Solidarity with the Birmingham Muslim community

We condemn this disgusting targeting of our Muslim sisters and brothers in Birmingham and we stand in solidarity with you. We call on all trade unionists to prioritise the fight to defend our communities against racist attacks and call for renewed funding of further education to deliver hope and understanding in the place of the ignorance and hatred that flourishes when educational opportunity is smashed.
We condemn the continual feed of “othering” of Muslims in our media and through institutional use of the Prevent strategy as part of the process of dehumanisation leaving our sisters and brothers open to attack, and continue our resistance to this.… Read on ...

Stansted 15

The Stansted 15 are a group of concerned citizens who peacefully stopped a deportation flight to Nigeria and Ghana at Stansted airport on 28 March 2017

They have now been convicted. The Stansted 15 expected to face retribution for their protest. They never expected to be found guilty of terrorism offences. But on Monday, the group became the first activists involved in a non-violent direct action protest to be convicted under laws that were formulated in response to the Lockerbie bombing. 

The group had information of people meant to be on that flight, who would be put in extreme danger if they were forcibly returned.… Read on ...

Tower Hamlets Palestine Solidarity Campaign

On Wednesday 21st November, a group of residents from Tower Hamlets Palestine Solidarity Campaign presented a petition to the full council meeting, requesting that the council ‘Safeguard Palestinian Solidarity’. [1] This was in response to the recent adoption of the controversial International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism, without any caveat that would enable Palestinians and their supporters to continue to speak out freely about harmful actions of the Israeli government.

Tower Hamlets Palestine Solidarity Campaign are pleased that in response to our petition councillors Sirajul Islam, Kevin Brady, and Mayor John Biggs made supporting statements in solidarity with Palestine.… Read on ...

Treason: Rebel Warriors and Internationalist Traitors

Edited by Steve Cushion and Christian Høgsbjerg
ISBN 978-0-9930104-9-1
An Occasional Publication from The Socialist History Society [£5]

Book Launch 14th November 2019 6:30pm
Bookmarks Bookshop
1 Bloomsbury Street, London WC1B 3QE

Speakers:- Steve Cushion, Christian Høgsbjerg (chair) and Merilyn Moos

Treason: Rebel Warriors and Internationalist Traitors – Introduction – Dave Gilchrist (Bookmarks) and Christian Høgsbjerg
url:https://youtu.be/PW6PB5PX_jA


Treason: Rebel Warriors and Internationalist Traitors Resistance to the Nazis from 1933 from within the German workers’ movement (Merilyn Moos)
url:https://youtu.be/L4RN_Ts2ZY8

Treason: Rebel Warriors and Internationalist Traitors Steve Cushion
url:https://youtu.be/DAtkQ0dWlyE

The publication tells the story of some courageous individuals and groups who put their commitment to a progressive cause before any consideration of loyalty to a nation state, in particular people who have acted from principle when they consider that the country of their birth is acting in a repressive or unjust manner.… Read on ...

Jamal Khashoggi, Saudi Arabia and the Labour Movement

What is undeniable is that an atrocity has taken place. Whether or not we discover the full story, Khashoggi is a victim of state murder by agents of a regime synonymous with repression and his death has provoked global outrage. The killing is anything but an isolated event….

Read the full branch statement “Jamal Khashoggi, Saudi Arabia and the Labour Movement”, which may be downloaded here….

The last branch meeting also asked Dave to draft a motion formally expressing our position.
This may be read here…… Read on ...

Reinstate Paul Jonson!

Defend trade unionists’ right to free speech! Defend employment rights!

If, having read the following statement, you wish to sign it, click here…

Paul Jonson, a community safety officer in Dudley and a member of Unison, has been suspended by his employer, Dudley Council.

According to a report in the local press, Paul was suspended by Dudley Council for a Facebook post stating “Stand up for Palestine – Israel is a racist endeavour”.

Paul is a long-standing anti-racist activist and campaigner against antisemitism and all forms of racism. He is also an active campaigner for Palestinian rights.

Whatever one’s views on Israel or the nature of the Israeli state and its founding, there is nothing antisemitic about this statement.… Read on ...

Next Branch Meeting

October 31st
at the union office in Carlow Street NW1 7LH, nearest tube Mornington Crescent

Speaker: Christine Lindey, member of our branch and author of

Art for All: British Socially Committed Art from the 1930s to the Cold War

Art for All reveals a forgotten or marginalised area of 20th century British art. Christine Lindey delves into the fascinating treasure trove of British socially committed art from the 1930s through to the Cold War.
With over 100 illustrations, she demonstrates why the artists deserve to beArt for All press release rediscovered. This extensively researched book provides a vivid understanding of the political and aesthetic contexts that turned a wide variety of individuals into socially committed artists.… Read on ...

Oppose the racist “Democratic Football Lads Alliance”

On Saturday 13 October, the racist ‘Democratic’ Football Lads Alliance (DFLA) have organised a demonstration for bigots and Islamophobes in London. Tommy Robinson, ex EDL leader and notorious fascist, who is being courted by UKIP, is a firm favourite of the DFLA. Thugs linked to the group attacked RMT union members and others, after a recent anti fascist march in London. The far right, at street level and electorally, use Islamophobia as a way of rebuilding in Britain. Across Europe racist and fascist organisations are receiving growing support at a level not seen since the 1930s. But we can stop them.… Read on ...