Birmingham Socialist Students protest Mogg's visit, photo Birmingham SP

Birmingham Socialist Students protest Mogg’s visit, photo Birmingham SP   (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)

Lily Branchett, Birmingham central Socialist Party

On 9 March, Birmingham Socialist Students played a vital role in organising a protest against arch-reactionary Tory MP Jacob Rees-Mogg, at the University of Birmingham (UoB) campus.

On hearing that this figurehead of the bigoted billionaire class was planning to speak at our campus, we sprang into action alongside three other societies – the Women’s Association, LGBTQ Society and Black and Ethnic Minority Association – to show that we reject both his backwards views and his disgusting parliamentary voting record.

Our members were joined by around 50 people, including UoB students, Birmingham City Uni students and some UoB staff, to show that if this man can exercise his right to freedom of speech to spread his regressive views, then we too can exercise our right to show that we will not stand for it on our campus and in our city.

Many leaflets were handed out detailing how Mogg has consistently voted against the interests of women, LGBT+ people, immigrants and asylum seekers, disabled people, and the working class, while consistently voting to benefit his own capitalist class and profit minded agenda.

Socialist Students members spoke at the event. One said we were protesting to show that we were “completely and unequivocally” opposed to his views and that we had to stand in solidarity in the face of such blatant homophobia, misogyny and bigotry being sold as ‘political debate’ on our campus.

Birmingham Socialist Students kept the protest peaceful, well-organised, and politically focused. As one of the main organisers, Sam Witts, put it: “If he is proud of his legacy, then we can be equally as proud of ours.”