Link to this page: https://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/1128/32329
From The Socialist newspaper, 7 April 2021
The system is broken... youth unite and fight back
Adam Powell-Davies, Oxford Socialist Students
Covid-19 has brought a sense of crisis especially for young people. Workers under the age of 25 have accounted for two-thirds of job losses over the past twelve months. And university students have remained stuck in limbo between their childhood homes and halls of residence on campus, paying eye-watering tuition fees and rent.
This is a generation that has grown up in an age of Tory austerity, now facing the deepest crisis of global capitalism since the 1930s. Not surprisingly, an ever-growing number of students and young workers have reached the same conclusion: the system is broken.
It's no coincidence that the younger generations have been the ones spearheading mass movements for change throughout the pandemic.
Young people came out in droves to oppose systemic racism in the Black Lives Matter protests, while the recent vigils for Sarah Everard, which highlighted an entrenched culture of sexism and violence against women, saw a resolute outpouring of young women in particular.
Both sets of demonstrations also singled out the oppressive role of the police in opposing social change and perpetuating inequality. This idea has been central to the 'Kill the Bill' protests, which have seen a considerable youth turnout. We must also not forget the rent strikes launched by university students across some fifty-odd campuses.
The fundamental sickness underpinning all forms of systemic oppression is capitalism. It must alarm the British capitalist class to see a new generation fighting en masse against the forms of division and institutions that prop up their rotten system. Young people must be organised on a united, socialist programme that connects all of these issues in the fight to end capitalism.
With the A-Level results U-turn last summer, scattered rent strike victories, and the heroic efforts of school students at Pimlico Academy (see page 4), young people have shown time and again that when we organise, we can win.
This is why Socialist Students will be out in over twenty locations on 21 April as part of a national day of action, demanding tuition fee and rent refunds as a first step towards winning free education for all. Young people are well and truly on the move.
- Join the Socialist Students day of action 21 April
- See socialiststudents.org.uk for action near you
Donate to the Socialist Party
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 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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