Join us today!
Printable version
Link to this page: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/961/26107
From The Socialist newspaper, 6 September 2017
Demonstrators see off far-right in Keighley
EDL thugs in Keighley, 2.9.17, photo by Bradford Socialist Party (Click to enlarge)
Iain Dalton, Socialist Party West Yorkshire organiser
"Get out of our town and take your racism with you," was one of the messages hurled by shoppers at the small contingent of English Defence League (EDL) members trying to stage a demonstration in Keighley, Yorkshire.
The protest on 2 September was originally supposed to be one of two demonstrations that day, with EDL members set to descend on Bradford where threats of acid attacks against women wearing the Burqa have been made.
Yet the Bradford protest was called off, and the Keighley demonstration only took place due to the four lines of police separating them from angry locals. An indication of the EDL's poor state of organisation at present was they didn't appear to have a megaphone, so no-one apart from them could hear their racist message.
Around 100 people, locals and anti-fascist campaigners gathered to oppose them, while Unite Against Fascism held a similar sized protest which was kettled by the police down the road.
Socialist Party members from Bradford and neighbouring towns were part of both counter-protests, getting a good response to our leaflets linking the need to oppose the divisive politics of the far-right with clear opposition to austerity and capitalism.
Donate to the Socialist Party
Coronavirus crisis - Finance appeal
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.
- Our 'fighting coronavirus workers' charter', outlines a programme to combat the virus and protect workers' living conditions.
- 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.
Inevitably, during the crisis we have not been able to sell the Socialist and raise funds in the ways we normally would.
We therefore urgently appeal to all our viewers to donate to our special coronavirus appeal.
In The Socialist 6 September 2017:
Socialist Party news and analysis
Fight council cuts - back the Brum bin strikers!
Historic McStrike: if we don't get it, shut it down!
UN slams Tories for disabled rights ruin
What we think
Tories weak: time for the TUC to act
Schools and teaching
Schools and teaching: A perfect storm of cuts, underfunding, excessive workloads and low pay
Socialist Party workplace news
Strike together for better pay
RMT fighting for passenger safety, accessibility and security
Merseyrail strike over safety: Labour mayor and councillors must reverse their decision
Fawley refinery canteen strikers tell their employer: "pay up"
College workers ballot for action in Nottingham
International socialist news and analysis
Hurricane Harvey: A tragedy made far worse by capitalism
Extreme weather events and global warming
Socialist Party reports and campaigns
Determined protest against Chatsworth Ward closure
Young people are searching for an alternative - find it at Socialism 2017
Huddersfield A&E closure goes to judicial review
Three thousand attend Burston strike commemoration rally
Bristol's Labour mayor calls anti-austerity march - now stop making cuts!
Demonstrators see off far-right in Keighley
Anti-fracking campaigners' legal fight
Socialist Party comments and reviews
How the Single Market blocks socialist policies
Warts-and-all account of class war and the struggle for LGBT+ rights
'Let the producers of wealth unite - and what can withstand them?'
Home | The Socialist 6 September 2017 | Join the Socialist Party
Subscribe | Donate | Audio | PDF | ebook
2019