One of the events mention on the bulleting was yesterday, so I’m afraid I’ve missed posting about that in time. However, the other events are still a few days away if anyone wants to sign to them.
‘Event Bulletin – 17/04/24
This Sat: Israel, Iran & the Threat of Wider War
The threat of the war in Gaza spilling over into a wider Middle East war has never been greater.
The tense relationship between Tehran and Tel Aviv is stretched to breaking point. Israel’s missile strike on the Iranian embassy in Damascus led to the first ever direct attack by Iran on Israel. Western powers leapt to condemn Iran’s actions yet they conspicuously failed to condemn Israel for its provocations.
Pressure is being put on Netanyahu to avoid further escalation but he is hardly a leader known for his restraint. The world is on tenterhooks as it awaits Israel’s response. And while we wait Israel continues its slaughter in Gaza, continues to use hunger as a weapon of war, and the UK, along with the US, continues to supply Israel with arms.
Join us on Saturday evening for a discussion with eminent commentators, Trita Parsi (Responsible Statecraft), John Rees (Stop the War), Kate Hudson (CND) and Maryam Eslamdoust (TSSA) who will be examining how we got to this point and where we might be headed next.
Tomorrow – Palestine & the Unions: The Next Steps for the Movement
The global movement against the genocide in Gaza is having an enormous impact. The pressure on governments to stop arming Israel is huge and we must keep it up. Tomorrow (18 April), we’re bringing together representatives from across the UK and beyond to discuss how trade unionists can continue to deliver effective solidarity to the Palestinian people.
Susan Abdul Salaam from the New Union of Jerusalem will be joining us live as will president and founder of the Amazon Labor Union, Chris Smalls, from the US. PCS General Secretary Fran Heathcote, RMT President Alex Gordon, Stop the War’s Andrew Murray and Frankie Leach from Unite’s EC make up an esteemed line-up. Join us for this crucial discussion.
National Demonstration: Stop Arming Israel – Ceasefire Now!
Saturday 27 April, 12 noon
Central London, Assembly Point TBA
The next National Demonstration for Palestine will be on Saturday 27 April in Central London. If you haven’t already, please start organising to ensure the highest turnout possible. We’ll have flyers for the demo in our London office from tomorrow. If you can flyer please click below.
‘In-person Dayschool: A World To Win – Socialist Solutions for the Crisis
Saturday 17 February. 11am-4.30pm. In-person. Central London. Places are strictly limited – register today here.
The permanent crises we face here & globally show the need to renew & build a fighting, class-struggle left, putting forward socialist solutions for justice at home & peace around the world. To this end, we are sharing some session details for our #AWorldToWin in-person dayschool in Central London on February 17.
Global capitalism in crisis – what’s the socialist economic alternative? Roundtable facilitated by John McDonnell with economists Ozlem Oneran & Michael Roberts.
How Can there be Peace and Justice for Palestine? Rvyka Barnard, Palestine Solidarity Campaign; MIsh Rahman, Momentum & Jess Barnard.
Beat back the ruling-class offensive – Renewing & strengthening the fightback. Holly Turner, NHS Workers Say No; Sarah Woolley, BFAWU; Aisha Malik-Smith,YL Disabled Members’ Officer & Richard Burgon.
A world to win – closing rally for global peace & justice. Kate Hudson, CND; Heidi Chow, Debt Justice; Rodrigo Toneto, Brazilian Workers’ Party & Mairéad Farrell, Sinn Fein.
Hosted by Arise – A Festival of Left Ideas with the support of Socialist Future in Young Labour & Labour Students. Media partner – Labour Outlook.
ALSO COMING UP: 1) No cuts – Tax the Rich – Invest in our Future!
Online event. Mon. Mar. 4, 18.30. Register here // RT here
John McDonnell MP // Richard Burgon MP // Sarah Woolley (BFAWU) // ZIta Holbourne (BARAC) // Jess Barnard, Labour NEC & more.
Just before Sunak & Hunt’s 2024 Budget, join us to discuss how we renew resistance to austerity & popularise left economic alternatives to never-ending cuts.
Arise – A Festival of Left Ideas & Labour Assembly Against Austerity. Free event but solidarity donations key to streaming & hosting costs. If you can, please donate £20 or what you can afford here.
