Socialist Action is co-sponsoring a weekend of discussion, debate, and agitation on the theme of 'Building an alliance for socialism' on the weekend of 16-17 November.
Speakers include:
Diane Abbott, Tony Benn, Jack Collins, Jeremy Corbyn, Vladimir Derer, Betty Heathfield, Peter Heathfield, Stuart Holland, Ann Pettifor, Russell Profitt, John Ross, Marc Wadsworth, Jude Woodward, Doreen Weppler. plus speakers from Black Sections National Committee, the FDR of El Salvador, and many many more.
Venue: Sir William Collins school, Charrington St, London NWI (near Kings Cross Station)
£5 for weekend, £3 each day Tickets from Socialist Action. PO Box 50, London N1 2XP water s: OVER 1000 people packed into the Rally called by Labour Herald at the Labour Party Conference last Monday evening. Speakers included MPs Tony Benn, Dennis Skinner, Joan Maynard; the chair of Women Against Pit Closures, Ann Lillburn; and black section leaders Sharon Atkin and Paul Boateng Below we reprint excerpts from Arthur Scargill's speech.
I FIND it sad that tonight we've got the attention of the media focussed on one single issue at this conference. I feel sad because it should have been dealing with the major issues confronting Britain's people.
I happen to have a particular interest in the problems that have erupted over the last couple of weeks in Handsworth and over the last weekend in A more definite interest than at any time previously in my life.
I confess that on platform after platform over years I have referred to the difficulties by black community, ities. but minorities.
CLILLEC wasn't until our when witnessed first hand the full fury of an organised state machine that I truly identified with the problem of black people in the heart of our major cities in Britain I remember the conference well 1984 heard the glowing speeches from all sections of our movement who appreciated at that time miners had been on strike for almost eleven months.
I also recall vividly speaker after speaker in leadership positions condemning my members termed 'violence' If there's thing that emersed in trial at that trial Orgreave where Dul lads were not only cleared but the police were shown to be guilty of conspiracy fabricating evidence, , forg ing documents it's that our lads were guilty of onone crime. that's fighting retain jobs. There should be apology those who condemned our lads during the 12 months miners industrial dispute I've had a Dil perience of this matter.
blue hit me with Ute ot those rot shield that's becoming common place on the streets of Britain. What happened at Orgreave, what happened happening in Brixton everyday now apparently, with our police quite openbecoming military force - is going to happen to you next. Because it's been allowed to happen to miners and workers black COMmunities throughout the length and breadth of our nation.
We are asking this conference and we are asking our party to recognise that the struggle goes on. Since the end of Ine in March, there's not beer one single week free from industrial disputes in the National Mineworkers. and, under McGregor's stewardship the Coal Board have lost the end of March 1985. ,£1½m per week due to industrial disputes. The man ought to be dispatched back to the States quickly possible, because he is a liability on the British economy.
In July 1984 we'd all been removed as trustees from the miners Densior scheme because we refused to agree or accept the vestment policy NCB, who sought to invest mineworkers' money the rotten corrupt system apartheid in South Africa. I believe we were right to stand firm on that issue tell something else. It's time that other who are trustees of pension funds, took the SalLIC determined stand a the NUM took as far as that barren system is soncerned I've gor a major conMier at this conference. It's a conflict with the Thatcher government, a conflict with capitalism, and a conflict as far as my class is concerned to see socialisn established in soon as possible believe that when you listen some of our leaders in the trade union movement they talk about our demands being And they talk about it being an electoral liability. It makes me cast my mind back.
Many years ago it was written by James Connoll on this very question, and it could equally apply to day when he said 'Some men, fainthearted ere seek our programme to retouch/And will insist when ere they speak, we demand much/Tis passing strange declare such statements give mirth/For VU. demands moderate are/We only want the earth. Surely, 1985, the spirit the constitution of our the Idea which movement was built should be determining and influencing our policies! Is it not remembered that our party and our trade union movement were built t with Damn and sumering and I struggle? They were built saw the only alternative to a capitanst system thal Op pressed was to change this sytem, was to bring quality of human life by renalise better than ane trying operate Tories change capitalism and you build a socialist system. Lel la be our rallying call. I hop!
miners, will CONCILICO support the resolution, comrades
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An for Socialism