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From The Socialist newspaper, 19 August 2020
Black Lives Matter: this generation is willing to stand up and fight
Black Lives Matter protesters, photo Socialist Party (Click to enlarge)
West London
The Socialist Party participated in a Black Lives Matter rally on Shepherd's Bush Green on 8 August. We started off with an open mic, followed by an eight-minute kneel for George Floyd, then a march around the green, and finally speakers at the end.
Some speakers focused on awareness and recognition, calling for diversity training and teaching children about racism.
When the Socialist Party was allowed to speak, we raised the link between racism and capitalism.
We made it clear that racism will not be defeated just by raising awareness or getting sympathy from big business.
The only way to begin to defeat racism is for us to get organised in our workplaces through trade unions, and in our communities, and replace the racist capitalist system with socialism.
Brighton
Sussex Live quoted Socialist Party member Glenn Kelly at the 15 August protest: "This is the fourth Black Lives Matter demonstration I have attended in as many months, and still over 1,000 black and white mainly youth march together showing their determination to fight for justice and against racism.
"In light of the onslaught that is to come on education, jobs and the right to a home, a new generation is showing that it is willing to stand up and fight.
"It's time for the trade unions to unite with the youth to defend the lives of all working-class people facing attack under a system that cares more about profit than it does about people."
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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.
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 Fighting Fund.
In The Socialist 19 August 2020:
Socialist Party news and analysis
Students 2 : 0 Tories - Protests work!
Student protests force government retreat
"As a working-class student, I already faced struggles"
Tory planning deregulation: a charter for building profitable slums
NHS workers demand improved pay - 15% for all now!
International socialist news and analysis
Revolutionary mood in Lebanon following horrific explosion
Mass protests and strikes rock Belarus
Leon Trotsky
80th anniversary of Leon Trotsky's assassination
Yorkshire: Celebrating the life and ideas of Leon Trotsky
Education
September school return must be safe for all workers and students
NHS pay
NHS pay: unions must take fight to U-turn Tories
Socialist history
75 years since the publication of Animal Farm: From 'two legs bad' to 'two legs better'
Workplace news and analysis
300 Covid cases at Northampton food plant - management to blame, not the workers!
PCS union: Vote Yes in DWP ballot! Reject longer opening hours
Support the Tower Hamlets council workers, vote for Hugo Pierre!
Socialist Party reports and campaigns
Black Lives Matter: this generation is willing to stand up and fight
Nottingham: oppose the far right and attempts to divide us
Your donations help us campaign
Leeds: Little London residents are celebrating
To push change we need to be organised - why we joined the Socialist Party
Brighton: Another luxury development
The Socialist: back to weekly soon
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