PAGE 3 NEWS: CORBYN TO HOST REFUGEES’ FIGHTBACK EVENT FOR MIGRANT RIGHTS

for Peace and Socialism

£1.50 Saturday/Sunday May 22-23 2021 Proudly owned by our readers | Incorporating the Daily Worker | Est 1930 | morningstaronline.co.uk IDF ATTACKS AL-AQSA AS PALESTINE CEASEFIRE BEGINS London and the world march in solidarity

by Bethany Rielly exile are denied the right to return deaths of 12 Israelis by Hamas home, PSC said. rockets, must mark a turning point. “Israel’s system of apartheid and “There is no military solution to CAMPAIGNERS have vowed to con- ethnic cleansing cannot continue,” this conflict,” she said. “We must tinue fighting for freedom, justice the statement said. “We can’t stop establish a meaningful peace and equality for Palestinians with just because Israel has temporarily process that ensures a sovereign large crowds set to protest this stopped bombing Gaza. Palestinian state alongside a safe, weekend regardless of the latest “We must campaign and protest secure Israel becomes an achiev- ceasefire. until the Palestinian people enjoy able prospect.” Organisers are expecting at least what is their birth right; freedom, Other politicians also welcomed 150,000 people to join a mass rally justice and equality in their his- the ceasefire but said more action in London today to demand an end toric homeland.” was needed to achieve justice for to Israel’s brutal occupation and Saturday’s demonstration will Palestinians. siege of the Gaza strip. see protesters gather at Embank- Labour MP Zarah Sultana said It comes a day after Hamas and ment at 1pm before marching to on social media that “true peace Israel agreed to a ceasefire in the Hyde Park. flows from justice” which includes early hours of Friday morning, bring- Organisers added that attacks by “an end to illegal settlements, ing an end to 11 days of deadly bomb- Israeli forces on Palestinian worship- the occupation of Palestinian ing that has killed at least 232 Pales- pers in Jerusalem’s al-Aqsa mosque lands and the siege on Gaza.” tinians, including 65 children. on Friday, just 12 hours after the Global actions of solidarity Despite the ceasefire, cam- ceasefire, also showcased why fur- with the Palestinian people have paigners stressed yesterday that ther demonstrations were needed. seen mass rallies in over 80 towns sustained pressure was needed Friends of al-Aqsa chairman and cities across Britain last week- FEATURES AND NEWS to end Israel’s system of apartheid Ismail Patel said: “Despite the end. and ethnic cleansing. Israeli decision to stop bombing Activists occupying the roof of In a statement, protest co-organ- Gaza we have to continue with the an Israeli arms factory in Leices- WORLD: GAZA CEASEFIRE 7 iser Palestine Solidarity Campaign protests as Israel continues with its ter maintained their action for a said: “Despite the ceasefire, Pales- occupation of Palestine. third day yesterday, shutting down tinians in Gaza still face a 15-year “The attack by Israeli forces on weapons production. FEATURES: BETHANY RIELLY 10 long siege that entraps them and worshippers in Aqsa Mosque hours Members of Palestine Action violates all of their human rights.” after the ceasefire shows the need argue that drone parts manufac- While Palestinians in the West to continue with our e"orts.” tured at the UAV Tactical System’s BEN JAMAL 11 Bank and East Jerusalem face a Shadow foreign secretary Lisa factory are used by the Israeli mili- brutal occupation, those in Israel Nandy said the latest violence, tary in its bombing of Gaza. PETER LAZENBY 12 are subjected to over 65 discrimi- which saw large areas of Gaza [email protected] natory laws and Palestinians in reduced to rubble as well as the Star comment: p10 manoeuvre Morning Star morningstaronline.co.uk Saturday/Sunday morningstaronline 2 May 22-23 2021 news @m_star_online

n GIG ECONOMY UBER LAUNCHES ACTION TO SQUASH WORKERS’ RIGHTS MANOEUVRE: Cab company looking to undermine Supreme Court ruling by Ceren Sagir currently to be £2.5 billion amounts to a terrible betrayal outstanding. of 100,000 Londoners working The ADCU also criticised TfL as licensed drivers under brutal UBER is launching a fresh for failing to raise concerns working conditions. High Court action in a bid about the risk of unrestrained “Instead of showing political to undermine the Supreme driver exploitation that is likely leadership and standing up for Court’s previous ruling on of Uber’s application is successful. precarious workers, the mayor workers’ rights and to weaken “The ADCU is shocked to is sweeping us and the problem transport regulations, drivers learn of TfL’s tacit support for under the carpet.” claimed yesterday. Uber in making the application An Uber spokesperson said: The ride-hailing firm is seek- with the regulator even sug- “Earlier this year we made ing declaratory relief from the gesting cosmetic changes to changes to our business to court to confirm that its busi- the text of the relief sought,” ensure all UK drivers are guar- ness model is compliant with the union said in a statement. anteed at least the national Transport for London (TfL) ADCU president Yaseen living wage, holiday pay and a regulations. Aslam and general secretary pension plan. In February, the Supreme James Farrar said: “This is a bra- “We are committed to Court ruled against Uber to zen attempt by Uber to under- these worker changes and confirm that its drivers are mine our Supreme Court victory this legal procedure is seek- workers and are entitled to and weaken Transport for Lon- ing to clarify a different and statutory protection under don’s powers to protect workers narrow point of law.” employment law. from terrible exploitation. TfL was also approached for The Supreme Court also “TfL and the mayor’s decision comment. raised fresh questions on to go along with this legal caper [email protected] PALESTINE: Palestine supporters in Bradford in West Yorkshire staged a fundraising effort to help the people Uber’s business model and of Gaza yesterday. They made food and set up a stall to sell meals following Friday prayers at the city’s Doha whether it was compliant with mosque. One visitor to the stall said: ‘While our government is supplying Israel with weapons, this is what real transport regulation. people are doing for the people of Gaza’ TfL, which has the duty of reg- Pic: Neil Terry Photography ulating the company, published Uber’s application for relief on Thursday under the Private Hire Vehicles (London) Act. n TSSA The App Drivers & Couriers Union (ADCU) warned that if Uber is successful, the implica- Balfour Beatty bosses deny pay rise tions would be “catastrophic” THE work on improving Brit- the company has refused a pay over their shoddy treatment by on workers and the broader ain’s railways is to be delayed rise for 2020. The union said Balfour Beatty.” public interest. because a corporate contractor that the company has handed He said the union would be The union said that Uber has refused to give workers a out nearly £2 million in bonuses happy to negotiate through the would also likely escape VAT pay rise. to senior managers and made arbitration and conciliation ser- liability which it estimated Balfour Beatty is involved in profits of almost £50m. vice ACAS. publicly funded contracts to TSSA general secretary “If this doesn’t happen, improve Britain’s rail network. Manuel Cortes said: “Our bril- strike action next month will Members of the Transport liant members have shown be a certainty. It’s that simple.” n RMT Salaried Staffs Association huge commitment and sacri- The workers voted by more (TSSA) have voted overwhelm- fice during this past year and than 90 per cent in favour of ingly for strike action because have made their voices heard strike action. Private train firms raked in Scottish Morning Star Campaign Committee £88m during pandemic by Peter Lazenby train operating companies was “the shape of things to come.” >>OUR CLASS: OUR CULTURE will enjoy guaranteed profits RMT general secretary Mick from taxpayers under the gov- Lynch said: “For all the show- 50th Anniversary PROFITEERING private rail ernment’s revised rail operat- biz fanfare around Great Brit- operators grabbed an extra ing system — so-called “Great ish Railways, the truth is that HOW THE TRADE UNION MOVEMENT DEFEATED £88 million from taxpayers British Railways.” behind all the government’s ANTI-TU LAWS AND AN ANTI-WORKING CLASS to run services during the At the same time rail staff greasepaint and jazz hands it’s GOVERNMENT – PRESENT DAY LESSONS first six months of the pan- face pay cuts and job losses. still private companies looting demic, rail union RMT said RMT said that the extra profits from our railways with yesterday. cash was given to operators in the only difference being that Speakers: BRENDA CARSON, DAVIE COOPER, Half of the cash will be “management fees” through now they don’t have to take any JACKSON CULLINANE, GEORGE KERR transferred out of Britain the government’s Emer- risks for their reward. because the government has gency Measures Agreements “Not only do we once again Chair: KATE RAMSDEN handed operating contracts (EMAs), which paid them to see pandemic profiteering, but to overseas operators, includ- run trains after passenger we are also faced with the bit- ing state-owned rail operators numbers plummeted during ter irony that the great British in other countries which will periods of lockdown. taxpayer is in fact helping to 7pm, TUESDAY JUNE 16 use the cash to fund their The union warned that the send money abroad to fund own networks. flow of public money out of the great overseas railways.” Join Zoom Meeting: mstar.link/OCOCTU RMT warned that private industry and into overseas coffers [email protected] morningstaronline.co.uk Morning Star morningstaronline Saturday/Sunday @m_star_online news May 22-23 2021 3 n UNITE n TRANSPORT SCOTLAND Thurrock council workers score pay victory REFUSE workers in Thur- their action after the “These essential work- RMT demands action to rock have stopped a pay council backed down and ers, who were applauded cut in its tracks with a dumped the pay cuts. for their work through six-week strike win. Unite regional officer the pandemic, now Thurrock Council Michelle Cook said: “This deserve to be applauded end ScotRail equality row wanted to reduce 90 deal is a victory for the for the solidarity and workers’ pay with a new workers, who stood firm determination they by Niall Christie teeth for these workers that funded through “efficiencies.” contract that meant axing for six weeks in a strike to showed. When workers Scotland editor Transport Scotland continues The calls came as the RMT wages by between £1,200 defend their pay. organise, workers win.” to wage war on essential work- also announced that ScotRail and £3,800 a year. “The workers and the General secretary ers who have worked tirelessly train care workers are to strike The workers, respon- residents of Thurrock will candidate Steve Turner THE RMT called on the Scottish throughout the Covid-19 pan- on Monday over the promotion sible for recycling in the be pleased that the coun- said: “It’s well-organised, government yesterday to end demic to keep Scotland’s rail of a manager said to have been district, are members of cil have amended their determined and confident its silence on a long-running services running. found guilty of breaching dig- the Unite union. plans, and services can get workers taking action dispute with ScotRail ahead “The company needs to nity and respect policies. They have suspended back to normal. that wins.” of another weekend of strikes. focus on resolving this dispute The RMT union said the the Rail union leaders have instead of putting its energies member of staff had been pro- said Transport Scotland must into organising managers to moted two weeks after being intervene to bring an end to scab with only cursory training, removed from his original post the argument over equality putting public safety at risk.” due to an incident in which he n PEACE & JUSTICE PROJECT and pay justice for conductors A Transport Scotland spokes- had been the subject of a col- and ticket examiners. woman told the Star that the lective grievance by 16 workers. Union members have walked efforts of rail workers were A number of workers are out on successive Sundays in a “fully appreciated” and negotia- said to be incensed, but fight over the issue of enhanced tions were between the union ScotRail said there had been Corbyn seeks to payments for rest-day working. and operator — but there was no dispute following the inves- Ahead of further action on “quite simply no additional tigation and it deemed the Sunday, general secretary Mick funding available” and any strike ballot “inappropriate.” build solidarity Lynch said: “It is a kick in the increase would need to be [email protected] with refugees by Our Foreign Desk workers, which supports sea- farers such as those aboard the Iuventa 10, who have been JEREMY CORBYN will host arrested for rescuing refugees a refugee-led event today in the Mediterranean. that seeks to build solidar- Assistant general secre- ity across borders and fight tary Rob Johnston, who will increasing hostility towards be addressing today’s event, displaced people. said: “Transport workers glob- Organised by the Peace ally are often on the coalface and Justice Project, a global of the refugee crisis and the initiative founded by the for- hostile environment towards mer Labour leader, the event migrants, whether it’s respond- will hear from people trapped ing to distress calls at sea, for years in refugee camps in enforcing abusive migration countries including Palestine, policies or delivering urgent Somalia and West Papua. “Instead of allowing the few aid for those in need. We see The online conference will to divide us, we need to build the crisis on a daily basis. also address Britain’s “hostile solidarity across borders and “With the devastation that environment” policies and across communities to stand the Covid-19 pandemic is hav- government plans to over- up for dignity, human rights ing, particularly in the global haul the asylum system that and big changes to systems that south, as well as conflicts that would see refugees penalised hurt us all,” he said. “Refugees are forcing tens of thousands for entering the country via are not passive victims, but to flee for their lives, the Peace an “illegal” route. people whose ideas and experi- and Justice Project’s fightback It will also touch on the ences should shape a more just on refugee and migrant rights criminalisation of rescue work- and decent world.” could not be more timely.” ers in Italy and the worsening Ways activists in Britain can There are 80 million people BACK IN BUSINESS: Dancers from the Sophie Adams Ballet Company after performing in Southwark experiences of people trapped demonstrate practical solidar- around the world who have Cathedral in London yesterday. Candle-lit ballet performances are scheduled for May 20 and 27, and are for years and even generations ity will be discussed, as well as been forced to flee their homes, accompanied by a string quartet in refugee camps. the causes and consequences of equal to about 1 per cent of the Ahead of the event, Mr Cor- refugee crises. human population. byn warned that refugees and The event is being backed The online event begins at migrants have been scape- by the International Transport 3pm and can be joined here: goated, while poverty and Workers’ Federation (ITF), the mstar.link/3ytDq8i. inequality have soared. global union for transport [email protected] n BASHIR INTERVIEW BBC reforms under consideration THE government will consider It suggested that the corpora- term charter review.” whether reforms of BBC govern- tion went against its supposed The royal charter forms the ance are required following a values and principles to protect constitutional basis for the report which found the broad- its reputation. BBC and sets out its mission caster covered up the “deceit- Culture Secretary Oliver and public purpose, as well as ful behaviour” of a journalist, Dowden said: “Lord Dyson’s its governance and regulatory ministers have said. report reveals damning fail- arrangements. Lord Dyson’s report on the ings at the heart of the BBC. The current charter ends in 1995 Panorama Diana inter- “We will now reflect on December 2027. Its mid-term view investigated the BBC’s Lord Dyson’s thorough report review, due in 2022, will focus handling of journalist Martin and consider whether further on governance and regulatory Bashir’s interview with the governance reforms at the arrangements but not the broad- Princess of Wales. BBC are needed in the mid- caster’s mission or funding. morningstaronline.co.uk Morning Star morningstaronline Saturday/Sunday @m_star_online news May 22-23 2021 5 n SCOTLAND HIDING COVID CARE HOME DEATH DATA WAS UNLAWFUL ‘SHAMEFUL’: Call for inquiry after ruling on Scottish government agency by Niall Christie available in line with FoI legis- as utterly shameful. He said: Scotland editor lation, with the probe finding a “This is another devastating number of arguments to refuse blow for the care home resi- requests had been flawed and dents and families who have A SCOTTISH government speculative. been denied justice. agency was condemned yester- The commissioner’s office “Those responsible must day for unlawfully keeping the also rejected the argument that be held accountable and les- extent of Covid-19 care-home the data would be “too complex sons must be learned. We deaths a secret. and would fail to tell the full need a Scottish public inquiry The National Records of Scot- story of the deaths.” without delay.” land (NRS) was found to have Scottish Labour leader Anas Further increases in coro- breached freedom of informa- Sarwar described the cover-up navirus cases in parts of Scot- tion (FoI) legislation by refus- land saw tighter restrictions ing to release the number due to be lifted continue in of confirmed and suspected some parts of the country coronavirus-related deaths in yesterday. each of Scotland’s care homes. First Minister Nicola Stur- After a probe carried out geon confirmed that Glasgow as part of a joint project by will remain in level three of the Scotsman, the Herald, DC Scotland’s coronavirus restric- Thomson and STV, the Scottish “ tions for a further week before Information Commissioner review but Moray, which was ruled that NRS had used argu- This is another the first local authority area to ments that were “speculative be held back, will now move in nature” to block the release devastating down to level two. of statistics. Public health experts have The commissioner said the blow for the warned an outbreak in East agency’s efforts to stop the Renfrewshire, which has seen publication of care home death care home case numbers overtake Glas- numbers had involved gow, may need tougher meas- time-wasting shuf- ures to help get the surge in fling between care- residents and cases under control quicker sector bodies, and despite being “painful” for the the commissioner’s families who community. office ruled that Professor Devi Sridhar of the NRS had failed have been the University of Edinburgh to comply said that while it is a tough SCOTS COMMUNITIES: Programme co-ordinator The exhibition is centred around Scots’ with FoI trade-off, bringing in restric- Sonia Napolitano with What if…?/Scotland, an wishes for how they want their neighbour- legislation. denied tions sooner rather than exhibition which was designed to be staged in hoods to look in the future. Ideas from people NRS has later could mean they do Venice as part of the 17th International Archi- in Edinburgh, Paisley, Annan, Elgin and Ler- now said it justice not have to drag on into the tecture Exhibition La Biennale di Venezia, but wick include more green spaces, a new bridge, will make summer. will now open at V&A Dundee today and run arts facilities, accessible design for wheelchair the data Anas Sarwar [email protected] until Sunday November 21. users and regenerating old industrial sites. n HOUSING n LA RETRAITE SCHOOL SNP mulls extending eviction ban for vulnerable tenants Cleaners win union recognition battle by Our News Desk staff, improved health and ing, ruled that over half of the “So I feel incredibly safe and A BAN on tenant evictions “As a minimum, we need safety procedures and the workers were in the union secure knowing that our union is being considered to be to keep the eviction ban in majority recovery of their sto- and therefore Ecocleen must is recognised and I want to give expanded across Scotland, place for as long as restric- CLEANERS at La Retraite len wages. recognise U V W. a big thanks to my colleagues the new Cabinet Secretary tions remain,” she said. Roman Catholic Girls’ School But La Retraite’s con- Magaly Quesada, one of who have fought long and hard for Covid Recovery has said. Glasgow Labour MSP in south London were celebrat- tractor Ecocleen the strike leaders, said: for this.” John Swinney told MSPs Paul Sweeney reiterated the ing yesterday after they won continued to “Recognition was UVW organiser Petros Elia on Thursday evening that financial challenges facing their battle for trade union refuse to volun- the one thing said: “This victory is a real tes- further protections for those tenants, reminding the gov- recognition. tarily recognise donate that we were tament to the tenacity of our renting accommodation are ernment that it has a legal The outsourced cleaners, the United Voices missing after members. under consideration follow- responsibility to prevent majority of whom are Latin of the World ONLINE our victory in “After their stunning victory ing the end of an outright homelessness. American migrants, went (UVW) as morningstaronline March, and in March they kept on organis- ban on evictions. With all measures on strike for several days in their union, I’m delighted ing and pushing for trade union He was responding to an expected to end in Sep- March in a dispute over what activists said. .co.uk/page/ that we’ve now recognition. urgent question in Holy- tember, Mr Swinney told they described as wage theft, The organis- support-us won that too! “It wasn’t an easy fight, but rood, after Green MSP MSPs that it would be “an trade union victimisation and ing of the clean- “We deserve they were determined that Ariane Burgess had told area that we continue to inadequate health and safety ers saw them to be able to their voice be heard and that the chamber that “evict- keep under close consid- procedures including a lack of emerge victorious negotiate with our they be able to sit across the ing vulnerable people who eration as we look at our full sick pay. after the Central Arbi- employer, we do the table from their employer have been unable to work or continued navigation out The strike saw the cleaners tration Committee (CAC), the work, so it should never be the and be able to negotiate earn during the pandemic is of, and recovery from, win a 24 per cent pay rise, par- statutory body responsible for case that we have no say over as equals.” deeply unfair. Covid-19.” ity in sick pay with in-house oversight of collective bargain- our pay or working conditions. [email protected] Communist Communist Party of Britain Party of Britain

