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From The Socialist newspaper, 23 November 2016
Packed-out Socialist Party meetings hear American socialist and Black Lives Matter activist
Darletta Scruggs photo Paul Mattsson (Click to enlarge)
Socialist Party reporters
"Within hours of Donald Trump winning the US election we were able to get 40,000 people on the streets and put socialist ideas out there, at the time when we had the biggest audience", said Darletta Scruggs when talking to over 60 people, mostly from the local black community, who squeezed into a public Socialist Party meeting in Hackney, east London. Darletta is a member of Socialist Alternative, the Socialist Party's co-thinkers in the US and a Black Lives Matter activist in Chicago.
The meeting followed others the day before in Lewisham, south London, where over 40, mainly young, attended, and a meeting of students at the University of Arts. In Birmingham, Darletta spoke to a packed-out, energetic public meeting of over 60.
Malcolm X
Afterwards Darletta and Socialist Party members visited Marshall Street in Smethwick where, 51 years ago, just days before he was assassinated, black revolutionary Malcolm X paid a visit.
Some residents of Marshall Street were calling for the council to buy up empty houses and make them available to white families only. Malcolm X said he was visited because he was "disturbed by reports that coloured people in Smethwick are being treated badly".
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The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.
The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.
The government has now ripped up its 'austerity' mantra and turned to policies that not long ago were denounced as socialist. But after the corona crisis, it will try to make the working class pay for it, by trying to claw back what has been given.
- The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
- When the health crisis subsides, we must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.
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In The Socialist 23 November 2016:
Socialist Party news and analysis
Cash for rich and royals, cuts for the 99%
Tories plan pain with Brexit Autumn Statement
£3.5bn on temporary housing for councils
'Just about managing': £2,500 worse off by 2020
Job figures mask casualisation
What we think
The Socialist Party and support for the Corbyn movement
Socialist Students
Campaigning Socialist Students groups needed to hold student unions to account
N30 strike: five years on
Lessons of the 'N30' 2011 pension strike: when workers showed their power
International socialist news and analysis
USA: mass protests break out to #ResistTrump
Ireland: repeal the 8th Amendment - fight for abortion rights
Spain: Students' Union surges forward in historic congress
Hundreds rally to celebrate anniversary of Students' Union and Izquierda Revolucionaria
UN climate change summit: more hot air from Marrakech
Workplace news and analysis
"I don't always feel that I'm a carer anymore" - a day in the life
Socialist Party reports and campaigns
Reselection motion passed at Labour Party branch
Packed-out Socialist Party meetings hear American socialist and Black Lives Matter activist
School talk on the struggle for the vote and its importance today
Socialist readers' comments and reviews
"I can't stop thinking about Socialism 2016 - it was truly brilliant"
Socialism 2016: what you thought
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