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Socialist Students

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From: The Socialist issue 986, 14 March 2018: Determined UCU strikers; We're out to win

Search site for keywords: Birmingham - Students - Socialist - Socialist Students - Protest - University

Seeing-off the bigoted, billionaire toff!

Birmingham Socialist Students protest Mogg's visit, photo Birmingham SP (Click to enlarge)

Lily Branchett, Birmingham central Socialist Party

On 9 March, Birmingham Socialist Students played a vital role in organising a protest against arch-reactionary Tory MP Jacob Rees-Mogg, at the University of Birmingham (UoB) campus.

On hearing that this figurehead of the bigoted billionaire class was planning to speak at our campus, we sprang into action alongside three other societies - the Women's Association, LGBTQ Society and Black and Ethnic Minority Association - to show that we reject both his backwards views and his disgusting parliamentary voting record.

Our members were joined by around 50 people, including UoB students, Birmingham City Uni students and some UoB staff, to show that if this man can exercise his right to freedom of speech to spread his regressive views, then we too can exercise our right to show that we will not stand for it on our campus and in our city.

Many leaflets were handed out detailing how Mogg has consistently voted against the interests of women, LGBT+ people, immigrants and asylum seekers, disabled people, and the working class, while consistently voting to benefit his own capitalist class and profit minded agenda.

Socialist Students members spoke at the event. One said we were protesting to show that we were "completely and unequivocally" opposed to his views and that we had to stand in solidarity in the face of such blatant homophobia, misogyny and bigotry being sold as 'political debate' on our campus.

Birmingham Socialist Students kept the protest peaceful, well-organised, and politically focused. As one of the main organisers, Sam Witts, put it: "If he is proud of his legacy, then we can be equally as proud of ours."

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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.