BRITAIN’S COMMUNISTS SEND ONLINE SOLIDARITY GREETINGS TO ALL MARCHING THIS MEETING FOR PALESTINE WEEKEND IN SOLIDARITY WITH MONDAY MAY 24, 7PM THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE.

n Stop the killing – start the talking ‘For an independent state within n End the Israeli occupation the recognised borders as they and ethnic cleansing stood on June 4 1967!’ n For an independent and sovereign The British government must impose sanctions Palestine within pre-1967 borders on Israel until UN resolutions are fulfilled. Step up the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign to force Israel to respect and implement UN resolutions SPEAKERS: and international humanitarian law. AQEL TAQAS | International Secretary, Palestinian People’s Party OFER CASSIF MK | Communist Party Israel Member of HADASH, ROBERT GRIFFITHS | General Secretary Israeli Knesset LIZ PAYNE | Chair Register: cpb.tiny.us/ma8s37cy JOHN FOSTER | International Secretary

CPB, Ruskin House, 23 Coombe Rd, Croydon CR0 1BD Go to www.communistparty.org.uk [email protected] 020 8686 1659 or follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram @CPBritain facebook.com/CPBritain

MARX MEMORIAL LIBRARY Marking the 150th anniversary of the Paris Commune Thursday May 27th 2021 at 7pm A few days before the anniversary of ‘Bloody Week’, the Marx Memorial Library pre- sents ‘Marking the 150th anniversary of the Paris Commune’ a panel lecture with Dr Guillaume Roubaud-Quashie, editor of Cause Commune and member of the executive of the French Communist Party, Dr Jonathan White, author of Making Our Own History, and Professor Mary Davis, labour historian. Contributions from the panel will include analysis of the Commune’s significance for the development of the working-class movement both in France and internation- ally, an examination of Marx’s Civil War in France and its theoretical contribution to our understanding of state power, and a look at the role of women Communards and their importance for subsequent generations of socialists. Register at mstar.link/150PC Support the MML as a member or donor: marx-memorial-library.org.uk/support

It is with sadness we announce the recent passing of our comrade and founding member of Construction Safety Campaign DELIVERED DIRECT TO YOUR HOME OR OFFICE IAN McDESON (Mac) Former Camden UCATT branch secretary, Camden DLO convenor, The Star has teamed up with NewsTeam Builders Charter, joint sites committee, London Hazards Centre to offer home news delivery activist, supporter of the Morning Star, radical folk music enthusiast. n Early delivery The funeral is to take place on Friday May 28 at 4pm, n Delivery wherever possible made by adults Golders Green Crematorium, NW11 7NL n Online account management n Small delivery charge of 40p per day His family wish for remembrance donations, payable to Marie Curie Hospice Hampstead, 11 Lyndhurst Gardens, London NW3 5NS SPECIAL OFFER FOR NEW ACCOUNTS: SIX WEEKS FREE DELIVERY CHARGE Call Newsteam direct 01782 959532 CONSTRUCTION SAFETY CAMPAIGN or email [email protected] morningstaronline.co.uk Morning Star morningstaronline Saturday/Sunday @m_star_online news May 22-23 2021 7

n SCOTLAND TOUCH AND GO: The RNLI launches at Treard- dur Bay, Wales, in heavy weather on Thursday night to successfully save a surfer who had got into difficulty. One volunteer said it was SNP’s education “possibly the most touch and go shout I have been on,” with crews facing heavy swells and having “only one chance” to get to the woman before she was too close to the headland. The secretary urged to RNLI reminded the public that stormy seas are always unpredictable, with further rain and wind likely over the weekend. Star weather: p20 work with unions

by Niall Christie action needed now to solve Scotland editor another exams fiasco in our education system. “Our young people need hope SCOTLAND’S new Education after this dreadful year. The min- Secretary must work to address ister must deal with the damage the serious issues facing the and distress that has already sector, opposition parties and been caused by this government. trade unions said yesterday. “She must also start to Labour has written to rebuild opportunity for young Shirley-Anne Somerville, who Scots’ futures.” was promoted this week, urg- The Educational Institute ing her to move quickly to of Scotland (EIS) welcomed Ms ensure recovery for young Somerville to the post, thank- people across the country. ing Mr Swinney for his engage- Education spokesman Michael ment in his role. Marra warned that Ms Somer- The union said that workers’ ville must engage with teachers contracts must be a priority for and unions to prevent a “sum- the cabinet. mer of discontent in education.” General secretary Larry Fla- In a letter, Mr Marra wel- nagan said: “The first issue the comed the MSP to her new Cabinet Secretary will need to role before calling on the gov- address is an end to the scandal ernment to publish the Scot- of temporary contracts through- tish Qualifications Authority’s out the education system. appeals process, implement a “If we are to have an edu- resit guarantee and to ensure cation-led recovery, we need that a no-detriment policy for more teachers on permanent accessing further or higher edu- contracts to cut class sizes, cation be put in place. provide more support to pupils He said: “I am calling on the with additional support needs minister to listen to teachers, and address the impact of pov- education experts, unions erty on children’s learning.” and Labour, and take the vital [email protected] n STUC n NHS ‘Holyrood must secure rights of LGBT+ workers’ LEGAL CHALLENGE OVER THE Scottish government must laws banning so-called conver- ensure that LGBT+ rights are sion therapy that would allow not forgotten or pushed back perpetrators to slip through again, trade unionists have the net. demanded. The move has been backed GP SURGERIES SELL-OFF Ahead of its 10th annual by STUC general secretary conference this weekend, the Roz Foyer, who said that HANDS OFF: Campaigners tackle decision to let scandal-hit US firm take over eight practices STUC’s LGBT+ workers’ group trade unions have a proud said that Scotland’s most history of championing by Peter Lazenby judicial review of the decision, away from the glare of public diverse parliament must cham- equality. alleging that the CCG “was scrutiny. pion issues affecting LGBT+ She said: “The STUC sup- not sufficiently diligent in its “The NHS constitution workers. ports the committee’s drive THE plan to hand medical prac- investigation into the potential demands transparency, and The committee says that for [reform to] the Gender Rec- tices with hundreds of thou- impact, and failed to engage people rightly expect account- dithering and delay has helped ognition Act and a real end to sands of patients to a scandal- patients and the public in ability in NHS decision-making, create a toxic environment that conversion therapy. ridden US health privateer is to “ the decision.” especially about such impor- has “pushed trans rights back “We have a collective respon- be challenged in court. They also say “there are tant matters as who runs our further in Scotland.” sibility to stand with all our North Central London Clini- I am so afraid particular concerns about GP practices.” This year’s chair, Willie LGBT+ comrades, to protect and cal Commissioning Group what may happen to patients’ The action is supported by Docherty, said that there advance their rights in Scotland (CCG), a government body that our NHS personal medical data.” Baroness Joan Bakewell. She could be no caveats in the and around the world.” that awards contracts for NHS Anjna Khurana, a patient at said: “I recently spoke in the provision, is handing eight Hanley Primary Care Centre in House of Lords about the iniq- GP practices with 375,000 is being Islington and a local councillor uity of allowing a profit-making patients to US health insurance representing Tollington, said: American company to buy sur- FAR-RIGHT EXTREMISM: A tion likely to be useful to a firm Centene. dismantled bit “I am so afraid that our NHS geries that serve the NHS. CAMBRIDGE maths gradu- terrorist. The company and its web of is being dismantled bit by bit, “I feel strongly that the NHS ate with an “extreme right- Analysis of his mobile subsidiaries have a track record by bit, with the with the private sector playing should remain our own, and I wing mindset” was jailed phone revealed a Facebook of falsely claiming taxpayers’ a bigger and bigger part. believe many of the public for two years yesterday for post in July 2019 about want- income and of failing to pro- private sector “I need to trust my doctor: would agree with me if they possessing a bomb-making ing to “go on a spree,” as well vide adequate health services how can I do that if they work were fully aware of what is manual. as racist comments against to patients in the United States. for a company like Centene, a involved. Police found a copy of the Jewish and black people. Patients, doctors and NHS playing a bigger company that has a record of “So I believe the government Anarchist Cookbook when During sentencing, judge campaign groups have united fraud in the US?” has a strong case to answer.” they searched the home of Alan Conrad QC told Bel that to mount the legal challenge. and bigger part KONP member and GP Lou- ■ The campaigners are crowd- Oliver Bel, 24, in late 2019. his pronouncements “were Led by Keep Our NHS Pub- ise Irvine said: “North Central funding for the legal costs and He was found guilty last abhorrent to all right-think- lic (KONP) and 999 Call for the Islington councillor London CCG’s decision to allow donations can be made at: month of collecting informa- ing people.” NHS, the campaigners want a Anjna Khurana the changes took place well mstar.link/3bJG7Ji Morning Star morningstaronline.co.uk Saturday/Sunday morningstaronline 8 May 22-23 2021 world @m_star_online