2) REGISTER: The Bloody History of UK & US Imperialism in Palestine & the Middle East
Online Forum. Thurs. Feb. 22, 18.30. Register here // Share & invite here // RT here
The complicity of the US & UK with Israel’s war crimes in Gaza –as Jeremy Corbyn pointed out was so exposed by the ICJ ruling – has opened the eyes of millions to the nature of imperialism, whilst both countries have also started new bombings on Yemen. Join us for an in-depth forum on how this is part of a long & bloody imperial history that must be opposed. With
Bernard Regan – Palestine Solidarity Campaign EC member & author, The Balfour Declaration: Empire, the Mandate and Resistance in Palestine
Sami Ramadani – Iraqi Democrats against Occupation, Sociology lecturer & decades-long campaigner against war & sanctions in the Middle East.
Kate Hudson – General Secretary of CND, Officer of the Stop the War Coalition & author, Breaking the South Slav Dream: The Rise and Fall of Yugoslavia.
With plenty of times for questions & discussion
Hosted by Arise – A Festival of Left Ideas & media partner Labour Outlook. Part of the Socialist Ideas series. Free event but solidarity donations essential to streaming & hosting costs. If you can, please donate £20 or what you can afford to the costs of streaming and hosting the event here.
3) COMING UP: Women for Palestine
Online rally. Tuesday March 5. 18.30. Register here // Share & invite here // RT here.
With live-links from Palestine, plus: Apsana Begum MP // Beth Winter MP // Louise Regan, NEU // Ryvka Barnard, Palestine Solidarity Campaign // Jess Barnard, Labour NEC member // Hilary Schan, Momentum // Siân Errington, Arise Festival // Rachel Garnham, CLPD // Baroness Christine Blower & more tba.
As part of events in the run-up to International Women’s Day 2024 join us at this online event in solidarity with Palestine. #CeasefireNow #FreePalestine
Hosted by Labour & Palestine. Kindly streamed by Arise – a Festival of Left Ideas. Free event but solidarity donations crucial to hosting & streaming costs. If you can, please donate £20 or what you can afford here.‘
Online rally. Tuesday March 5. 18.30. Register here // Share & invite here // RT here.
With live-links from Palestine, plus: Apsana Begum MP // Beth Winter MP // Louise Regan, NEU // Ryvka Barnard, Palestine Solidarity Campaign // Jess Barnard, Labour NEC member // Hilary Schan, Momentum // Siân Errington, Arise Festival // Rachel Garnham, CLPD // Baroness Christine Blower & more tba.
As part of events in the run-up to International Women’s Day 2024 join us at this online event in solidarity with Palestine. #CeasefireNow #FreePalestine
Hosted by Labour & Palestine. Kindly streamed by Arise – a Festival of Left Ideas. Free event but solidarity donations crucial to hosting & streaming costs. If you can, please donate £20 or what you can afford here.‘
There’s also another event on British and American imperialism and the Middle East.
‘EVENT OF INTEREST: The Bloody History of UK & US Imperialism in Palestine & the Middle East
Online Forum. Thurs. Feb. 22, 18.30. Register here // Share & invite here // RT here
An in-depth forum with:
Bernard Regan – Palestine Solidarity Campaign EC member & author, The Balfour Declaration: Empire, the Mandate and Resistance in Palestine
Sami Ramadani – Iraqi Democrats against Occupation, Sociology lecturer & decades-long campaigner against war & sanctions in the Middle East.
Kate Hudson – General Secretary of CND, Officer of the Stop the War Coalition & author, Breaking the South Slav Dream: The Rise and Fall of Yugoslavia.
Hosted by Arise – A Festival of Left Ideas & media partner Labour Outlook. Please contact the organisers directly with any queries.‘
‘1) Zarah Sultana – UK should “support South Africa’s application to the ICJ indicting Israel for its ‘genocidal’ assault on Gaza”
South Africa has brought a case to the International Court of Justice indicting Israel for its genocidal assault on Gaza. Here, Zarah Sultana MP has written to the PM, urging him to publicly support this case & to end complicity in this atrocity. Please read her letter here, retweet our message here & share Zarah’s post here,
South Africa’s application to the ICJ is an utterly damning indictment of Israel’s assault – read it in full here.
