Women rally defiantly in London

Socialist Party members attended the Time's Up demo at Downing Street on Sunday 21st January. Amalia, a member of Tower Hamlets Socialist Party, wrote the following report.

Over 1,000 women, of all ages and backgrounds but mainly many young women, defied the cold, the rain and the snow and joined this event.

We ran out of leaflets and received many joining cards [to join the Socialist Party] from women who are angry and frustrated with sexual harassment and sexism but also see how these issues link up with the fight against austerity and the profit driven capitalist system.

Socialist Party stall at the Time's Up demo, 21.1.18, photo by Tower Hamlets SP (Click to enlarge)

The massive 'Women marches' a year ago in the US against Trump quickly became a mass political manifestation against his reactionary agenda.

Time's Up demo, 21.1.18, London, photo Tower Hamlets SP (Click to enlarge)

All around the world, including in London, this mood was reflected by the many thousands of women protesting against sexism and misogyny.

The mass participation of women in #metoo shows how big the problem is. But it has also boosted further women's confidence to fight back.

Many of these women understand that this struggle isn't separate from other struggles against the system.

That cuts and austerity affect women in so many specific ways. That we still need to fight for our right not to be harassed, for equal pay, for decent public services.

That in order to truly fight against oppression we need to fight for a different society and get rid of this profit driven system that thrives on keeping us divided.

This version of this article was first posted on the Socialist Party website on 22 January 2018 and may vary slightly from the version subsequently printed in The Socialist.

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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.