Link to this page: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/1128/32309
From The Socialist newspaper, 7 April 2021
Report condones vigil police violence - democratic community control a necessity
Sarah Sachs-Eldridge
On 13 March, Socialist Party members were among the thousands who participated in a respectful but determined act of mass defiance following the ban on the vigil for Sarah Everard. Heavy-handed policing, including arrests, ensured this became a major political event.
Shock at the images of women protesting violence against women being pinned to the ground by police was widespread.
Even vicious Tory Home Secretary Priti Patel was said to have found the Metropolitan Police Commissioner's explanation of the use of force unsatisfactory, and called for a review.
However, that report, published on 30 March, strongly defended the police's use of force and said that in their manhandling of protesters the Met Police had "acted appropriately". One of the vigil organisers has correctly said that the report by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services will further erode women's confidence in the police.
The policing of the vigil - and its defence - are not isolated incidences but part of a ramping up of police powers against protests. The Tories know their plans to make the working class foot the corona spending bill will bring mass protests.
The vigil actually turned the spotlight on the Tory plans, specifically the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, which seeks to criminalise protesting. The Tories' hopes that this attack on democratic rights would slide into law without opposition, especially given Starmer's Labour intended to abstain until then, have been shattered. 'Kill the Bill' protests are spreading across the country.
The report confirms that mass opposition to attacks on the right to protest and a programme for the police are needed. The over six million-strong trade unions have the potential organised power to co-ordinate the different struggles by workers and young people, including over the right to protest and organise.
The new bill won't stop these protests. But the report further shows that the fight to stop the attacks on workers and young people defending their rights and livelihoods needs a programme, including for the police.
At the Clapham vigil, Socialist Party members respectfully distributed leaflets - which were snapped up. As well as defending the right to peaceful protest, we called for democratic working-class and community control of policing and public safety, and a socialist alternative.
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In The Socialist 7 April 2021:
News
Racism exists! Unite to fight all inequality
Report condones vigil police violence - democratic community control a necessity
Low-paid workers shouldn't pay for Covid crisis
The system is broken... youth unite and fight back
Fighting Fund: An amazing £39,948 raised
Schools
Sexism in education: It shouldn't be like this!
Pimlico Academy protests: "Run by racists for profit"
Academy schools have become business ventures
Protests
Defiance continues against anti-protest bill
London: #BuhariMustGo protests are back
Local elections
Councillors have a choice - don't vote for cuts
Former Labour parliamentary candidate to stand for TUSC
Workplace news
NEU elections: Elect a socialist leadership to fight for national action and a united campaign
GMB general secretary election: A fighting, socialist leadership needed
Sparks take deskilling protests to Hinkley Point
Marley Tiles workers strike against bullying bosses
New British Gas deadline and strike dates
Childcare
Childcare in crisis: A socialist solution
Liverpool
Right-wing Labour and Tory commissioners out of Liverpool!
Brixton riots
1981 Brixton riots: Racism and poverty - the anger explodes
International news
Brazil: Bolsonaro regime plunges into a deeper crisis
Readers' opinion
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