in brief n ELETROBRAS n UNITED STATES Justice Dept Catalan president Brazil’s left slams set on referendum steps up row SPAIN: Newly elected Cata- over chaos in lan President Pere Aragones Bill to sell public says he will keep pressing Madrid to allow an inde- Alabama jails pendence referendum. THE US Justice Department Elections were held in energy company has decried “failed negotia- February but disagreements tions” with the state of Ala- between separatist par- by Our Foreign Desk The Socialist Party’s Alessan- bama over rampant prison ties delayed formation of a dro Molon asked: “Is it reason- violence it says violates the government until now. able to sell the sixth most lucra- constitution. Catalonia held an illegal BRAZIL’S left has condemned tive company in Brazil, decisive In an update to a lawsuit referendum in 2017, but Jair Bolsonaro’s government for energy sovereignty? Is it rea- launched last December, opponents of secession for rushing a Bill through par- sonable to vote on an important the department says that boycotted it and Spanish liament to privatise the state matter like this in 23 hours?” Alabama will not voluntar- police attacked voters and electricity company Eletrobras. On Wednesday night former ily bring its prisons into arrested local leaders, The lower house passed the president Luiz Inacio Lula da compliance and that federal many of whom received legislation on Thursday morn- Silva said that the decision intervention is needed. long jail sentences. ing but it must go to the Sen- undermined Brazil’s energy The case accuses Alabama ate before becoming law. The security and accused Mr Bol- of violating the constitu- Communist Party of Brazil sonaro of planning to sell tional rights of prisoners, (PCdoB) said it could challenge the company “for the price of including the ban on cruel US ‘no longer wants the way that the Bill was fast- a banana.” and unusual punishment, to buy Greenland’ tracked through parliament in It was “just another crime by failing to prevent exces- the courts. against the Brazilian people sive levels of prisoner- ARCTIC: US Secretary of The party’s national presi- and the future of our country,” on-prisoner violence and State Antony Blinken has dent Luciana Santos, who is he said. sexual abuse and failing to confirmed that Washing- also deputy governor of Per- Lula will stand against Mr protect prisoners from the ton no longer wants to nambuco state, said President Bolsonaro for the presidency use of excessive force by buy Greenland. Bolsonaro was selling off “a next year as the Workers Party security staff. Then president Donald strategic asset, a patrimony of candidate and is expected to be The homicide rate in Ala- Trump’s proposal was the Brazilian people.” backed across the left. bama’s jails is seven times mocked in Greenland Delivering it to private inter- His convictions on trumped- the national average, it says, and in Denmark, which ests would make “energy costs up corruption charges, which with at least 16 prisoners rules the island, prompt- more expensive for ordinary have now been annulled, killed in the 2020 fiscal year. ing him to cancel a state people, hand over the manage- prevented him from running Officials also accuse Ala- visit to the latter. ment of our rivers and change against the far-right leader in bama of reporting deaths Mr Blinken was the priority of this service, 2018, though polls indicated inaccurately. In one cited speaking at a summit which should always be the that he would have won. example, an inmate at about Arctic security. social interest,” she charged. [email protected] Kilby Correctional Facility Russia and the US died in 2017 from multiple accuse each other of stab wounds to his head, stepping up military abdomen, back and arm, activity in the area. but the state recorded his death as natural. Argentina enters Covid lockdown n EXTREMISM ARGENTINA: A national lockdown will begin today as Covid-19 cases soar. OVERJOYED: A Belgian troops hunt President Alberto Fer- nandez said: “We are living Sea-Eye volunteer as the worst moment since the NGO’s ship reached the pandemic began. We Pozzallo, Italy are seeing the highest num- Pic: Guillaume Duez for far-right soldier bers of cases and deaths.” Argentina has so far registered 3.4 million n CIVIL FLEET confirmed coronavirus who stole gun stash infections and more than 72,000 deaths. 400 refugees on dry land by Our Foreign Desk despite EU states’ efforts HUNDREDS of Belgian special China keeps mutual EUROPE’S commitment to The next day, as the ship agents have been deployed sanctions on EU human rights was called into drew nearer to Palermo, the to comb the countryside for question again today as an NGO Italian authorities broke a far-right soldier on the run TRADE: China said yester- ship was finally allowed to dis- their silence and assigned the who is considered armed and day it will not lift sanc- embark 400 rescued refugees Sea-Eye 4 a port in Pozzallo, dangerous. tions on members of the yesterday after it was forced to another two days’ journey from Helicopters are scanning EU Parliament to unlock take a two-day detour. their position. the Hoge Kempen national a blocked trade deal. The Sea-Eye 4 rescue ship Following the disembar- park; roads through it have ‘ARMED & DANGEROUS’: has Van Ranst’s The EU froze the saved the lives of over 400 kation today, Sea-Eye chair- been closed and residents told Soldiers search for address?” trade deal on Thursday, people in just 48 hours in the man Gorden Isler said: “The to stay indoors. Jurgen Conings (right) He then went demanding sanctions central Mediterranean last last seven days of our rescue Jurgen Conings was a Bel- on the run after on MEPs be lifted. But weekend, without any help mission have once more very gian army marksman for over able to get his hands taking four rocket Beijing pointed out from the Libyan, Maltese or clearly demonstrated the fail- three decades before being dis- on heavy weaponry launchers, a subma- that its sanctions were Italian authorities. ure of the EU states. ciplined in recent months for after he was identified chine gun, a pistol and themselves a response to On Tuesday Leoluca Orlando, “People regularly drown as issuing threats and making as a risk. identified as an a bulletproof vest from his EU sanctions on its own the mayor of the Italian city they flee and thousands are racist remarks on Facebook. anti-vaccination agitator, who barracks. The rocket launchers officials, applied over of Palermo, announced on forcibly returned to the civil He fought in the US-led inva- threatened Belgian virologist have been found in an aban- alleged human rights social media that the ship war hell of Libya. No-one in the sion of Afghanistan. Marc Van Ranst, even appar- doned car. He left one note abuses in Xinjiang, could disembark the rescued governments of Europe seem Belgian Prime Minister Alex- ently staking out his house, saying he plans to kill himself which China denies. in his city after Malta refused to even think about respecting ander De Croo is facing criti- he was merely confined to a rather than live in a world run to do so. human rights any more.” cism over how Mr Conings was desk job after tweeting “Who by “politicians and virologists,” morningstaronline.co.uk Morning Star morningstaronline Saturday/Sunday @m_star_online world May 22-23 2021 9

BRAZEN ASSAULT: Palestinians run from sound bombs thrown by Israeli police in front of the Dome of the Rock shrine at al-Aqsa mosque, Jerusalem, yesterday, following a ceasefire in Gaza and subsequent celebrations at the holy site (right)