The Tories are bringing back their toxic anti-boycott bill back to Parliament next week. It’s a dangerous threat to democracy, freedom of expression, & the ability of public bodies to spend, invest, & trade ethically in line with international law & human rights, including in solidarity with Palestine. Please get involved by:
Taking 30 seconds to lobby your MP using the PSC’s handy tool here.
Visiting the Right to Boycott website & signing its statement here
Protesting on January 10 at 5pm outside Parliament. Info here.
Reading a full explanation of the latest developments here
3) REGISTER TODAY: Palestine in 2024 – What the World should be doing, with Mustafa Barghouti
Online Wednesday January 17, 18.30. 100s of you have already registered for this event – thanks for the amazing response. Please now keep spreading the word – Register here // Share here // RT here.
Briefing with time for Q&A, direct from Palestine, with Dr. Mustafa Barghouti.
Mustafa Barghouti is a Palestinian physician, activist, & politician who serves as General Secretary of the Palestinian National Initiative (PNI). He has been a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council since 2006 & is a member of the Palestine Liberation Organization Central Council. In 2007, he was Minister of Information in the Palestinian unity government.
Hosted by Labour & Palestine. Kindly streamed by Arise – a Festival of Left Ideas. Free event but solidarity donations essential to hosting & streaming costs.
4) REMINDER: Follow us on Social media
10,000s of you took part in our recent online lobbying, petitions and events. Please make sure to also follow us on Twitter here & Facebook here for all the latest.
5) NEW DATE: Can there be a just peace for Palestine? session at Dayschool: A World To Win.
Saturday 17 February. 11am-4.30pm. In-person. Central London. Register here .
Please note that in solidarity with the ASLEF strike and national day of action with Palestine this event has been rescheduled for Saturday February 17, 2024.
Join our session with: Ryvka Barnard, Palestine Solidarity Campaign // Hugh Lanning, Labour & Palestine // Jess Barnard, Labour NEC.
Plus: John McDonnell MP // Özlem Onaran, Professor of Economics, Greenwich // Richard Burgon MP Rodrigo Toneto, Brazilian PT Youth // Kate Hudson, CND // Sarah Woolley, BFAWU GS & more.
‘1) In-person Dayschool: A World To Win – Socialist Solutions for the Crisis
Saturday 17 February. 11am-4.30pm. In-person. Central London. Register here.
How the vibrant Palestinian solidarity movement has shook politics highlights the need to renew & build a fighting, class-struggle left, putting forward socialist solutions for justice at home & peace around the world. To this end, we are sharing some session details for our #AWorldToWin in-person dayschool in Central London on February 17
Global capitalism in crisis – what’s the socialist economic alternative? Roundtable facilitated by John McDonnell with economists Ozlem Oneran & Michael Roberts.
How Can there be Peace and Justice for Palestine? Rvyka Barnard, Palestine Solidarity Campaign; Hugh Lanning, Labour & Palestine & Jess Barnard.
Beat back the ruling-class offensive – Renewing & strengthening the fightback. Holly Turner, NHS Workers Say No; Sarah Woolley, BFAWU; Aisha Malik-Smith,YL Disabled Members’ Officer & Richard Burgon.
A world to win – closing rally for global peace & justice. Kate Hudson, CND; Heidi Chow, Debt Justice; Rodrigo Toneto, Brazilian Workers’ Party & a Sinn Fein speaker.
Hosted by Arise – A Festival of Left Ideas with the support of Socialist Future in Young Labour & Labour Students. Media partner – Labour Outlook.
2) ONLINE EVENT: Socialism or Barbarism? Why Rosa Luxemburg matters today
Sunday January 14 2024, 15.00. Register here // RT & spread the word here
““Those who do not move, do not notice their chains.” – Rosa Luxemburg.
With Paul Le Blanc & Helen Scott, co-editors of the acclaimed Rosa Luxemburg: Socialism or Barbarism collection of writings.
Rosa Luxemburg was one of the most brilliant minds ever drawn to the socialist movement – an outstanding theorist & a political activist. This forum will look at the relevance of her ideas for transforming a world in crisis today – & how her work was broad in scope tackling capitalism and socialism; globalisation & imperialism; war and peace; social struggles, unions & parties; class, gender, race; the interconnection of humanity with the environment & more.
