Demo against far-right DFLA

Socialist Party members marching against the far-right DFLA, 13.10.18, photo by Socialist Party (Click to enlarge)

Up to 2,000 marched in London against the far-right Democratic Football Lads Alliance (DFLA) on 13 October. Socialist Party members took part in the counter-demonstration where PCS assistant general secretary and Socialist Party member Chris Baugh was one of the speakers:

"Solidarity is one of our most important weapons against the far right, against the Tories, and against the super-rich who are making working class people pay the price for a crisis they did not make.

"Those who caused it - the bankers and super-rich, who were bailed out with our money and tried to get away with one of the biggest scams in recent history - have used the terrible and cynical tactic of scapegoating minorities, of stirring up racism and of attempting to divide working class communities.

"If there's one thing that history tells us it's that PCS and all trade unions must stand in solidarity with all those under attack. We must do everything in our power to provide, if necessary, the physical defence of migrant communities that are subject to racist attacks. And in the process we should expose the DFLA.

"In the 1970s the far right tried to exploit football and we saw them off. I'm confident we will see them off again. But we also have to recognise that to challenge racism we have to challenge the conditions that the far right and racists feed off. PCS welcomes the decision of the TUC to support a 'jobs and homes not racism' campaign and we need to put that into practice.

"We need to fight to make the super-rich pay their way and pay their taxes. We need to bring public utilities back into public ownership. We need to build the thousands of homes that are needed in working class communities.

We need to invest in the NHS and in education. Unions have always been central to this fight. We need to reach out to the millions of young and super-exploited workers. We need to use our massive strength to challenge racism in workplaces, on the streets, in communities and in society. Let's fight racism, fight the cuts and show that another world is possible."

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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.
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.