n EAST JERUSALEM AL-AQSA ATTACKED BY POLICE HOURS AFTER CEASEFIRE INCENDIARY: Israeli cops storm mosque compound despite Gaza deal by Our Foreign Desk bombardments, while Gaza’s ceasefire as “a genuine oppor- ruling Hamas launched thou- tunity to make progress.” sands of rockets into Israel. But in Israel Prime Min- ISRAELI police attacked At least 232 Palestinians ister Benjamin Netanyahu worshippers at the al-Aqsa were killed, including 65 chil- was attacked from the right. mosque yesterday just hours dren. Twelve Israelis were Gideon Sa’ar of Likud breaka- after a ceasefire with Hamas killed, including two children. way party New Hope said the took effect. Israeli newspaper Ha’aretz ceasefire was embarrassing, Officers fired tear gas, stun journalist Amira Hass noted while Itavar Ben Gvir of the grenades and rubber bullets that multiple whole Palestin- far-right Jewish Power called it into crowds who had gathered ian families were wiped out “a grave surrender.” for Friday prayers. in Israeli air raids, indicat- The conflict spread within Tens of thousands had gath- ing a deliberate policy, while Israel for the first time in two ered at the East Jerusalem medics and journalists were decades, with ethnic violence mosque, Islam’s third-holiest also targeted. erupting in several cities and a site, to celebrate the cease- But celebrations took place Palestinian general strike unit- n NATO fire, which came into effect at across Gaza, the West Bank ing Palestinians inside Israel, in 2am yesterday. and East Jerusalem yesterday Gaza and across the West Bank. Israeli police spokesman following news of the ceasefire. The Communist Party-led and another saying he was Micky Rosenfeld said that In Gaza crowds waved Pal- Hadash coalition said it had going to join “the resistance.” Turkish aggression police had come under attack estinian and Hamas flags, met Israeli trade union fed- Army sources described their by stone-throwing Palestinians distributed sweets and set eration Histadrut to press it colleague as “an extreme right- and had responded. off fireworks. to defend workers threatened wing weapons nut who does not The attack was incendiary The militant group hailed with the sack for taking part. shy away from violence” and “an in Macron’s sights given that previous police the ceasefire, brokered by Norwegian Refugee Council anti-vaxer who hates Van Ranst,” assaults on worshippers at the Egypt, as a victory despite secretary-general Jan Egeland according to Het Laatste Nieuws. by Our Foreign Desk government against a military mosque, together with Israel’s the far higher Palestinian welcomed the ceasefire, but Links between the German revolt backed by France. attempt to evict residents of death toll, because Israel had said people should not mistake military and the far right are Mr Macron added that “inter- East Jerusalem’s Sheikh Jar- not proved able to stop the “calm for normality. also under the spotlight as the FRENCH President Emmanuel operability of armaments” was rar neighbourhood from their rocket fire. “There is no normality to trial of army officer “Franco A” Macron took aim at Turkey absolutely critical, a criticism homes to make way for Jew- US President Joe Biden, speak of for the two million got under way on Thursday in yesterday, saying Nato needed of Turkey’s purchase of Russian ish settlers, had prompted whose administration blocked Gazans under siege, nor for Frankfurt. to enforce “cohesion” at its missile-defence systems. the 11-day conflict, in which four UN security council resolu- those living in the West Bank The officer had assumed a summit next month. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Israel pounded Gaza with hun- tions calling for a ceasefire over under Israeli occupation.” false identity as a Syrian refu- Mr Macron said the US-led Erdogan and Mr Macron com- dreds of air raids and artillery the last 11 days, described the [email protected] gee, succeeding in registering military bloc would not func- mand Nato’s second and third- as one while continuing to tion if countries focused on largest militaries respectively. report for duty as a soldier. A “national interests that are The French leader spoke out n PALESTINE large cache of weapons was contradictory to the security as Nato military drills in east- found at a friend’s house and of other allies, as has been the ern Europe provoked a Russian Nazi memorabilia was discov- case in recent years in Syria, and Serbian response. ‘Deal doesn’t solve the core issue – occupation’ ered displayed in the common the eastern Mediterranean, Russian and Serbian troops PALESTINIAN Foreign outbreak of hostilities. Muslims and Arabs across room of his barracks. Libya and the Caucasus.” began joint exercises in Serbia Minister Riyad al-Maliki He also pointed to the the world. Prosecutors say he planned He did not name Turkey, a as Defender Europe 2021, a mas- has warned that the ongoing ethnic cleansing “We want to see the Pal- to stage terrorist atrocities and Nato member — but its inva- sive US-led operation involv- ceasefire struck between in East Jerusalem and set- estinian people free and provoke a backlash against sion of northern Syria to crush ing 28,000 troops conducting Israel and Hamas does not tlement expansion in the also living in their own immigrants. He claims he was Kurdish forces took place manoeuvres in eastern Europe, address the core issue that occupied West Bank. independent Palestinian attempting to expose weak- despite their fighting alongside carried out drills in every one started the violence. The war had “refocused state with East Jerusalem nesses in the immigration sys- the US against Isis in the area; of Serbia’s Balkan neighbours, Mr Maliki pointed to attention again on the as its capital.” tem and the weapons were to it has engaged in tense naval surrounding the country. the desecration of the issue of Palestine,” he Israeli Prime Minister defend his family in an “emer- standoffs with fellow Nato Serbian Interior Minister al-Aqsa mosque by Israeli said. “We see today that Benjamin Netanyahu has gency.” The case has alarmed member Greece in the Mediter- Aleksandar Vulin said Russia soldiers, whose repeated the issue of Palestine, the vowed that a Palestinian Germans following a string of ranean; and it intervened heav- was a “great security partner,” attacks on worshippers issue of Jerusalem and the state will never be estab- exposés indicating far-right ily in the Libyan war, deploy- citing the Nato exercises as a there – repeated yesterday occupation ... is the most lished while he remains activity within the military. ing jihadist fighters from Syria threat to their independence. – prompted this month’s important issue for all in power. [email protected] to assist the UN-recognised [email protected] Morning Star morningstaronline.co.uk Saturday/Sunday morningstaronline 10 May 22-23 2021 features @m_star_online Star comment The general strike: Exist, resist, return: we are seeing a new phase a severe blow to of Palestinian resistance Israel’s status quo EXIST, resist, return. It is instructive that a ceasefire — after 11 days of air strikes on the people of Gaza — is agreed only after the Palestinian people displayed their formidable solidarity. BETHANY RIELLY reports on the the general strike This ranged from resistant people amid the desolated infrastructure of Gaza to include the embattled villagers and town-dwellers of the occupied territories and insurgent that significantly disrupted the Israeli economy and Palestinians who live and work in Israel. Of course, what the so-called international community designate as “Israel” is a confection of many parts — the exposed its dependence on Palestinian labour original territory granted by the UN resolution which gave conditional sovereignty to the new Israeli state in 1948 N Tuesday, (rapidly followed by the violent eviction of hundreds of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from their homes within that ter- thousands of ritory), plus extensive territories which it has subsequently Palestinians annexed by military force and settled with incomers. across their his- The Palestinian people have demonstrated their cour- toric homeland age and resilience in fulfilling the first condition of their tookO part in the largest collec- strategy for struggle. tive action the region has seen They exist. Under diverse conditions; under occupation, in decades. in exile, under bombardment and within the apartheid Workers across Gaza, the state itself. West Bank, East Jerusalem, The renewed unity of this beleaguered people is an inspi- Israel and even refugee camps ration to the millions who stand in solidarity and a source in Lebanon and Jordan withheld of anxiety to their oppressors and to the imperial powers their labour in a show of unity whose sponsorship of this settler state is the precondition and defiance against Israel’s for its continued existence beyond its permitted territory. long-held policy of fragmenting The conflict is not reducible to a stand-off between the the Palestinian people. massed firepower of the most heavily armed nuclear state Commercial centres across in the region and the back-yard rocketry of Hamas and the West Bank were deserted, Islamic Jihad. shops in the ancient markets The resistance now encompasses the entire Palestin- of Jerusalem’s Old City tightly ian people and, with this week’s widely observed general shuttered to protest at violence strike, has punctured the Israeli assumption that the con- against Palestinians, the bomb- flict can be indefinitely externalised and that the Israeli ing of Gaza and looming evic- economy lies outside the conflict zone. tions of families in East Jeru- The Israeli economy is, of course, highly dependent on salem. US subsidy and exports but production — especially con- Observed widely, the general struction and agriculture — depends for the accumula- strike brought significant dis- tion of capital on a constant supply of Palestinian labour. ruption to several Israeli sectors The international boycott, disinvestment and sanctions exposing the country’s depend- UNITED THEY SHALL NOT BE DEFEATED: (Above) Palestinian demonstration during a general strike campaign, modelled on the original BDS strategy which ence on its occupied population. in the West Bank city of Ramallah on Tuesday and (top right) most shops closed in the West Bank city of weakened the South African apartheid state, is playing an While strikes are a common Nablus last Tuesday increasing role in solidarity with Palestinian resistance. tool of resistance for Palestin- In our country, the narrative framework in which the ians, many shared the feeling failed, with some referring to be in this moment 73 years had been counting on the young struggle for Palestinian statehood is discussed is transformed. that Tuesday’s action was some- to the collective action as the after the Nakba and we have generation becoming less politi- The Israeli propaganda machine has suffered a strategic thing different. “unity intifada,” or uprising. on our hands what looks like cally aware and dropping the defeat that has long been in the making but the new ele- “It is kind of unprecedented “The main measure of our a mass popular uprising across struggle for liberation. But ment, perhaps temporary, is that in the so-called main- in our history that it should be strength is whether we can all of historic Palestine and the recent days have shown this stream media the Palestinian case is being heard, some- so widespread,” Akram Salhab, unite as a people and we have,” camps and diaspora is already is far from the reality on the times even directly, from authoritative Palestinian voices. a Palestinian activist in East he says. an incredible achievement.” ground, with the Palestinian Jerusalem, told me last week. “The fact that we are all able Originally called by the Arab youth leading protests in East “We are really seeing the new Follow Up committee – the Pales- Jerusalem and across the coun- generation rising up and taking tinian leadership in Israel – the try. Thursday’s Channel Four interview with Husam Zom- its future into its own hands.” general strike was picked up and “I think the young generation lot, the Palestinian ambassador to London, centred on an Since the Nakba when more spread across historic Palestine is showing us all that they are disingenuous bid to focus the discussion on whether he than 700,000 Palestinians were by youth and grassroots groups. more committed than other supported “what Hamas has been doing in Gaza.” forcibly displaced from their That the strike was led by the parts of our people,” she says. But in skilfully turning the issue to his demand for a homeland in 1948, as the state people, and not the Palestinian The uprising erupted after “clear commitment from the UK to fix the mess created of Israel was created, they have leadership, has also given many multiple pressures on the Pal- here,” Zomlot put Britain — as the original colonial power been separated both geographi- “ a renewed sense of hope. estinian people finally came to in Palestine and the present-day sponsor of the Israeli cally and by their differing expe- That the strike “The young generation is a head. Recent weeks have seen state — in the frame. riences of Israeli colonialism. here, it is out on the street, it Israeli forces attempt to restrict But the killer line was his reminder that “the absolute Over the decades Israel has was led by the is determined, it is sick and Palestinian freedoms during minimum Palestine will accept” is a two-state solution. tried to isolate Palestinians into tired of the old generation and Ramadan, attacks on worship- This was coupled with a demand that Britain cease resist- different and dispersed societies the political leadership that pers at al-Aqsa mosque and the ing a role for the International Criminal Court. – Gaza, the West Bank, within people, and not has stagnated and they want to attempted evictions of families It is revealing that Palestine has accepted ICC jurisdic- Israel, East Jerusalem and refu- move on with the struggle for from East Jerusalem. In Gaza, 11 tion. Israel, backed by Britain and the US, refuses. gees outside of historic Palestine the Palestinian liberation,” Fairouz Sharqawi, days of brutal bombardment by They exist. They resist. They will return. – to sever their sense of shared the director of Grassroots Al- Israeli forces has killed 232 Pal- The decisive factor in achieving this ceasefire is the depth identity and resistance. leadership, has Quds, an organisation that estinians, including 65 children. and extent of Palestinian resistance and the worldwide “Refugee camps from town, works to combat attempts by the The new wave of resistance solidarity which it inspired which compelled, after many West Bank from Gaza and out- Israeli occupation to fragment was kindled in Jerusalem before delays and diversions, the US president to order Israel to stop. side from inside – all these divi- also given many Palestinians communities in spreading to towns and cities There is a long way to go before a comprehensive peace sions are designed to fragment Jerusalem, tells me. within Israel. agreement will permit the Palestinian people to repossess us,” Salhab explains. a renewed sense “This time it was really led The participation of Palestin- their stolen homes and lands. But the activist believes the by the people – that is what is ian citizens of Israel, who make Today’s demonstration is a sign that millions of people events over the last week dem- of hope so amazing about it.” up 20 per cent of the population in Britain stand with them, for peace with justice. onstrate that these efforts have Sharqawi believes that Israel in the Jewish state, in the gen- morningstaronline.co.uk Morning Star morningstaronline Saturday/Sunday @m_star_online features May 22-23 2021 11 We will never stop our protests until Palestine is free A temporary ceasefire does not change the brutal reality of the military occupation and the daily injustices inflicted on the Palestinian people, writes BEN JAMAL of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign eral strike is particularly viewed £30,000, according to the Israeli are surprising everybody by say- as a testimony of the enduring Building Association, which ing we are still united,” he says. OME 150,000 people It does not bring back the not change the brutal military unity of the Palestinian people. admitted: “We cannot build “Now they are acting again took to the streets 65 of those who were young occupation that is enforced on This is because Palestinians without them.” 10 per cent of as one people.” of London last week children with their whole lives Palestinians in the West Bank living within the Jewish state, all bus drivers in Israel did not But the action has not come in protest against ahead of them, nor does it heal and East Jerusalem by soldiers unaffected by some of the worst show up to work, resulting in without consequences. Many Israel’s brutal the wounds of the 1,900 Pales- who deny them their freedom aspects of Israel’s brutal occupa- the cancellation of around 300 Palestinians were issued with Sbombardment of the Gaza tinians who were injured by of movement, access to their tion, are often accused of dis- journeys while some 5,000 illegal dismissal notices, while Strip, its ethnic cleansing of Israel’s weapons, many of which own lands, demolish their missing the national issue. cleaning staff also walked out. protesters have faced a brutal Palestinians in Jerusalem from are manufactured in Britain. homes and take their children Amir Toumi of the Haifa Israeli media reported that a crackdown across the country. their ancestral homes and its It does not heal the collective into military custody. Youth Movement, one of the number of McDonald’s chains In the week up until May violent, repressive treatment trauma, nor does it rebuild the A temporary ceasefire does strike organisers, tells me that were forced to close, while deliv- 19, 26 Palestinians were killed of Palestinians inside Israel thousands of homes that have not remove the barrage of Palestinian citizens of Israel ery services reliant on Palestin- by Israeli soldiers in the West exercising their right to pro- been destroyed. laws that Palestinian citizens experience an identity crisis. ian workers ceased operations Bank including a child, while test. It does not restore the liveli- of Israel are faced with, that “We are born in our home- for the day. 675 have been injured accord- Yesterday a ceasefire deal hoods lost, the beloved book- privilege the rights of Jewish land in Palestine but in a state Those striking turned out ing to the Palestinian Centre for between Israel and Hamas shops and cafes that will never citizens above theirs, render- that doesn’t accept us because it onto the streets in droves. For Human Rights. In Israel, more came into effect and many open their doors again. ing them second-class citizens is a Jewish state and we are not Toumi, who has always strived than 900 Palestinians have been think this will be the end of It does not lessen Israel’s in their own homes and sub- Jewish,” he says. “We are born to unite Palestinians in Israel arrested, including journalists. it, calling on all parties to now inhumane siege on Gaza that jecting them to violent attacks into this state where we don’t with the wider struggle, the Israeli police have not arrested restore “calm.” entraps its population, denies which they are unprotected know what we are. last week has brought him a single Israeli over the violence, And while there is no doubt them the right to live free lives, from. “People in general were dis- hope. “People I never thought despite armed settler gangs tar- that life for the Jewish-Israeli to move and build and develop. And finally, a temporary connected because everyone I would see in the street are geting Palestinian communities. population will indeed go back A temporary ceasefire does ceasefire does not grant the thinks about their welfare, they bringing their kids to the pro- Fattah says this is being done to normal, with the beaches not remove the constant Palestinians who were forci- don’t want to get into politics. tests, they are raising their own to repress the intifada and pre- and clubs of Tel Aviv heaving, threat of forced displacement bly ethnically cleansed from They think our lives are much flags in their neighbourhoods. vent it from spreading, but calm is not a concept Palestin- faced by Palestinians living in their homes in 1948, nor better than other Palestin- It’s extraordinary.” stresses that attempts to quell ians get to enjoy along with Sheikh Jarrar and many other their descendants, including ians, why would we really get the uprising will not succeed. them. neighbourhoods, whose fam- all of my extended family, involved?” wad Abdel Fattah For many Palestinians the The political leaders who ily homes are still in danger of their right — as enshrined in But Toumi stresses that the of the One Demo- awakening of their shared sense have been calling for the vio- being taken away from them international law — to return events of the last weeks have cratic State Cam- of unity is too strong to simply lence in Gaza to end are the at any moment. home. shown that this attitude is paign and former go away. same ones who block any UN A temporary ceasefire does changing. general secretary On Tuesday, protesters in the security council resolutions to o for all of these rea- “Now more than ever we see of the Palestinian West Bank’s northern cities of hold Israel accountable for its sons we will march Palestinians who have never ANational Democratic Assembly Tulkarm and Taybeh could see long and growing list of war again in our hun- expressed political opinions (NDA) tells me that the strike Palestinians striking in uni- crimes. dreds of thousands before really joining the effort surprised the Israeli govern- son in villages on the other They are also the same today. But the pro- because now they see that the ment. side of the apartheid wall. “I nations that sell Israel the Stest and the campaigning do whole system of Israeli discrimi- “People within the Green Line feel proud,” Abdel-Karim Dal- arms it has been using to not end there. nation is against us as Palestin- have been locked out as if they bah, a journalist and activist bombard the young population “ Israel’s system of apartheid ians even if we are citizens,” he have forgotten their identity from Tulkarm, tells me as he trapped in the open-air prison can only be sustained with explains. and their belongings with the recalls the moment villages on that is the Gaza Strip. Israel’s biggest the complicit support of our The mobilisation of Pales- Palestinian people so now they the Israeli and West Bank side And these are the very same government, our political lead- tinian citizens of Israel has united in protest. leaders who will now brush the human rights ers, our public bodies and our also been forced by settler The sense of shared unity Palestinians’ plight under the companies and corporations, violence against their commu- was also keenly felt in Jerusa- table, and have us believe that organisation including those manufactur- nities. Lynch mobs, incited by lem, Sharqawi says. “Though we can avert our gaze because ing weapons in towns across Israel’s far-right parties, have there are still physical barri- the bombing has ended. Britain. attacked Palestinians in recent ers between Jerusalem and the But we are not marching B’TSelem and The thousands who have days, aided by the Israeli police West Bank, I think that collec- because of the bombs. We joined the protests in the past (https://www.aljazeera.com/ tive action helped us see these are marching because today, separately Human few weeks now need to join news/2021/5/16/palestinian- “ physical barriers disappear and after the bombs stopped drop- our ongoing campaigns. protests-in-israel-...). Only 110 out people feel connected again.” ping, Palestinians still wake Rights Watch in a Our message today to the As a result, they widely While there is a prevailing up living under a system of people of Palestine and to all respected the general strike, hit- sense of hope, activists I spoke injustice that even Israel’s complicity bodies in Britain ting Israeli sectors that have a of the 65,000 to also have mixed feelings. biggest human rights organi- 212-page report must be loud and clear. high proportion of Arab workers “What happened in Gaza and sation B’TSelem and separately We will never stop our pro- including construction, trans- Palestinian now what [is] happening in Human Rights Watch in a 212- define [Israel’s tests, we will never stop our port, sanitation and catering. the West Bank, in East Jerusa- page report define as meeting lobbying, we will never stop Building sites, which are construction lem I am heartbroken but also the definition of apartheid. system of injustice] our boycotts, until the Pales- totally reliant on Palestinian proud and feel that something A temporary ceasefire does tinian people enjoy what is labour from both sides of the workers from the will happen,” Dalbah tells me. not change the reality on the as meeting the their inalienable right; free- Green Line, fell silent on Tues- “We are united all around the ground for Palestinians. dom, justice and equality in day. Only 110 out of the 65,000 world. I think we will continue It does not bring back the their historic homeland. Palestinian construction work- West Bank went the uprising.” 232 Palestinians who were definition of ers from the West Bank went to As Fayrouz says: “We are one killed by Israel in its most ■ Ben Jamal is director of Pales- work in Israel, paralysing sites to work in Israel colonised people with one strug- recent assault on the Gaza apartheid tine Solidarity Campaign (www. and causing estimated losses of gle for liberation and freedom.” Strip. palestinecampaign.org). Morning Star morningstaronline.co.uk Saturday/Sunday morningstaronline 12 May 22-23 2021 features @m_star_online Taking the fight to the heart of the Israeli war machine Earlier this week Palestine Action campaigners brought an Israeli-owned arms factory’s production to a halt by climbing onto the roof in a continuing protest against the killings in Gaza. PETER LAZENBY reports

WAS terrified,” said manufacturers who supply the in Israel’s systematic subjuga- repeatedly halting production, Ethan, one of four falsely named Israeli Defence tion of the Palestinian people. though temporarily. young Palestine Force with weapons. The drones can drop canisters Ammori said: “We have shut Action activists The activists do so by occu- of tear gas to break up rallies the Shepstone factory four who climbed a lad- pying and blockading the fac- and marches and were used in times in the last four months, der onto the roof of tories manufacturing weapons the last week against protesters the one in Tamworth twice, and an“I Israeli-owned arms factory for Israel, halting production. taking part in a general strike Oldham three times.” in Leicester in the early hours They started late last year in Palestine in protest at Israel’s She estimates that each day of Wednesday this week, bring- with Elbit, which has five facto- murderous attacks on the peo- of lost production at an Elbit ing production in the factory to ries in Britain, manufacturing ple of Gaza. Drones pinpoint factory costs the company £50- a standstill. drones for the Israeli military. targets for Israeli jets and tanks. 80,000 in lost profits. “But we did it. And with sup- Since then the five factories Elbit’s five weapons factories Another of Palestine Action’s port and solidarity we can keep have repeatedly been shut are in Leicester, Oldham in aims is to alert communities doing this.” down by rooftop occupations. Greater Manchester, Shenstone around the Elbit factories to The four activists were still on For every action there is a and Tamworth in Staffordshire, their role in supplying the the factory roof yesterday, having reaction, and since Palestine and in East Kent. It also has five Israeli war machine. suffered cold and driving rain, Action began successfully halt- non-manufacturing sites. in Shenstone also fit drones estine. They are warmed by this.” but determined to remain until ing production, albeit tempo- Two are headquarters offices ast night a rally made in Israel that can fire Some unions are committed police remove and arrest them, rarily, at Elbit factories in Brit- in Bristol and London. The took place outside missiles,” she said. to the struggle to help Pales- which they know is inevitable. ain, Barnard and Ammori have other three are at Royal Air the Leicester fac- “By direct action we can tine, and the Leicester occupa- Before climbing to the roof been targeted by police. Force bases: RAF Cranwell in tory. Attendance directly stop these weapons tion brought an example. they had prepared themselves Barnard said: “We have had Lincolnshire, RAF Valley in was expected to which are used to kill people On Wednesday police called for an uncomfortable stay, tak- our houses raided and our pass- Anglesey in north Wales and exceed the 100 in Gaza,” said Ammori. for fire service support at the ing a tent, warm clothes, food ports confiscated — illegally. RAF Barkston Heath in the East Lwho went to the factory gates “That’s why the actions are factory. When crews arrived and water to sustain themselves. “They were given back to us Midlands. when the occupation began on so important. The longer we they were asked to help remove Palestine Action is new by the courts. The police didn’t The RAF allows Elbit to use Wednesday. stay there the longer we dis- the occupiers. The firefighters among the groups campaigning even bother to attend. That was the three bases for testing the Recent blockades of the Old- rupt the kill chain.” refused and drove off. against Israel’s colonisation of on February 3.” drones before they are sent to ham factory have also involved The appalling situation in The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) Palestine and its development The two are also awaiting Israel — another example of local residents alongside Pales- Palestine last week meant that has a longstanding commit- of an apartheid state. trial on charges relating to an the British government’s com- tine Action activists. the Leicester rooftop occupa- ment of support for the people It was launched in July last occupation at an Elbit factory plicity in Israel’s repression of Members of the Oldham tion attracted international of Palestine, and reiterated it in a year by two Palestine activ- in Staffordshire. the people of Palestine. Peace and Justice Campaign attention, with coverage on national statement on Wednesday ists, Richard Barnard and Elbit is so far Palestine Action’s Ammori said: “The RAF sites group joined the latest block- broadcast networks in India, following the firefighters’ refusal Huda Ammori, who wanted to main target, with a stated aim are where Elbit trials the tech- ade there, bringing more peo- Russia, on the BBC, and with a to help remove the protesters. intensify campaigns for Pal- of driving the company out of nology, along with other arms ple into the struggle. Blockades visit scheduled by the Arabic estine and Palestinian rights Britain. companies.” of the Oldham factory are now TV network Al Jazeera. with direct action, including Elbit has 10 sites in Britain, Palestine Action has targeted planned weekly. In the longer term, Palestine taking the fight to the heart of five of them manufacturing all five factories for occupations “We encourage people to Action wants to see Elbit forced the Israeli war machine — the drones and components used and blockades, successfully and join us in direct action against out of Britain, whether by the Elbit and show solidarity,” said government caving in to grow- Ammori. “The people of Gaza ing public pressure, which is need action, not words.” unlikely, particularly under Ethan, on the roof of the the present government, or “ Leicester factory, said on Thurs- by making the factories une- day: “We could see a few at the conomic through enforced We got an gates on Wednesday. Later on closures, which is also a for- there were about 100. And they midable challenge. amazing “ stayed late, maybe until mid- But there’s also an imme- The longer we night.” diate and rewarding effect of response from Ammori said that as well as the occupations, and one which producing drones for surveil- kicked in within hours of news stay there the lance, and “bombing” protest- of the Leicester occupation people in ers with tear gas canisters, the being broadcast. It emerged on longer we Elbit factory at Shenstone in Palestine Action’s online site. Palestine. Staffordshire produces compo- “We have had hundreds of disrupt the nents which play a more deadly comments,” said Ammori, “and They are part in the Israeli military’s a lot of them were from Gaza, operations. from Palestine. We got an amaz- kill chain “The engines that are made ing response from people in Pal- warmed by this morningstaronline.co.uk Morning Star morningstaronline Saturday/Sunday @m_star_online features May 22-23 2021 13 We need unity to resist the scourge of unemployment BILL GREENSHIELDS previews two forthcoming events to help organise and build strength as job ‘losses’ mount amid the Covid crisis