Part of the Socialist Ideas Series – presented by Arise – a Festival of Left Ideas & Labour Outlook.‘
‘1) REGISTER: Palestine in 2024 – What the World should be doing, with Mustafa Barghouti
Online Wednesday January 17, 18.30. Register here // Share here // RT here.
Briefing with time for Q&A, direct from Palestine, with Dr. Mustafa Barghouti.
Mustafa Barghouti is a Palestinian physician, activist, & politician who serves as General Secretary of the Palestinian National Initiative (PNI). He has been a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council since 2006 & is a member of the Palestine Liberation Organization Central Council. In 2007, he was Minister of Information in the Palestinian unity government.
Hosted by Labour & Palestine. Kindly streamed by Arise – a Festival of Left Ideas. Free event but solidarity donations essential to hosting & streaming costs.
2) REMINDER: Follow us on Social media
10,000s of you took part in our recent online lobbying, petitions and events. Please make sure to also follow us on Twitter here & Facebook here for all the latest.
3) NEW DATE: Can there be a just peace for Palestine? session at Dayschool: A World To Win.
Saturday 17 February. 11am-4.30pm. In-person. Central London. Register here .
Please note that in solidarity with the ASLEF strike and national day of action with Palestine this event has been rescheduled for Saturday February 17, 2024.
Join our session with: Ryvka Barnard, Palestine Solidarity Campaign // Hugh Lanning, Labour & Palestine // Jess Barnard, Labour NEC.
Plus: John McDonnell MP // Özlem Onaran, Professor of Economics, Greenwich // Richard Burgon MP Rodrigo Toneto, Brazilian PT Youth // Kate Hudson, CND // Sarah Woolley, BFAWU GS & more.
CND have apparently been running a campaign for peace, entitled ‘Peace One Day’, over the past few days. As part of it, various actors, celebrities and public figures read out suitable texts or deliver talks. In this video, actor, comedian and wannabe politico Eddie Izzard reads the poem ‘Invictus’, who author wrote it after having a leg amputated for bone tuberculosis. It’s the one with the famous lines, ‘I am the captain of my fate, I am the master of my soul.’
I’m not a member of CND and don’t know anything about their peace campaign. Eddie Izzard is a somewhat controversial figure. He’s tried twice to be elected as a Labour candidate, once in Sheffield and recently in Brighton, and both times he’s been turned down. Various noxious right-wing YouTubers have been celebrating his failure this time. He has also managed to alienate some of the gender critical types by telling the world he has now gone into ‘girl mode’ and is now female. This includes people, who previously had no problem with him being an ‘out’ transvestite.
I’m putting the video up because Izzard is exactly right about this. It’s an inspirational poem and Christmas is, or should be, the season of peace and goodwill to all. And we need it, what with the wars in Ukraine and Gaza. He’s right, just as Lennon and Ono were right about another war they protested against: ‘All we are saying is, ‘Give peace a chance’.’
Hope you all have a peaceful Christmas wherever you are, whatever your religion or philosophical outlook and your politics.
‘1) We will keep marching until there is a ceasefire
Join the National Demonstration in London this Saturday:
When: Saturday 9th December
TIme: Assemble 12pm
Location: Bank Junction, EC3V (closest station Bank)
Last weekend, thousands of people filled their local town and city squares calling for a permanent cessation of hostilities in Gaza. This weekend, hundreds of thousands are expected to converge in London united in one thing – demanding a full, immediate ceasefire now.
2) ONLINE EVENT OF INTEREST: Can Palestine Be Free?
Wednesday December 13 18.30. Register here // Share here // RT here
An in-depth forum on why standing for a free Palestine is a vital question for all those committed to winning a better world. With Bernard Regan, member of the PSC Executive, & author of The Balfour Declaration: Empire, Mandate and Resistance in Palestine.
Presented byLabour Outlook &Arise – A Festival of Left Ideas.Free event but solidarity donations essential to hosting costs.
3) REMINDER: Follow us on Social media
10,000s of you took part in our recent online lobbying, petitions and events. Please make sure to also follow us on Twitter here & Facebook here for all the latest.
