Working class riots

August 2024 Forums General discussion Working class riots

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  • This topic has 39 replies, 9 voices, and was last updated 1 day ago by KAZ.
Viewing 15 posts - 16 through 30 (of 40 total)
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  • #253515
    Bijou Drains
    Participant

    I’ve got a feeling that all of these arrests and prison sentences may well erode Wetherspoons’ customer base quite significantly.

    Not sure that the title of this article “working class riots” is particularly helpful, when have we seen capitalist class riots? Don’t think the pampered offspring of the 1% will be much use in a full blown drunken brawl.

    Also describing the riots as “A few hundred men” doesn’t appear accurate either. It’s not what some feminist theory would describe as a “gendered issue”, as the recent court proceedings clearly show.

    #253516
    ALB
    Keymaster

    Account from Bristol of counter-demonstration. Much more of them.

    Huge counter demo in Bristol sends clear message that far right not welcome – as it happened

    #253517
    james19
    Participant

    Big anti Facist demonstration in Walthamstow tonight.
    I suggested on X Twitter people go along to the William Morris Gallery.
    I got a reply, the William Morris Gallery was mentioned by another user. However, I didn’t mention William Morris was a Socialist, nor did this other user.
    Made amends in another Walthamstow thread that William Morris was a Socialist.
    Not sure of the numbers of AF who turned up, looked quite a large crowd or whether these people were local to the area?
    YFS

    #253518
    paula.mcewan
    Moderator

    I think the reason there was such a large turnout of anti fascist demonstrators last night was due to trade union organisation. My TU (PCS) sent out a message yesterday jointly with Stand Up for Racism telling TU members where to demonstrate against the racists. Stand Up for Racism is very much supported – if not actually organised by – the SWP.

    Every time I see SWP banners on a demo my heart sinks but let’s face it, they are visible and we are not. We don’t participate in demos on a point of principle but maybe we should be out there brandishing placards “World Socialism is the only solution”. Or some such placard agreed by the relevant committee.

    It’s a long standing principle of our party that demos don’t achieve anything because they won’t achieve socialism. But maybe if we marched with banners and placards promoting the party case we might gain some new members.

    Paula

    #253519
    ALB
    Keymaster

    We don’t participate in demos on a point of principle

    I don’t think that’s true, is it? It depends on what the demonstration is for. After all, we have organised our own demonstrations for socialism in Trafalgar Square. And then there are trade union demonstrations. Ok, we don’t take part in them as a party with our banner but individual members do as class-conscious workers.

    In any event we are often at (if not on) a demonstration with some reformist aim we don’t agree with, handing out leaflets and selling the Socialist Standard.

    Even though it might have nothing to do with socialism I can’t see anything wrong in principle with workers gathering to stop other workers from being attacked by racists.

    #253520

    Oh, go on:

    E.C. 12.4.38 Groves & Wilmott “That South West London Branch be informed that in the opinion of this E.C. the participation of a Party contingent in the May Day demonstration does not conflict in any way with the Party Principles, and this E.C. sees no reason to alter the decision previously arrived at.” Cd. 9-2

    Party Poll 1938 “Are you in favour of a unit representing the Socialist Party marching with and being a part of the procession organised to celebrate May Day?” YES 62 NO 103

    Party Poll 13.9.38 “Shall the Party participate in demonstrations of the May Day type?” FOR: 95 AGST: 81

    E.C. 15.6.54 McClatchie & Lake “That Comrade Langston be informed that, in the opinion of the E.C., it is inadvisable for members to march in May Day Processions associated with other Political Parties, because of the confusion that is likely to be engendered by doing so, but straightforward trade union processions are a different matter.” Cd. 8-2


    @Chelmsford
    : I did try to leaflet a bunch of fascists who had turned up to counter protest an anti war march, they didn’t want to take any.

    I think the fash have shot their bolt, they’ve demonstrated they are committed and organised, but their numbers are small, and the counter protest being peaceful and disciplined shows they wouldn’t win.

    I think this case is similar to the mysterious appearance of the Countryside Alliance, it’s the right showing they have teeth, and are not out for the count (and also regrouping). Telling, also, that Labour is trying to hold the centre by still being against immigration and seeing ‘legitimate grievances’.

    #253521
    DJP
    Participant

    “I think the reason there was such a large turnout of anti fascist demonstrators last night was due to trade union organisation.”

    The Trade Unions certainly did play an organisational role, and liaised with the police, but I think the majority of people that turned up to these things did so independently of them. Organic social media sharing seems to be the predominate factor these days.

    #253522
    ZJW
    Participant

    A member of the Anarchist Communist Group’s ‘Report from Plymouth’ of August 6:https://www.anarchistcommunism.org/2024/08/06/report-from-plymouth

    • This reply was modified 5 days, 9 hours ago by ZJW.
    #253524
    ALB
    Keymaster

    Is this serious? It reads like an account of the battles between mods and rockers of yesteryear:

    https://www.kentonline.co.uk/thanet/news/amp/when-the-wild-ones-terrorised-the-seaside-306623/

    Anarchists living up to their reputation. And from the ACG who are supposed to the best of that bunch.

    I see the black blob were were there. They must be jealous that they couldn’t organise so many battles with the police in so many places over so many nights.

    #253526
    DJP
    Participant

    Yes, that article does read like someone bragging about how big and strong they and their mates are.

    But visible displays of solidarity, such as those that happened on Wednesday, are an important factor in demonstrating that the racist far-right are not the “silent majority” and that the wider community will come out in defence of themselves and minorities.

    After all, we shouldn’t imagine that a rising socialist movement wouldn’t face organised intimidation from reactionaries. Working-class community solidarity is something that should be lauded.

    #253528
    ALB
    Keymaster

    Here’s the opposite extreme — Trotskyists pretending to be Muslims and talking of “our mosques”. Or perhaps there is a mosque that the leaders of the SWP and Counterfire attend.

    Islington and Haringey – Stop the far right

    #253529
    DJP
    Participant

    “Here’s the opposite extreme”

    And the happy middle is the local self-organisation of those who would have been affected by the intrusions. I think in the contemporary age of social-media networking this was the predominant factor that got people out into the streets. Leaderless street demonstrations are a common thing now, but are not sufficient to bring about socialism of course.

    #253532
    KAZ
    Participant

    misread that link there. thought it were “battlescarred” fighting the fash in plimaf. to your zimmerframes chumrades. to be fair, the lad is a “junior member” (two stars) who’ll be in about five minutes before he finds out our average age is six months less than the spugub average age.

    #253538
    james19
    Participant

    Screenshots sharing is everything.

    Yesterday one twit user was condemning police, police tactics always the victim, the jailing of far right facists and racist rioters.

    When JSO members were being jailed the same twit was full of praise for the police.

    Hypocrisy much.
    I’m going to find it and share it with you all….

    • This reply was modified 4 days, 3 hours ago by james19.
    #253540
    chelmsford
    Participant

    Don’t bother.

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