ACING the threat eral secretaries and workplace to millions as fur- stewards, gig-economy workers lough is ended, we and “new union” organisers of hear about “job super-exploited workers, lead- loss” every day, ers of young workers in strug- as workers — as a gle and online campaigners, Fresult of factors beyond their People’s Assembly, NHS and control — are thrown out of public-service leaders, com- work, deprived of income and munity activists and political thrown into individual and col- No Turning Back campaigners, lective community desperation and international trade union and deprivation. and political organisers. “Job loss” is a weasel term. Then just a week later, on We might as well refer to wilful June 5, we will reconvene with murder as “life loss.” the Unemployment Fightback It’s a term which avoids organising conference, chaired responsibility or guilt for the by Carolyn Jones of the Insti- crime and presents disaster tute of Employment Rights, as an unfortunate but largely with short introductions to normal aspect of life. eight workshop groups on dif- House keys and phones are ferent organising areas and lost. Jobs are not “lost” — they whether it be the 2.6 million All this is darkened further by methods: building workplace are destroyed by the crises of unemployed predicted by the the looming shadow of hidden organisation and strength, the economic system, by the Office for Budget Responsibility unemployment among Britain’s organising in the gig-econ- INTERNATIONALISM: Protesters policies and actions of those or the four million anticipated six million “economically inac- omy, organising online with from Palestine Action on the roof that own and control that by many — they will be used by tive,” the enforced underem- StrikeMap, community organ- of the Elbit factory in Leicester economy, imposed by their the rich and powerful to drive ployment of four million gig- ising with trades councils, peo- tame politicians. down wages, after more than economy “precarious” workers ple’s assemblies and local gov- Right now, as furlough ends, a decade without a rise, and a 1 and the million workers on zero- ernment, developing a union we are facing the destruction per cent real-terms cut over the hours contracts — and millions organising culture and IWGB “The firefighters were bril- not going away. And after Elbit of further millions of jobs as a last year, and so increase profits more who want full-time jobs “new union” organising. liant. It was true solidarity, we will be moving on to other result of the virus crisis — or, and personal wealth. but are forced by universal credit We’ve had to fight unem- like the Italian dockworkers,” things and playing our part.” more accurately, by the govern- Unemployment is an attack to accept low-paid part-time ployment from the beginning said Ammori, referring to the For the immediate future he ment’s handling of it. on both those out of work work — many as “agency” staff of capitalism and will have to refusal of Italian dockers this asked for the support which has Some would say “mishan- and those with jobs. We need and bogus “self-employment” — for as long as it exists. week to load ships with weap- grown outside the factory gates dling” — but that’s another to fight it together. We need or face sanctions. The demand for the right to ons destined for Israel. to continue once the four are misnomer. to be loud and clear that the These exploitative work prac- work runs throughout our his- In the 10 months since arrested. The Tories have not mishan- virus crisis did not create the tices are now common in every tory in individual workplaces, it was launched, Palestine “Please keep supporting us dled the crisis as far as they are inequalities and injustices, type of occupation: whether across regions of Britain, in Action has grown. Direct when we get arrested,” he said. concerned. They’ve protected structural racism and sexism, delivering food on your bike, whole industries — and with action groups have sprung “We definitely will be arrested. and increased the wealth exploitation and oppression, or babies in the labour ward, great monumental periods of up London, Norwich, the Mid- We knew that when we were and power of the corporate poverty and powerlessness that whether handing out burg- struggle from the 19th century, lands, Leicester, Cambridge, getting into this. monopolies, maintained the are endemic to capitalism. ers or legal advice, whether on to the National Unemployed York and Glasgow. “And take direct action. banking and finance industry But Covid has exposed and building roads or educational Workers Movement of the 1920s There’s no formal struc- The numbers are on our side. and strengthened the repres- massively intensified all these. achievement. and ’30s, to the post-WWII ture, Ammori said, “We would I think public opinion has sive forces of the state — while This is as true of unemploy- period and the early ’80s Peo- encourage people to see what we shifted dramatically. The Lon- wages decline, workers face ment as any other aspect of the s Marx put it: ple’s March for Jobs and with are about and if they are inter- don protest was the biggest daily greater insecurity, small capitalist system of corruption “The bourgeoisie the establishment of the Unem- ested in taking direct action since 2009. If we can convert businesses and self-employed and crisis. has stripped of its ployed Workers’ Centres. then take action. If people want that into direct action… go to the wall. In the 16 months of the pan- halo every occu- Now we must be prepared to form a group they can contact “People can do whatever they Not a bad outcome for a gov- demic, one million jobs have pation hitherto and determined to carry this us at [email protected].” are comfortable with. Take the ernment 100 per cent commit- been scrapped in Britain; but honoured and history forward in the face of Back on the roof of the Elbit next step. You will amaze your- ted to state-backed monopoly we need to remind ourselves lookedA up to with reverent awe. a challenge that will be in all factory in Leicester, “terrified” self at what you can do. capitalism. that prior to Covid, even before “It has converted the physi- the history books. Ethan was preparing for another “By taking action we are tak- They intend to emerge with the end of the effects of the cian, the lawyer, the priest, the What future will we workers night in the tent with his three ing responsibility for the UK’s a sufficiently large unemployed 2008-9 crisis, a new crisis was poet, the man of science, into in Britain make in coming out friends, well aware that police involvement in Israel’s colonial “reserve army of workers” that building out of the destructive its paid wage labourers.” of the virus crisis? Will it be could arrive at any time to project.” they can use to drive wages of cycles of capitalism. And all wage labourers are “back to normal … periodic remove and arrest them, particu- He appealed for people to the employed even further All the indications were facing similar threats of job crisis-driven unemployment larly late at night and in the early head for the factory gates in down, reduce rights and work- of a developing “downturn” insecurity, job “loss,” underem- with all the consequent cuts hours when even the hardiest support whenever and wher- ing conditions and undermine and recession — from 2018 to ployment and unemployment. to wages and conditions? supporters at the factory gates ever an Elbit occupation takes union organisation. 2020 Britain had already “lost” The Communist Party is Or will it be a “new normal” would have gone home. place, including Leicester. In its most blatant form, 436,000 jobs. organising two inspirational where the needs of the people, Ethan says overcoming his Legal action by Elbit has hit we recognise it as “fire and Hardest hit then, now, and practical analytical and not the greed of the rich and initial fear was a big step in an Palestine Action’s ability to rehire.” But every day there through capitalist history organisational online events. powerful, are the nation’s pri- act of direct action. raise funds. Their appeals for is the spoken and implied and future, are young work- On Saturday May 29 from orities and the right to work is “It’s important to say we financial support have been threat — particularly in non- ers, women workers, disabled 11am the Unemployment Fight- at the centre of our movement? were all scared,” he said. “To be removed from fundraising sites union workplaces — that if you and black and minority ethnic back “fast and furious” webi- honest I didn’t believe I could such as Paypal, GoFundMe and don’t want the job on the boss’s workers. nar, chaired by the CPB’s Moz ■ Register for the webinar at do it, especially with the cur- Facebook. terms, there are plenty in the Capitalism loves division and Greenshields, brings together 12 mstar.link/UnemploymentWebinar. rent ‘down’ on rights to protest. Palestine Action has set up “reserve army” who will take it. super-exploitation — the low- leaders from a broad spectrum Register for the organising confer- “But that’s changed. We its own fundraising platform That’s the value of unem- paid have been the most serious of the working-class movement. ence at mstar.link/Unemployment- have shut Elbit down. We are at palestineaction.org/donate. ployment to capitalism — victims of unemployment. We have trade-union gen- Conference. Morning Star morningstaronline.co.uk Saturday/Sunday morningstaronline 14 May 22-23 2021 features @m_star_online Scottish independence and the British trade union movement HE re-elected Scottish National JOHN McINALLY argues the British trade union movement can maintain Party govern- ment, with Green Party support, unity by adopting an independent class position and fully supporting the has won a clear Tmandate for a second independ- democratic right of Scottish workers to pursue national self-determination ence referendum. The Scottish Trades Union Westminster political consen- leaders who refused to organ- the independence debate but to independence with no con- members led to not insignifi- Congress has passed a motion sus exemplified in the “Better ise a generalised co-ordinated this will require a clear class sultation with either members cant membership loss in some stating that “the Scottish Par- Together” campaign, an alli- fightback against relentless neo- analysis, not in abstract terms, or activists; a recommendation unions, a self-inflicted wound liament should have the power ance of Tory, Labour and Lib- liberal assault on their terms but in the context of the liv- to vote No decided by a UK-wide exploited by the SNP as over to hold a referendum on Scot- eral parties, that offered noth- and conditions: betrayal of the ing struggle now unfolding. union conference; membership 11,000 workers joined their land’s future and should not ing but the status quo of cuts, 2010-11 public-sector pensions That means the adoption of consultation, but only after a trade union wing. require UK government con- privatisation and austerity. dispute emboldened David an independent class position leadership imposed a No rec- It is true that “a Scottish sent.” The Blairite Labour Party Cameron’s coalition govern- with principled support for the ommendation and, a “neutral” worker has more in common This democratic right to a abandoned British workers, but ment to implement austerity democratic right of workers to stance, recommending neither with a worker in Birmingham second referendum must be they were also repeatedly failed in its most brutal form. pursue national self-determi- Yes nor No. than a Scottish millionaire” unequivocally supported by by the Trades Union Congress Many Scottish workers were nation while campaigning as In Unison, the UK’s largest but substituting a slogan for every socialist and trade union (TUC) and right-wing union suspicious of the SNP but their never before to protect and public-sector union, the lead- an analysis and a sermon for leadership throughout Britain support for independence advance the interests of work- ership attempted to impose a a strategy does little to illu- and Ireland. exposed Peter Mandelson’s ers throughout the islands and No recommendation but were minate the class basis of the The class collaborationism hubristic delusion they had uncompromisingly advocating faced down by Scottish activ- struggle taking place and that defined the approach of “nowhere to go.” a socialist alternative to the ists who warned them of the which underpins support for the Labour Party and many Scottish workers’ support for chaos and instability of capi- inadvisability of such a move. independence among signifi- trade union leaderships in the self-determination was, and talism. Two unions, the rail work- cant layers of Scottish workers. 2014 independence referen- remains, the result of a funda- ers and prison officers, held There is no demand from dum must be confronted and mental crisis of working-class Lessons from the Scottish conferences that, sig- Scottish workers or activists rejected, as must the self-ful- leadership and political repre- independence nificantly, resulted in Yes to for a split in the UK-wide trade filling prophecy that working- “ independence votes. sentation. referendum 2014 union movement because they class division is an inevitable It was class Led by irreconcilable “fam- The imposition of vote No understand that no contradic- outcome of support for Scottish ily, flags and forces” British Woefully unprepared for to independence recommen- tion exists between pursuing self-determination. anger not narrow nationalists Labour is incapa- the first referendum the Brit- dations by leadership fiat or their democratic right to self- It was class anger not narrow ble of playing any constructive ish trade union movement by so-called “democratic” UK- determination while maintain- nationalism that drove strong or even independent role in avoided division by good luck wide votes — in reality an effec- ing the wider unity of the Brit- support for independence in nationalism that the independence debate and rather than judgement. But the tive veto on workers’ right to ish trade union movement. working-class heartlands like will echo, with some cosmetic stakes now are immeasurably national self-determination — National self-determination: Glasgow, the West of Scotland drove strong presentational “differences,” higher and UK-wide unions are “strategies” that can only a democratic strategy for the and Dundee in the first refer- the Tories’ uncompromising and the TUC must now begin lead to division and even splits. trade unions endum — it was also a desire support for pro-unionist position, further a debate and learn from mis- A foreshadow of such poten- The strategy adopted by Civil for democratic accountability, alienating the radical youth taken approaches in the first tial division occurred when the Service union PCS offers some political control and hope that and Scottish workers, includ- referendum. STUC, in touch with the mood clue to how democratic debate independence might prove a independence in ing many of their own current The following examples give of Scottish workers, refused to and a campaigning strategy credible route to a more fair party members. a picture of how some union back the Better Together cam- can be developed across the and equal society. working-class Trade unions can meet leaderships approached the paign. movement. It was also an expression the challenges, dangers and 2014 referendum: imposition of The imposition of pro- The union prioritised and of workers’ contempt for the heartlands opportunities presented by a recommendation to vote No unionist recommendations to enabled the widest possible

