Great turnout and discussion at 200 years of Marxism meeting

Karl Marx photo Wikimedia Commons/Creative Commons, photo Wikimedia Commons/Creative Commons (Click to enlarge)

Students from University of Liverpool, nearby Liverpool John Moores University and Edgehill University Socialist Students societies came together for a '200 years of Marxism' meeting on 21 February.

We did this to show students just how relevant Marx's ideas are in 2018 - 200 years after he was born and 170 years since the publication of the Communist Manifesto. Socialist Students national organiser Claire Laker-Mansfield introduced the discussion, describing how Marx's analysis remains the most accurate explanation for the functioning of the world economy and the problems we face today, from the low paid 'gig economy' and public sector cuts, to the existential threat of climate change.

Weeks of leafleting and postering paid off with a great turnout of new faces, several of which have already agreed to get involved in Socialist Students, have attended our meetings and taken part in our leafleting campaigns. This meeting also coincides with the lecturers' pension strike which has enjoyed overwhelming and highly visible support from students both here in Liverpool and at campuses across the country. It has not only helped Socialist Students boost our profile on campus in Liverpool with our campaign in support of the strike, it has also helped to prove the continued importance of Marxism after 200 years!

Jack Yarlett, Liverpool John Moores Uni Socialist Students

Donate to the Socialist Party

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.

Inevitably, during the crisis we have not been able to sell the Socialist and raise funds in the ways we normally would.

We therefore urgently appeal to all our viewers to click here to donate to our Fighting Fund.