4) NEW DATE: Can there be a just peace for Palestine? session at Dayschool: A World To Win.
Saturday 17 February. 11am-4.30pm. In-person. Central London. Register here .
Please note that in solidarity with the ASLEF strike and national day of action with Palestine this event has been rescheduled for Saturday February 17, 2024.
Join our session with: Ryvka Barnard, Palestine Solidarity Campaign // Hugh Lanning, Labour & Palestine // Jess Barnard, Labour NEC.
Plus: John McDonnell MP // Özlem Onaran, Professor of Economics, Greenwich // Richard Burgon MP Rodrigo Toneto, Brazilian PT Youth // Kate Hudson, CND // Sarah Woolley, BFAWU GS & more.
Hosted by Arise – A Festival of Left Ideas.‘
Here’s what Stop the War Coalition sent to me about tomorrow’s march yesterday.
‘🇵🇸 Stop the War on Gaza – This Saturday’s National Demonstration 🇵🇸
National Demonstration for Palestine: Full Ceasefire Now – Stop the War on Gaza!
Saturday 9th December 2023
Assemble at Bank Junction, EC3V 3LA at 12 noon
Nearest Stations: Bank, Cannon Street, Monument, St Paul’s and Liverpool Street.
This Saturday we will once again march to show solidarity with the people of Gaza and against the complicity of our government in the horrific bombing campaign and invasion we are witnessing. As long as the brutal attacks on Gaza continue we will continue to march and demonstrate. Let’s make this another huge demonstration of solidarity with the Palestinians.
Stop the War has played a key role in the recent Palestine demonstrations, and has also held numerous meetings and rallies across the country. But to sustain this level of activity we need your help. We have no large financial backers and rely entirely on donations from people like you.
This heightened level of campaigning is expensive. We need money for publicity, for leaflets, for banners and placards. Money for meeting venues and transport, money for publicity and flyers.
We must continue to build the anti-war movement. Help get our message out to an even bigger audience.‘
And I got these details about the march tomorrow just this afternoon
‘🇵🇸 Stop the War on Gaza – Tomorrow’s National Demonstration 🇵🇸
Over the past two months a child has been killed every twelve minutes in Gaza. The unspeakable horror of Israel’s brutality has led the UN to describe the situation there as “apocalyptic”.
Amongst the 17,000 confirmed dead since October 7th is poet and academic Refaat Alareer who was targeted by an Israeli airstrike on his sister’s apartment where he was killed alongside his sister and her four children. His November 1st poem, If I Die, is pinned to his X profile. In it he writes:
If I must die, you must live to tell my story
Maxine Peake will read Refaat’s poem from the stage at tomorrow’s demonstration where we will again march to show solidarity with the people of Gaza and the occupied West Bank. We will march to call out the silence of Sunak, Starmer and hundreds of other MPs who refuse to speak out against this horrific violence.
As long as the brutal attacks on Palestinians continue we will continue to demonstrate. Join us at Bank, EC3V 3LA at midday tomorrow.
If you’re looking for unique Xmas gifts or anti-war stocking fillers be sure to check out our online store. Orders for Xmas must be placed by 13 December.
As the Bombardment Restarts, Resistance Must Increase
The so-called ‘humanitarian pause’ is over and Israel is renewing its onslaught on Gaza. Although this week’s pause may have offered a brief glimpse of a potential peace, in reality Israel was still carrying out unspeakable crimes in the West Bank, shooting dead at least 9 children since last Friday.
As the bombardment of Gaza recommences, our answer must be to step up our resistance. Make sure you’re out on the streets tomorrow to take a stand against the horrific ethnic cleansing we are witnessing.
Tomorrow’s local actions will be an important building block to making the National Demonstration for Palestine on Saturday 9th December absolutely huge. Make sure to start booking your transport now.
In London we’re hosting a major rally to discuss the imperial roots of the crisis and how we can turn historic levels of resistance into a movement that finally achieves Palestinian liberation. Join Jeremy Corbyn, Salma Yaqoob, Barnaby Raine, Lara Elborno (@gazan girl), Kamel Hawwash (PSC Chair), Tariq Ali, Lindsey German, Andrew Murray and more in Brick Lane tomorrow. Please make sure you register below…
Last Wednesday, thousands of workers and students in hundreds of workplaces, colleges and universities took action calling for a permanent ceasefire.