Ken Livingstone former mayor of London Time for a border poll in Ireland LAST week saw the outcome of the inquests into the deaths of The people of Ireland have the right to shape their own future, the victims of the Ballymurphy massacre. The coroner found that all as agreed in the Good Friday Agreement, writes KEN LIVINGSTONE 10 of those shot dead between August 9 and 11 1971 — in the little sense of jubilation. Earlier unionist regime were followed pursue through peaceful and in insisting — even in the most do the right thing and live up days following the introduction this year, polling conducted for by three decades of conflict, in democratic means their future dark and difficult days — that to its commitments. of internment without trial — the BBC found that even within which more than 3,500 people aspirations for the island. dialogue and negotiation It is time to make good on were “entirely innocent of any Northern Ireland only 40 per were killed. It placed on the British secre- offered the only path to peace. the promises made in 1998. A wrongdoing.” cent considered it a cause for The sectarian nature of the tary of state a responsibility to With a Tory government con- whole generation born after For 50 years the families celebration. state that was built from par- organise a referendum should it tent to wallow in its own appar- the Good Friday Agreement knew the truth, but for half a On both sides of the border, tition is still visible at the so- appear likely to lead to consti- ent ignorance, the labour move- are now adults, while there are century that truth was hidden most people now believe that called “peace lines” in Belfast tutional change — and across ment in this country, along people in their 40s today who from the British public. Ireland will be united at some and other towns and cities that Ireland today, that conversation with civil society and the Irish were not yet old enough to vote Internment and the use of point in the next 25 years. were recently the site of fresh is growing louder. community, has an enormous when it was signed. military force against civilian Westminster politicians disturbances. The part it played in bringing part to play in supporting the The people of Ireland have populations was part of a long saw partition as a way to “get But 23 years ago, in 1998, the about the Good Friday Agree- kind of dialogue that is every the right to shape their own litany of failed British policies Ireland done.” By dividing Ire- Good Friday Agreement began ment is arguably the most bit as necessary today. future. It is surely time for a in Ireland. land it was hoped that the divi- to lay the ground on which important achievement of the Raising the level of under- border poll. Perhaps the greatest policy sive “Irish question” could be peace could be built. Central to last period when Labour was standing about Ireland in Brit- failure of all, however, was not removed from British politics. that agreement was the right, in power. ain can help to ensure that the ■ You can follow Ken at www.twit- 50 but 100 years ago. This year The fruits were bitter. Fifty guaranteed to all the people of Alongside others from right failures of the past are learnt ter.com/Ken4London and www. marks the centenary of the par- years of discrimination under Northern Ireland, to identify as across the labour movement, I from and not repeated and put facebook.com/KenLivingstoneOf- tition of Ireland, but there is what amounted to a one-party Irish or British or both and to am proud of the part I played pressure on the government to ficial. morningstaronline.co.uk Morning Star morningstaronline Saturday/Sunday @m_star_online features | entertainment May 22-23 2021 15

reaching for stronger repres- in consciousness with the sive legislation and strategies, established order questioned including the Policing Bill and as never before. voter suppression. Workers’ support for inde- Trade unionists need no pendence is not an embrace reminding that the UK has of reactionary nationalism but the most repressive anti-union a demand for democracy and, laws in the Western world and in however an undeveloped or should be deeply concerned by even distorted form, for social- calls from influential repre- ism itself. sentatives of the ruling class Socialists and trade union- for a “Catalonian solution”, ie, ists have nothing to fear from open state repression, to defeat demands for Scottish self- independence. determination but each union must develop strategies for the t must not be underes- widest consultation and partic- timated how important ipation among Scottish mem- it is for the Tories to bers while asserting, through assemble another Better patient explanation and debate Together-style formation to members in England, Wales and exploit the authority and Ireland why the right to Iof the trade union movement national self-determination, a debate through consultation government, as well as with LOUD AND CLEAR: Protesters class position, promoting and as part of a pro-unionist front, basic democratic demand, must with Scottish members and the Westminster government, during a Scottish independence defending the interests of its but such an alliance can only be fully supported. activists, including the circu- and would continue to press its rally in George Square, Glasgow members and the working divide and disorientate work- Trade union unity can be lation of information from both demands on PCS’s alternative on May 1 2021 class, campaigning for an end ers in all nations and must be maintained and even strength- camps, policy forums, branch to austerity, cuts and privatisa- to austerity, cuts and privatisa- rejected by all trade unions and ened but only by adopting an debates and a Scottish confer- tion with both the Yes and No tion, and for tax justice, repeal the TUC. independent class position ence. campaigns; of the anti-trade union laws, Many Scots now regard Tory that stands separate and dis- Membership surveys of Support Yes, and Support No. equality and civil liberties, and Britain as demonstrating char- tinct from both reactionary the union’s 30,000 Scottish Branch votes, reflecting their an extension of public owner- acteristics of a failed state in British nationalism and pro- members showed their main membership, voted for Option ship of the utilities. irreversible decline — Brexit, capitalist Scottish nationalism concerns were job security 1 – 18,025, 2 – 5,775 and 3 – 0. This strategy, including full rising British/English national- and which builds the strongest and pensions with their main This sharp picture of a mixed support for the right of workers ism, racism and the disastrous possible campaigns to leverage priority the provision of good consciousness within a key sec- “ to national self-determination, response to the Covid-19 pan- maximum concessions from public services. tor of Scottish workers showed was endorsed by the union’s UK- demic in which the ruling klep- the Westminster and Scottish a wariness about both Yes and Socialists and wide annual conference. tocracy put their own enrich- governments. Delegates attending the No campaigns, although the The Tories and the reaction- ment over people’s lives. Nothing will unite our class Scottish conference in total lack of support for the trade unionists ary British establishment will Scottish workers’ support for across the islands like a co-ordi- February 2014 voted on No campaign strongly echoed attempt to defeat the independ- independence is more likely nated fightback, and that must three options: members’ revulsion toward Bet- have nothing to ence campaign through the based on “anything is better be the movement’s top priority. ter Together. tried and tested methods of than this” than “Saor Alba.” The union would provide The conference overwhelm- liberal democracy — a biased The past period is no reliable ■ JOHN McINALLY is the former information on both campaigns ingly endorsed the union lead- fear from demands press and media, “Project Fear” guide to the qualitatively differ- PCS union vice-president, he over- so members could decide which ership’s approach that PCS propaganda and so on. ent one we have now entered, saw the union’s strategy in the 2014 to support and PCS would con- should not be a mere observer for Scottish self- But such methods are becom- which is one of unparalleled Scottish independence referendum. tinue to campaign on indus- in the campaign but active par- ing increasingly unreliable, instability in which multiple Follow John McInally on Twitter @ trial issues with the Scottish ticipants with an independent determination which is why the Tories are crises will provoke rapid shifts JohnMcInally13.

TV Weekend preview with Neil Jenkin

3.15pm Talking Pictures 1950, retains the elements that Stages 14 and 15, a couple of Film Feature-length 1969 edit from made its predecessors watch- lumpy rides as the tour heads POLITICAL Saturday the TV series. A holidaying able: savour murderous Nurse into its final week. Highlights STATEMENT: Roger Moore’s raised eyebrow Mayflower (Jessie Buckley)’s later in English on Quest Boom Bang a Harry & Tonto, 9.55pm Talking Pictures gets caught up with the mafia Minnesotan accent. (7pm). Bang singer in Palermo and Naples. Lulu clutches When his apartment build- Documentary Saturday her trophy ing is torn down, a retired Drama Scottish Cup Final, 1pm BBC1 after coming lifelong New Yorker (Art Saturday Scotland joint first in Carney) and his cat go on a Sunday Arena: African Apocalypse, St Johnstone v Hibernian,or 1969 cross-country odyssey. Carney The Pursuit of Love, 9pm BBC1 9.30pm BBC2 Perth v Leith for clueless picked up the Oscar for best Final episode of this adap- Poet and activist Femi Sassenachs like me. Sadly, a actor for his performance in tation of Nancy Mitford’s Nylander travels to Niger Covid surge in Glasgow means Paul Mazursky’s 1974 comedy novel set among the Bright to discover the modern-day Hampden Park will be empty drama. Young Things of the interwar impact of French army atroci- of fans. Kick-off is at 2pm. The Lobster, 1.20am Film4 years. Emily Beecham, Lily ties that took place in 1899. In Yorgos Lanthimos’s 2015 Yesterday’s sudoku James and Andrew Scott star. Sunday dystopian black comedy, What’s with the anachro- Dark Matter: A History of the Saturday entry for being “political.” newly single David (Colin nistic soundtrack, though? Afrofuture, 9pm BBC4 Wasn’t Boom Bang a Bang Farrell) is sent to The Hotel to Did someone just get drunk Eurovision Song Contest, An exploration of how black political? Ding a Dong? What find a romantic partner. He and ramble round Spotify for 8pm BBC1 artists have used the sci- about Waterloo? Definitely has 45 days in which to form days? How very now. a relationship with some- fi genre to examine black A GLIMPSE into the abyss that political. Bah. Hypocrites the Fargo, 10pm Channel 4 is foreign telly, the contest has lot of them. Nul points. one with whom he shares a history and conjure up new The critics seem to have turned been with us for 65 years. More to my liking is defining characteristic; if he alternative futures. against this spin-off from the Most depressing for me is tonight’s Father Ted (0.15am doesn’t, he’ll be transformed Coen brothers’ black-comedy the almost universal deci- More4) episode in which Ted into a lobster. Fair enough. Sport crime film, but to this viewer sion to sing in English. And and Dougal enter the Sunday this fourth series, set amid the Saturday & Sunday they’ve banned Belarus’s Eurosong contest. Vendetta For The Saint, warring gangs of Kansas City in Giro d’Italia, 2pm, S4C Morning Star morningstaronline.co.uk Saturday/Sunday morningstaronline 16 May 22-23 2021 culture @m_star_online

LITERATURE I SHAKESPEARE AND THE LOST PLAYS AMPBELL PRICE is BY DAVID MCINNIS I CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS, £29.99 one of the great communicators on all things ancient Egypt Research into the lost plays of the Shakespearean A specialist in tracing lost Naturally the individual — check out his plays of the period, McInnis play, the figure, is more domi- excellentC YouTube seminar period provides new insights into the Bard and his records that as many as 744 nant given the semi-invisible on the subject and you’ll see are identifiably lost, with lost plays but McInnis dem- why — and his interest in that work, says GORDON PARSONS hundreds more completely onstrates that Hamlet might ancient world was first piqued untraceable. This is not owing originally have been written at a very young age at the Kel- to their lack of quality but the more as a play “participating in vingrove Museum in his native DESPITE extensive research, of his plays have survived tist, feeding scarcity of surviving texts and a Danish matrix,” of “a decade Glasgow. relatively little is known about through fellow actors posthu- the insatiable performance records. or more of representations of “The perfume of antiquity” Shakespeare and his work and, mously collecting 36 of them daily theatre appetite of Eliz- McInnis’s literary archaeol- Denmark on London stages,” which pervaded the Egyptian consequently, popular scholar- in the famous First Folio. abethan and early Jacobean ogy sets out to “better under- than as today’s dramatic study objects on display drew him in: ship tends to focus on the lan- Theatre historian David audiences, must essentially stand Shakespeare’s plays by of the tragic hero’s psychologi- “I’ve been hooked ever since,” guage and dramaturgy of the McInnis recognises that rather have responded to the currents restoring them to their most cal turmoil. he says. He’s Curator of Egypt Bard’s extant plays. than being an isolated artist of popularity and fashion, as immediate and pressing con- Awareness of the commer- and Sudan at the Manchester Fortunately, compared with foreseeing his world reputa- important in the 16th and 17th text: the lost drama of the day” cial influences on Shakespeare Museum, which houses one his contemporaries, many tion, this busy working drama- centuries as they are today. and in this quest, he draws on leads to questioning modern of Britain’s largest Egyptology that vagary of human percep- views of his career path as a collections, and he has just pub- tion Rubin’s Vase. progression from early histo- lished a new book Mummies of The outline contours of the ries, through middle comedy, Egypt, which investigates the ambiguous, two-dimensional to later tragedy and a final colonial acquisition of Egyp- image mark out identical faces “reconciliation” period. tian antiquities and the ways and the eye necessarily sees These plays, often seen as in which they have been inter- either the “figure” of the vase a professional journey from preted in the Western world. or the “ground” of the faces youthful energy to aged matu- Despite an outstanding aca- but never both. rity, were more likely to have demic track record, he admits Presenting Shakespeare’s reflected the changing theatri- to taking a “somewhat child- plays as the “figure,” McInnis cal temper of the times. ish” sense of excitement for- employs forensically examined McInnis also examines the ward into a career in Egyptol- evidential fragments establish- likely influences on the choice ogy. “Egyptian colleagues tend ing the nature and dating of and nature of the plays of the to develop an interest slightly lost plays from the repertories four different theatre spaces later in life and have a some- of the Lord Chamberlain’s Men Shakespeare’s company moved what more mature attitude to — Shakespeare’s company — to during his career. the subject compared to many and their main rival, the Admi- Although clearly designed non-Egyptian Egyptologists,” ral’s Men, as the “ground.” for the academic library, he says. Shakespeare and the Lost Plays “Any student, of any subject, is a fascinating work of liter- bases at least part of their inter- SHAKESPEARE’S STAGES: A ary detection. It humanises a pretation on their own upbring- panorama of London by Claes Van remarkable playwright, one ing; it isn’t a failing to admit Visscher in 1616 shows two among many working in the that. Some colleagues could theatres — The Bear Garden and emerging and competitive the- learn from that, I think. The Globe — in the foreground atrical marketplace of his day. “Egyptology encompasses a vast range of different special- isms and, in seeking to under- stand a different culture, it OPINION is a valuable addition to the humanities, not least because there is such a vast amount of A LOT TO LIVE UP TO: Coventry heritage in Egypt itself.” City of Culture In a recent blog post, Camp- Artful exclusion Pic: coventry2021.co.uk bell insisted that while Egyptol- ogists should be in the business TONY CONWAY and GRAHAM LEE take Coventry Asylum and Refugee of trying to understand the Action Group. But most people ancient Egyptians and share issue with the marginalisation of local talent ask what will the legacy be. their findings and interpreta- Will local people gain long- tions, they ought also to be hon- in the programme for Coventry City of Culture term employment? Will there est and open about their own be any apprenticeships? What preconceptions. JUNE 5 marks the launch of And Terry Hall, formerly of will links will be made with “Egyptology exists under the Coventry’s year as City of the Specials, will return to the the local schools? shadow of — and to an extent Culture. It actually started city to curate a three-day music It remains to be seen perpetuates — the foundational on May 17 but the organisers event. whether this is a year-long opinions of white, upper and kept it low-key to avoid any One local visual artist told jamboree that packs up at the middle-class European men,” large gatherings — imagine a me that the whole programme end of its tenure and moves on he explains. cultural event that works best felt more “host town, not ghost — Medway, Southampton, Brad- “They have shaped the disci- without any observers! town.” ford and even, improbably, the pline, such as it is, and it is a lot City of Culture is is an hon- Local performers were mar- county of Lancashire all have of work to critique and unthink our bestowed by Whitehall ginalised and prime locations their websites ready for their every few years on a city that used to showcase imported plenty more grassroots, local union involvement. 2025 bids — or whether there it believes would be particularly works, with no thought as to work happening, down the pro- Coventry has a proud trade will be a lasting, transforma- deserving of some Londoners whether Coventry-based talent gramme — the website warns union and tenants’ association tive cultural legacy for Coven- showing it what “proper” cul- could be highlighted. that these have not been pro- history which has won big pay try. And whether it’s a legacy ture is. Pictures are already being duced by the official company rises for workers and last year the people of Coventry want, Egyptology exists Previous recipients include shared across social media of but are “taking place during there were a large number of or the one a central committee Derry-Londonderry — as the some of the impressive murals our year.” Black Lives Matter demonstra- in the capital think that they “ under the shadow of private company that ran the that have been installed by art- And even more will be hap- tions. Protest is part of the city’s should have. festival rebranded it — Liver- ists from Bristol and London. pening that hasn’t come to the culture. The local Communist Party pool and Hull. Do the street artists of Cov- notice of the official commit- Many community groups branch wants to inject class – and to an extent Looking at some of the big entry not have any thought- tee. Coventry Association of such as CAIF, the Lord Mayor politics into the events, organ- names in the programme, you provoking expressions of life in International Friendship (CAIF) Peace Committee, Coventry ise busking in the city and ask perpetuates – the could easily get the impression their home city to share with will celebrate the links made Against Racism and Love Music people what they think the City that the idea is that those city the world? Couldn’t Coventry between women of the city and Hate Racism have attempted to of Culture means to them. foundational folks are coming up from Eus- City of Culture celebrate the of Stalingrad in 1944 and will liaise with the culture team but ton to let us know how culture culture of the city of Coventry? organise a Coventry-Dresden given the nature of these bodies ■ Coventry-based readers of the opinions of white, works: the Turner Prize will be High up on the programme festival of the arts too. have not been consulted on the Morning Star can contact us at at the Herbert Art Gallery and is a theatre adaptation of Silas The City of Culture will programme. [email protected]. upper and middle- the Booker Prize “virtually Marner by Coventry-based excite many, but it is a missed We should welcome the uk if they have any views and wish announced” from Coventry, George Eliot, involving local opportunity. One issue of grave events planned during Refu- to join us in really celebrating Cov- class European men whatever that means. performers but there are concern is the lack of trade gee Week which involve the entry’s culture. morningstaronline.co.uk Morning Star morningstaronline Saturday/Sunday @m_star_online culture May 22-23 2021 17

