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Socialist Students
19 February 2020
Search site for keywords: Environment - Students - Socialist Students - London
London climate stewards use undemocratic methods
Socialist Students says democratise the climate strike movement
Climate strikers in London, 14.2.20, photo by London Socialist Party (Click to enlarge)
Helen Pattison, London Socialist Party
With a slightly smaller turnout then some of the climate strikes, around 1,000 people, the London protest still had a lot of energy, marching off quickly.
There is not agreement about what the movements' demands are and how they can be achieved.
At first, the demonstration marched to the Home Office, but this wasn't actually explained to the majority of students.
On previous protest, students have had to fight for the demonstration to go to Downing Street so students could oppose the prime minister.
Discussions are constantly happening on the demos and in classrooms in between the strikes. Should the movement take more direct action? Should it merely lobby the government? Do we need to challenge the capitalist profit motive with socialist ideas to win?
Socialist Students is clear: a mass movement is necessary, one that challenges the drive by big business for profit at the expense of the environment.
Sadly some unelected stewards didn't agree. They told protesters where to go, without any democratic discussion or debate.
Scandalously, stewards removed Socialist Students placards from people, so students had to defend their right to carry them. The stewards wanted to stop Socialist Students' open mic.
For a year students have been taking action and protesting in Parliament Square. But the structures for democratic discussion in the movement are missing.
Many of the demonstrations have turned into mass student assemblies, about tactics and political demands, thanks to Socialist Students' open mic. But students need the chance to put forward their ideas in between strikes as well.
That's why Socialist Students calls for the building of school students unions. They could democratically organise this movement and give students a voice and space to discuss the next steps.
Despite the anti-democratic actions of the stewards, 34 protesters bought a copy of the Socialist and nine wanted to know more about joining the Socialist Party.
This version of this article was first posted on the Socialist Party website on 19 February 2020 and may vary slightly from the version subsequently printed in The Socialist.
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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.
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.
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