This Thursday (7 Dec) StWC and CND are calling on all those in work, college or university to Stand With Gaza by organising a walkout, lunchtime or early morning protest (or other collective action) calling for our government to call for a permanent ceasefire. Click here to see what workers and students did last week for ideas of what you may be able to do this Thursday.
Every collective act, big or small, sends a message to those who are suffering in Gaza that we are with them and puts pressure on our government to call on the Israeli government to stop bombing Gaza.
There will be an online meeting on Tues 5th Dec at 6.30pm to build the Stand With Gaza Day of Action as well as the National Demonstration on 9th Dec. Please send around your networks.
Just got this earlier today. Stop the War Coalition have organised a massive demonstration against the conflict in Gaza, and as you can read in their message about it, they’re avoiding the Cenotaph and urging everyone to be respectful of it.
Which isn’t what you’re being told by lying media like GB News, Talk TV, and right-wing pundits like Jim Davidson and Nigel Farage.
Which is one of the several good reasons why it needs to be put up.
‘🇵🇸 National March For Palestine – Ceasefire Now! 🇵🇸
Saturday 11th November
Assemble: 12pm at Hyde Park – Marching to the US Embassy, Nine Elms Lane, London, SW11 7US
The breadth and depth of the support for the movement’s calls for a ceasefire has ensured that this Saturday’s march will go ahead. Thank you to everyone who helped. The demonstration is set to be huge.
We want to send a clear message from the march that we represent the majority of the population in our calls for a ceasefire and that the movement in support of the Palestinians is growing in strength. There are many in the establishment and on the right who want to see us fail on Saturday so it is important that we have the biggest possible turnout and that we remain disciplined and united, and clear on the principles on which we march. Our call for a ceasefire is rooted in a sincere wish to see an end to all violence, especially that which targets civilians, while recognising that this cannot be achieved unless the root causes of that violence, the 75 years of ongoing Nakba against the Palestinian people, are adequately addressed.
The march assembles in Park Lane at 12 noon and will set off around 12.45pm. We urge people to use Bond Street, Lancaster Gate and Hyde Park Corner stations as well as Marble Arch station to avoid congestion.
We will march past Victoria, over Vauxhall Bridge and past the US embassy to a stage further down Nine Elm’s Lane. This is not a usual end point but we felt it was important to protest at the US embassy and to respect the Armistice commemorations, by ensuring we were not marching anywhere near Whitehall.
There will be a very strong stewards operation but the crowds will be big so we suggest people appoint a couple of stewards from their coaches or groups in order to keep in contact with everyone. Coach companies are asked to contact their trade associations for details of drop off and pick up points.
We ask people not to let off fireworks or flares as these can be frightening and our demonstrations have been attended by many thousands of children.
There are a number of stations near the end point including Battersea Power Station, Battersea Park, Nine Elms, and Vauxhall. We ask that when the rally is over at around 4pm, you leave the area as quickly as possible so as not to cause too much disruption to the local community. It is clear we are starting to make a difference and pushing back those who refuse to call for a ceasefire. Let’s make this Saturday another inspiring, peaceful and united show of solidarity with the Palestinian people.
On behalf of the 6 orgnaisers of Saturday’s demonstration: Stop the War Coalition, Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Friends of Al-Aqsa, Muslim Association of Britain, Palestinian Forum in Britain and Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament.
We need volunteers to help on the day including stewards, distributing placards and helping on the Stop the War stall. We also need If you’re able to lend us a hand on the day please let us know by emailing us using the button below….
Given the attempt to silence pro-Palestinian voices in the mainstream it is crucial that this Saturday’s protest reflects the breadth and depth of feeling against the current onslaught against Gaza and elsewhere. This is particularly the case for trade union regions, branches and members.
Having a visible labour movement presence on the demonstration is vital to its impact so we’re calling on local trade union branches and trades councils to organise delegations and bring their banners down to Saturday’s demo.
The Trade Union Bloc will be congregating at 11am at Speakers Corner. Be there.‘
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