INTERVIEW Open to radical interpretation DR CAMPBELL PRICE talks to Cliff Cocker about moving the study of ancient Egypt on from elitist preconceptions

Pics (except where bylined separately): Julia Thorne/Manchester Museum

nium BC and, he says, it is interesting that when Egypt was ruled by the Greeks and Romans “that sort of multicul- turalism is difficult for the imperial British mentality to process.” MARVELS FROM THE MANCHESTER Ancient Egypt, as MUSEUM:(Left to right from top) Basalt stela, the blurb for his new inscribed in hieroglyphs and demotic script, book explains, is popu- Ptolemaic period, 305-30 BC; wooden toy larly synonymous with horse set on four wheels, Roman period, many of gold, sex, art and death. But 30 BC-150 AD; green glass bracelet, Roman the assump- Price questions to what extent period; Gilded cartonnage mummy mask, tions that underlie even the these concepts are representa- Ptolemaic period; Openwork wooden most well regarded university tive of ancient concerns or carving, probably from a coffin or funerary bier teaching of Egyptology today.” realities and how modern inter- of Isis, Roman period; Ostracon, an artist’s For most, ancient Egypt preters may shape the ancient gridded sketch of Senenmut, found in his tomb is simply reimagined in the past to fit a narrative attrac- and a block statue of the frequent image of the beholder and the tive to themselves and their representation of Senenmut holding Hatshepsut’s dominant narrative is “a sort audiences. daughter Neferure, both c1479-1458 BCE of proto-British empire, with Unlike ancient Greece hierarchies and terminology and Rome, there are few used to describe ancient-life contemporary commentar- deposit — which might furnish Egypt’s most successful female worlds mapped onto those the ies about political and social more direct insight into how Pharaoh from c1479 to 1458 BC, ‘founding fathers’ understood.” events from ancient Egypt objects were at least originally “proving that women could Thus “viceroys” and even but there are some written associated, if not actually used, rule a powerful ancient pol- “durbars” [the courts of Indian accounts which have inci- and provide insights into social ity,” Price says.

rulers] are described as taking Pic: Richard Mortel/Creative Commons dental details about social practice. “Senenmut, her chief offi- place in the sec- conditions, including the A problem for Price is that cial, was something like an

ond millen- first recorded strike in TheMet/PublicPic: domain museums don’t transmit facts, ancient Egyptian Michelangelo. human history. ought to be “used” — an exam- designed for maximum display, they create them and “all He was an innovator, a designer For Price, how the ple is one asking passers-by to for the gods, for eternity. Thus, museum visions are skewed and, intriguingly, apparently ancient audience leave offerings and even clean museums don’t show anything in some sense. The surviving unmarried — leading to sug- interacted with what the monument — and he has like a cross-section of society evidence is biased towards the gestions of a royal romance. are today museum translated some of them for but rather focus on rich dead rich dead and curators can only “He left behind lots of monu- pieces is a source a book slated for publication people. try to order the material they ments, largely as a result of the of fascination. The next year. “But does this mean that the have at their disposal to give queen’s favour, so there’s a lot statues often have The elite vs non-elite in non-elite — by far the majority a narrative meaningful to a of evidence to base speculations hieroglyphic texts Egyptian archaeology, a focus of the population would seem modern museum audience.” on — a historian’s dream!” on them tell- of his new book, is an age-old to have been working on the One such narrative is that ing how they issue. “Elite contexts tend to land — were aesthetically of Hatshepsut and Senenmut. ■ Golden Mummies of Egypt: be richer and yield more writ- deprived or is this an argument In response to the inevitable Interpreting Identities From the ten — therefore more “his- for silence? I attempt to address question about what ancient Graeco-Roman Period, price £25, torical” — evidence and to the question of audience in my Egyptian site he would visit is available at have more display-worthy next book on elite sculpture if he could travel back in the Manchester objects,” he says. which — surprise, surprise — time, he picks out Deir el- Museum online “Non-elite contexts — seems to have been intended Bahri, a complex of mortu- shop: manches- modest burials and mud- for a restricted, elite audience.” ary temples and tombs oppo- termuseumshop. brick houses — simply He is clear that we don’t need site Luxor on the west bank co.uk/books-and- don’t survive the depre- more royal tombs, we need of the Nile. prints/golden- dations of time nearly as “closed contexts” — an undis- It’s the site of an impres- mummies-of- well as those built of stone, turbed settlement or ritual sive temple of Hatshepsut, egypt Morning Star morningstaronline.co.uk Saturday/Sunday morningstaronline 18 May 22-23 2021 letters | red list @m_star_online

n PALESTINE n ELECTIONS We must continue East Oxford to support Gaza against the Israeli turned Green state aggression SUPPORTING Israeli apartheid in 2021 is as morally indefen- at the thought sible as supporting South Afri- can apartheid in 1991 — the onslaught on Gaza must be met LANGUISHING: Abdullah with firm opposition and mass of Akehurst al-Howaiti (above) was just 14 protest by the left and progres- years old when he was arrested in sive movements. LIKE your correspondent of We Believe in Israel and 2017 — the same year Crown We must do all we can to sup- Pauline Fraser (M Star, May someone who describes Prince Mohammed bin Salman port the embattled people of 18), I think it’s important himself on its website as a (right) came to power Palestine, and one practical way to share some of the good lifelong committed zionist of doing that will be by attend- news from the May 6 elec- — things were very n HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES ing today’s rally called by PSC tions with your readers. different. and STWC which starts at 1pm Here in Oxford on May 6 The Greens romped and sets off from Victoria. we had elections for Oxford home, with Mr Akehurst Plenty of Jews support the City Council. beaten by over 400 votes. Another child faces death at Palestinian cause and there In the ethnically diverse GEOFFREY FERRES needs to be a full understand- St Mary’s ward in east Oxford the hands of Saudi authorities ing that Judaism is not auto- Oxford there is usually a matically synonymous with close contest between the ABDULLAH AL HOWAITI was the alleged “crime,” a high- ing execution. He was a child zionism. Labour and Green 14 years old when he was stakes jewellery robbery at the time of the alleged Those who have engaged in candidates. arrested in Saudi Arabia. and murder. crime and his alibi should anti-semitic abuse of Jewish In the last contest in He was held incommuni- The DNA evidence used be enough to save his life. individuals have nothing to 2018 the two parties cado for four months — his to charge Abdullah is Abdullah was 14 years old do with the Palestine issue, took almost 90 per cent family had no idea where he inconsistent. when this story began — by in fact they undermine it and of the votes and the was, or if he was even alive. Abdullah’s alibi is backed law, he was a child. actually play into the hands Greens’ majority was He’s been locked up ever by his friends, family and He shouldn’t have been of those who do support the just 157. since his arrest in 2017. His CCTV footage. But Abdullah arrested, or tortured, or slaughter of the innocents in So, I’m sure readers mother has only seen him was tortured until he “con- held incommunicado or sen- Gaza. will be as pleased as I HAVE YOUR SAY! once since his arrest. fessed” to crimes he could tenced to death for a crime Let us take to the streets was to see that this year Write (up to 300 words) to And now he faces the not have committed. he couldn’t have committed. and show our solidarity with when Labour put forward letters@peoples-press. threat of being executed at His brother was also tor- Please speak up for him the Palestinian peoples – we leading national executive com any moment. Abdullah has tured — and held incommu- now. Visit the Reprieve are many. committee rightwinger an alibi — he was at the sea- nicado too, without access website for further details. PHIL BRAND Luke Akehurst — director front playing football with to a lawyer or their family. B McKENNA London SW17 his friends at the time of Abdullah shouldn’t be fac- Dumbarton

The Red List May 22-29 Remembering the Nakba Day Mental Health Matters - Your Town Red: How Preston Took press” really means, and how we’re 8 SATURDAY 22 4pm online Forgotten Key Workers Back Control and Your Town Can going to make change, with The Too, the story of how one city in the Canary co-founder Kerry-Anne Men- One Year On: George Floyd A discussion with ex-Knesset 4.30pm online north of England decided to level doza; activist and founder of United Memorial Protest member Haneen Zoabi — who The next in a series of made history in 2009 when she online Mental Health up without waiting for Whitehall. for Black Lives Marvina Newton, 11am US embassy, Nine Elms, SW11 became the first Arab woman Matters meetings. In Organised by Housmans. For more and Media Reform Coalition chair A socially distanced memorial event to be elected to Israel’s this episode the role info and to book: http://mstar.link/ and Goldsmiths University Profes- to mark one year since the police parliament — and Rachel of forgotten key preston sor Natalie Fenton. Check here for murder of George Floyd, with speak- Beitarie of Zochrat. workers through- further details: http://mstar.link/ ers including MP Bell Riberio-Addy org, hosted by the West out the Covid-19 Book event: Diversity in damnedlies and Stand Up to Racism’s Nadia Midlands Palestine pandemic is Children’s Literature 3: Alex Sayed. Solidarity Campaign. explored. Register Wheatle and AM Dassu 7pm online Why Politics Matter with Unite For further informa- here: http://mstar. Alex Wheatle and A. M. Dassu join 8 SATURDAY 29 the Union tion: http://mstar.link/ link/mentalhealth Deirdre O’Byrne to read from and 10am-2pm online rememberingnakba Saturday 22 Organised by the Writers of the Left in an Age of talk about their books and the issues Unite West Midlands Politics hosts TUC North West. Extremes they address, and about cultural a free Zoom event on Why Politics 6.30pm online Book event: Not diversity in children’s books in Matter to workers. If you’re inter- March for Palestine Launch meeting for the Socialist 8 MONDAY 24 Quite Right for general. Organised by Five Leaves ested, apply here: http://mstar.link/ History Society’s latest Occasional 1pm Victoria Embankment, London Us: Celebrating Bookshop. This event will have whypolitics School of Humanities Publication. The joint authors of the New Writing Festival: Protest against Israel’s relentless flipped eye and BSL interpretation provided but — publication will discuss why the Speaking Volumes please note — you will not be able Voices of Refugees Black Writers and the Black attacks on Palestinians. writers who are featured still mat- 3pm online Archive 7pm online to see the BSL interpretation during ter. David Morgan will speak about Supported by the International 6pm online Organised by PSC, CND, Stop Housmans presents a joint the talk if you’re using an iPad. For Edgell Rickword and Greta Sykes the War and Friends event with flipped eye and more info and to book: http://mstar. Transport Workers Federation, Join writer, researcher and organ- of Al-Aqsa. will speak about Anna Seghers and this event will bring together iser Lola Olufemi, academic Eddie Speaking Volumes to celebrate link/preston Carlo Levi. All welcome, free to at- displaced people from different Bruce-Jones and writer, archivist the publication of Not Quite Right tend, register here: http://mstar.link/ One year from George Floyd’s backgrounds across the world to and poet Jesse Bernard for this free for Us, an anthology featuring 40 ageofextremes murder: We need action now! explain their struggles as well as online event considering the rela- 8 TUESDAY 25 international voices talking about 6pm online their hopes for the future. Hosted tionships between black writers and outsider-ness. Also part of flipped Book event: Bob Dylan in The BLM Movement has exposed by the Peace and Justice Project. black archives. Find full details and eyes’s 20th anniversary celebra- London, with Jackie Lees and that racism is at the heart of British Register here: http://mstar.link/ book here: https://bit.ly/3o7ANEA tions and Speaking Volumes’s 10th KG Miles society just as much as the US. A voicesofrefugees anniversary this year. For further 7pm online info and tickets: http://mstar.link/ panel of young speakers will discuss North West Culture and Five Leaves Bookshop presents notquiteright what we can do in the here and now Creative unions meeting Jackie Lees — only the second in the battle to end discrimination. 8 SUNDAY 23 12pm online woman to write about Bob Dylan — Organised by Stand Up to Racism. and KG Miles in conversation with For further information and Zoom Palestine Matters: How can TUC North West are inviting union 8 THURSDAY 27 members working in the cultural Michael Eaton, talking about their details: http://mstar.link/georgefloyd educators respond? new book, Bob Dylan in London, 5pm online and creative industries to join a free Book event: Paint Your Town Zoom call to present your experienc- which is about exactly what it says Red – Matthew Brown and Lies, Damned Lies & Corrup- A discussion hosted by NEU Left on the cover. This event is a day tion: Why we urgently need to about how educators can stand in es during Covid-19 to a special guest Rhian E. Jones in conversation CONTACT US panel, including shadow minister after Dylan’s 80th birthday. Register with Grace Blakeley free the press, and how we’re solidarity with Palestine on the here: http://mstar.link/bobdylan going to do it Promote your events! streets and in our schools. for culture and sport Alison McGov- 7pm online ern MP. Register here: http://mstar. Housmans Bookshop hosts a discus- 7pm online Register in advance here: Extinction Rebellion UK hosts this redlist@peoples https://bit.ly/33NL13A link/NWTUC sion with Matthew Brown and -press.com 8 WEDNESDAY 26 Rhian E. Jones on their book Paint panel discussion of what a “free morningstaronline.co.uk Morning Star morningstaronline Saturday/Sunday @m_star_online letters May 22-23 2021 19 n CHILE n REFERENDUM Left advance puts capitalism on the run Is Scotland result really

