreed that to oppose war and genocide, and to make gains for the youth at home, the same mobilisation was needed. They wanted to know more about socialism, and what we do.
When asked about new Labour prime minister Andy Burnham, they were sceptical: “He presents himself as coming from a working-class background, but the policies don’t match”, as we discussed the attacks on the triple lock for pensioners.
We also spoke about tuition fees, and graduates hit by changes to ‘Plan 5’ loans. The repayment term has been extended to 40 years, sentencing youth to an extra 10 years of debt.
Socialist Students is campaigning and meetings across UK universities. If you want to join the walkouts, reach out to us!
