Hear from socialists involved in struggles the world over at the Socialism 2017 Saturday rally

Socialism 2017 Saturday rally: Socialism back on the agenda (Click to enlarge)

Charles Wheeler, Leicester Socialist Party

Labour's election surge. $15-an-hour campaigns sweeping the US. Catalan independence. There have been few times in history when socialist ideas have held such immediate relevance and so much international potential - and Socialism 2017 will see key figures from these struggles gathered under one roof.

Along with talks, forums and workshops covering innumerable subjects, the Socialist Party's annual weekend of discussion and debate centres around the energetic evening rallies. This year's flagship Saturday rally features speakers involved in struggles the world over, bringing the wealth of their knowledge to London - and redistributing it!

We'll hear from one of the only elected socialists in the US, Seattle councillor and Socialist Alternative member Kshama Sawant, on her successful fights for a $15-an-hour minimum wage, a tax on the super-rich, and easier voter registration.

Kshama also backed Bernie Sanders' challenge to the establishment in last year's presidential election, opposing both the reactionary bigotry of Donald Trump and the capitalist apologia of Hillary Clinton.

We'll also be joined by Juan Ignacio Ramos, general secretary of Izquierda Revolucionaria (IR) in the Spanish state.

In July, IR, along with sister parties in Mexico and Venezuela, voted to reunify with the Committee for a Workers' International (CWI), bringing new energy to all our struggles.

IR has been at the forefront of the Catalan independence campaign, arguing for a Catalan socialist republic.

And in the wake of Jeremy Corbyn's socialist platform yielding Labour's best election result in years, Labour MP and Corbyn supporter Ian Mearns will speak too.

The rally will also feature speeches from Tamil Solidarity and Refugee Rights Campaign activist Isai Priya, PCS union assistant general secretary Chris Baugh, and Socialist Party general secretary Peter Taaffe. Socialism is back on the agenda - get involved in the discussion at Socialism 2017!

Socialism 2017

Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 November

Institute of Education, Bedford Way, WC1H 0AL

Find out more and book tickets at socialism2017.net

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Finance appeal

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.

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