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From The Socialist newspaper, 3 July 2019
Tamil Solidarity Day: Linking up oppressed people's struggles
Tamil Solidarity's 2019 Solidarity Day, 29.9.19, photo by London Socialist Party (Click to enlarge)
Ketheswaran Sritharan, Tamil Solidarity
This year's Solidarity Day meeting took place on 29 June in London.
Solidarity Day is an opportunity to bring together the struggles of oppressed communities, trade unionists and students and build the fightback against all oppression.
The event consisted of two sessions and the audience fully participated in the debates and discussions.
The first session was on the current situation in Sri Lanka, the recent repression of the Sri Lankan government of the Muslim community and how to build a fightback. The second focused on the rights of minorities and the role of trade unions.
Speakers from Refugee Rights, Ethir Media, a Sri Lankan Muslim independent journalist and the Sri Lankan Front Line Socialist Party spoke about the recent political and social situation in Sri Lanka.
The session highlighted that the promised 'peace dividend' following the end of the civil war in 2009 - a brutal genocidal slaughter of 146,000 innocent people - hasn't materialised.
The Sri Lankan government is in political crisis and in order to survive and maintain power is stirring up tensions along communal lines and has unleashed anti-migrant racist propaganda. Both the ruling parties are preparing for the presidential election that is scheduled to take place later in the year.
The second session included speakers from Unite and Unison unions, Socialist Students and the national chair of Tamil Solidarity. They focused on the plight of refugees and asylum seekers in the UK; 'slave labour' in detention centres; how government cuts are affecting young people in minority communities; and the increase in racial attacks and racism affecting Black and Asian workers.
This session showed how trade unions needed to take a stand against racism and austerity, to stop the scapegoating of migrant workers for the economic problems; the power of collective action, and encouraging people to join a union.
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In The Socialist 3 July 2019:
Workplace news
Angry Usdaw members strike at Sainsbury's distribution centre over sick pay cut
Sick of your boss? Join a union! Fight for socialism
Construction workers protest in defence of union rights and against anti-worker EU
Socialists in PCS union launch new group to fight general secretary election
Steps forward and missed opportunities at Unite rules conference
London Arriva bus drivers vote for strike action over bullying and workload
Birmingham school strike for safe working environment
Lancashire Stagecoach drivers continue their fight
Birmingham uni workers strike against terms and conditions attacks
What we think
Sinister moves against Corbyn can be beaten by clear socialist policies
News
Same old millionaire Tories - Fight to kick them out
Nationalisation is answer to Southern Water cover up
Gig-economy exploitation doubles
Even social-care bosses say cuts have gone too far
Stonewall riots
Stonewall riots' legacy shows need for socialist struggle to win LGBT+ liberation
Socialist Party reports and campaigns
Socialist Party secures new offices
Angry Barking residents protest outside sales office
Tamil Solidarity Day: Linking up oppressed people's struggles
Coventry says no to congestion charge
Carlisle Labour/Lib Dem coalition cuts care home beds
Sell the Socialist and take out an e-subscription
Lincoln Uni NUS disaffiliation: a question of on-campus democracy
Stourbridge: Keep our college!
International socialist news and analysis
New opportunity to build working-class fightback after voters punish Erdogan
Irish health workers' anger boils over into strike action
Opinion
TV: Years and Years - Engaging family drama pushes confused, reactionary message
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