THE election results on Sunday tion of about 400,000. The total in Chile were probably a death population of the city is over blow to neoliberalism here. six million. a vote for separation? The right wing will not be Another municipality was able to prevent a progressive won by a young woman com- THE much-trumpeted super- constitution being written munist, and several other big majority for Scottish separatists unless they can bribe a signifi- ones by members of the left- never materialised when the SNP cant number of delegates. wing Broad Front. and the Alba Party faced the vot- Many municipalities elected All of them were helped by ers. Alex Salmond’s Alba efforts left-wing mayors and many the impressive record of Dan- hardly registered: at under 2 per councillors for the first time. iel Jadue in the municipality of cent of the vote it had no candi- Readers of the Star should Recoleta: providing cheap medi- dates elected. Nor could the SNP know that communist mayor cines, opticians, a bookshop and itself claim success, falling one Iraci Hassler elected in Santiago is quality municipal housing for short of a majority. not the equivalent of Sadiq Khan. low rents, a first for Chile. But with a popular vote that She is mayor of the central DANIEL MORGAN showed a majority favouring municipality with a popula- Araucania, Chile parties that supported unity (albeit slim, separatists on 49 per cent of the constituency vote and the list vote split 50/50), the UK government will be even more determined to resist calls to rerun the 2014 referendum. Reinforcing rejection of such a rerun are priorities such as sorting the Covid-19 pandemic and dealing with Scotland’s multiple problems such as its acute drug crisis, failing educa- tion system and massive spend- ing cuts in the cities. IDENTITY: Indyref 2020 rally, hosted by the National newspaper, in George Square in Glasgow, in November 2019 A crisis looms in energy too, nised across Britain as a desta- Parliament” which only encour- exasperation and giving up with North Sea oil and gas run bilising factor. Proposals to age the drive to break up. hope of a second referendum. down and discouraged. The peg a Scottish currency to the Meanwhile, the real Many workers in Scotland administration has imposed a pound would have undermined break-up is within the sepa- rejected this camp and made moratorium on nuclear, while the British economy. It doesn’t ratist camp with spiteful up their own minds to vote promoting uncertain energy help when former prime min- diatribes flying between the tactically to keep separatists sources like tidal power, and isters like Gordon Brown start more orthodox SNP and the out, more or less using politi- windfarms are much promoted. meddling with appeasement defeated Alba Party. The sepa- cal parties as tools. The constant threat of break- notions like federalism and ratist Wings over Scotland is WILL PODMORE up is now starting to be recog- “more powers for the Scottish retiring from the struggle in London E12

SHINING EXAMPLE: Communist Recoleta mayor Daniel Jadue has presided over the creation of ‘people’s pharmacies’ Pic: Mrecoleta/CC n ENVIRONMENT Tories need to be ousted for our planet’s sake WELSH and Scottish farmers top of gases that make it a have a point in the econo- major source of air pollution mies of scale possible for affecting people along ship- Australian farmers with ping routes. flocks and herds of thou- Our Tory government sands of animals compared seems to think any price is to those possible on small worth it to scramble a post family farms. Brexit trade deal together. But they have a huge natu- Those extra greenhouse ral advantage which our gov- gases are tipping us ever ernment resolutely ignores: closer to climate chaos, with distance. floods, droughts, fires and If Australian lamb and typhoons. beef were to carry the full People in poor low-lying environmental cost, not countries will be hit hardest. only local farmers but the But our PM and friends will world would be better off. be sitting pretty in their lat- Transport by sea already est “second” home half way put a billion tons of green- up some mountain. We need house gases a year into the to get the Tories out while atmosphere between 2007 there is still some climate and 2012, according to the normality left to save. International Maritime PAT SANCHEZ Organisation. That’s on Littleborough Morning Star morningstaronline.co.uk Saturday/Sunday morningstaronline 20 May 22-23 2021 info | entertainment @m_star_online

WEATHER OUTLOOK Fighting Fund with Keith Stoddart days left9 TODAY NEXT FEW DAYS Rather cloudy at first Mostly dry start tomor- YOU’VE RAISED: WE NEED: but brightening up from row, with spell of locally the west with scat- heavy rain spreading tered showers from late eastwards later. Rain for morning. Windy in the parts of Scotland Mon- far east at first, but less day, sunshine and heavy £9,543 £8,457 windy, and warmer, showers elsewhere. than yesterday. Sunny spells, isolated showers, on Tuesday. THE mail coach has arrived, as Frosty said yesterday there’s government and arguments in to hear Sir Keir. Followed and when added to our elec- a shortage of the stuff. for a socialist way of govern- by Mr Mandelson it dropped tronic contributions it came A couple of £5s came with ance.” It’s what the Morning to 28, and by the time David to £1,750 on the day. fine words. “Thank you for sup- Star always aims to do. Milliband spoke it was a mere CONTACT US Thanks go to folk in Edin- porting women’s rights by con- Cheques without messages 23. £290 was raised. In contrast burgh and Merseyside for £10s, sistently reporting on events (three £10s, £15 from Newport the meeting of RSGs of Bath, Kent for £15, Sheffield for £100 and stories which other papers CPB, £25, £30, and £200) are Bristol, Cheltenham, Gloucester GENERAL ENQUIRIES CIRCULATION and a returned 501 Club cheque don’t,” said one. And the other gratefully acknowledged. and Stroud was attended by 60 William Rust House Bernadette Keaveney from York came in the hope said: “I really am fed up with Now, a tale of two meetings. who remained throughout and 52 Beachy Road, [email protected] that “the mop-top muppet is the lies in the media and from The misnamed Progressive Brit- raised £300! London E3 2NS 0778 0220-391 soon drowned in the effluent of this government. I want to hear ain Labour group was launched We’re getting there: stay [email protected] his own making.” Perhaps, but the arguments against this via Zoom with 56 folk tuning tuned for more on Monday. (020) 8510-0815 CAMPAIGNS (Mon-Fri 10am-5pm) Calvin Tucker [email protected] ADVERTISING Give by BACS... online... by phone...... or by post Moshfiqur Noor Tell us what you’d like to see [email protected] more of in your paper! Email Sort code 08-90-33, account 50505115, morningstaronline.co.uk/ 9am - 4pm, Cheques to PPFF, 52 Beachy [email protected] name PPFF page/support-us 0778 0220 391 Rd, Bow, London E3 2NS

Commie Chef CROSSWORD 1,393 set by Alamet QUIZMASTER with William Sitwell TODAY’S QUESTIONS

Beetroot butter 1 Denver is its largest city 3 Was Apollo 11’s com- and capital. What is the mand module called THIS is good served over ancient Egypt, though this was name of this US state? Endeavour, Columbia or hot steamed new potatoes, probably for the leaves, which Kitty Hawk? rice or pasta, and/or with an are indeed delicious. 2 A family of which egg dish. It’s also long been used normally domesticated It’s been around a long time, medicinally, though with what animals were found so long that it was popular in success I’m not sure. recently in an old bird’s nest in Buckingham- shire? Ingredients ■ 1 lb./450g beetroot herbs (parsley, marjoram, YESTERDAY’S ANSWERS ■ 1 oz/30g butter oregano etc) ■ tbsp lemon juice ■ salt and freshly ground 1. To which group of 2. Merlot is a variety of ■ tbsp chopped mixed fresh black pepper elements do gold, silver and which fruit? Grape (a wine platinum belong? The grape – pictured) noble metals, which are 3. Cubital refers to which most resistant to part of the body? The What to do chemical attack forearm Preheat the oven to Melt the butter and 200°C/400°F/#6. stir in the chopped herbs (fiendish) Bake the beetroots in their and lemon juice, mixing ACROSS DOWN DAILY SUDOKU 5. Force traitors to accept 1. Support at meeting to make skin for 45 minutes or until vigorously. individual for free (6) valid earlier (8) tender. Season to taste and serve hot, 6. Funny peculiar cojones – leave 2. Before mistake amateur is up Peel them when they are just though if there’s any left over name out of it (6) mountains (6) cool enough to handle, chop it’s fine served cold as part of 9. Friend of heartless duck? (6) 3. Derision shown by prisoner into large dice. a salad, too. 10. Choose current film for glass satisfied to set up exercise (8) half-full type (8) 4. Official in favour of graduate 11, 21. Archdeacon gets motorists trainee (6) to hold accountant against vessel 5. Overabundance of space for 8 of (4,4) flour (6) 12. Conform at a missile 7. Not all malingerers at Zurich explosion (10) are phoney (6) 13. Again letting in to study dynas- 8. Notice stunt executed by voter ty including one non-drinker (11) (11) 18. Extremely reliable way of 14. Unaware first botched raid is finding sex? (10) carried out on time (8) 21. see 11 15. Ties, for example, part of bottle 22. Figure of speech is neat but on river (8) unknown to fool (8) 16. Former partner replaces mid- 23. Moving towards the centre of dle of stage, needing muscle (6) popular part of town (6) 17. Reluctant Irish giving support 24. Detectives earlier managed to to Bible (6) be rotten (6) 19. Nudge – activity during sleep 25. Keep after live act (6) in Germany (6) 20. Direct on-line nonsense (6)

Solution on Monday… Solution on Monday… morningstaronline.co.uk Morning Star morningstaronline Saturday/Sunday @m_star_online sport May 22-23 2021 21

Racing Guide with Farringdon n HAYDOCK, YORK AND LINGFIELD Four meetings share centre stage this weekend GLUT of seriously the question is can he hold on expense of the well handi- competitive handi- inside the distance? I fancy capped Man of the Night. HEADY: Heady caps alongside that he could set the race up Goodwood’s Listed Festi- group events this for Keep Busy who has a fair val Stakes at 2.10 has a small weekend across record when fresh and will but select field and although fourA attractive meetings. Tra- revel in the testing conditions. Stormy Antarctic comes here in ditionally, the Silver Bowl Anything around the 4/1 mark good form, this extended trip Handicap, restricted to three- would make the selection well may just prove a shade too far year-olds, at Haydock (3.00), worth an investment in this for him if they go a decent clip. attracts a big field, but this year Group Two sprint. The nod goes to Majestic there are only 10 set to line up The three-year-olds go Dawn who remains open to and the Andrew Balding filly to post for their Common- significant improvement on Nebulosa looks a cracking bet. wealth Cup trial, the Sandy only his 12th career start. I know that her trainer Lane Stakes at 3.35 where the He may well have been some- feels she is capable of making unbeaten all-weather specialist what flattered by his success in her mark outside of handicap Dragon Symbol is likely to start the Cambridgeshire last year class and with the soft ground favourite in what looks a hugely due to an advantageous draw, most definitely in her favour open renewal. but if he can dictate here I sus- here she looks sure to go well Method’s second to Win- pect he will be able to take this off a relatively light-weight of ter Power in the Cornwallis rise in class in his stride. 8-12 which equated to a handi- Stakes has been well and truly Talbot could be the answer cap mark of just 86. There is cemented already this season to the three-year-old handicap plenty more to come from this and Martyn Meade’s runner has at 2.50 for Brian Meehan, while daughter of Archipenko follow- reportedly been flying at home. Miss Mulligan looks a solid ing her last-gasp win over seven This step back up to six fur- wager to see off Beauty Stone furlongs at Goodwood and the longs is what he has been cry- in the fillies’ handicap at 4.00. extra yardage here is certainly ing out for and I think he is one Repartee could run a big race in her favour. of the stronger wagers I will be following a wind operation in Of her rivals, Heights of having today. the York 2.05, but he may just Abraham impressed on his As far as the four handicaps have to give best to the consist- sole start this year and a 6lbs on the card are concerned the ent Escobar in the seven fur- penalty certainly isn’t prohibi- only bet I shall be having in long handicap. tive, while Wobwobwob won in this sector will be on Speedo A mark of 107 hardly gives silky smooth fashion at York Boy (each way) in the two miler him any leeway, but the make- and there is no reason why he due off at 2.25. up of this race is perfect for shouldn’t be as effective over The Ian Williams-trained him. this extra 220 yards. charge is very talented over Later on at the Knavesmire, The Temple Stakes at 4.10 hurdles and on the flat, and ran Live Your Dream should run normally throws up a con- a race full of promise when fin- well under top-weight at 3.15, tender for the King’s Stand ishing fourth of 13 in the Ches- while Count D’orsay has stable Stakes at Royal Ascot, but this ter Cup consolation earlier in mate Copper Knight to worry year’s renewal looks somewhat the month. about in the sprint handicap short on quality. Any further easing in the at 3.50. What we do know is that ground certainly won’t prove The selection probably ran the ultra speedy Chester win- a problem and he may get the too free behind his next-door ner Jabbarockie will take them better of the Roger Varian- neighbour nine days ago and along at a rate of knots, but trained Postileo. if held onto for a bit longer, he At Newmarket the going will should step up significantly also be on the soft side with here. WEEKEND TIPS more heavy showers forecast. Finally have a second look at Apparate is a horse I have Nicks Not Wonder in the mile- Farringdon’s Doubles been waiting to reappear and and-a-half handicap at Lingfield Saturday the Varian charge makes his Park at 5.55. five-year-old debut off a mark METHOD The selection simply didn’t Haydock 3:35 (nap) of 95 at 2.35. act on the Fibresand last time Very lightly raced for a horse out, but on his breeding he LIVE YOUR DREAM of his age (this will be the 10th should have no problem with York 3:15 run of his career) the son of the slow turf on his grass debut. Sunday Dubawi has endured several Later on the card at the Surrey niggly problems during his BARDEN BELLA track, Zumaaty may well defy Fakenham 3:05 (nap) career to date, but has been top-weight in the extended pleasing in his home work of seven furlong handicap at 8.25. STORM CATCHER late and may be able to give The extended mile at Wolver- Nottingham 2:20 the weight away to Newmarket hampton may well have been a raider Law of One. shade too far for him last time Houseman’s Choice Later on, I am pretty sweet out and this drop in trip looks Saturday on the chance of Lunar Jet in sure to suit him. LIBERTY BEACH the mile-and-a-quarter handi- Haydock 4:10 cap at 4.50. The course and distance win- HAVE YOUR SAY Sunday ner showed his turn was just Write (up to 300 words) to around the corner at Chester MUSTARRID [email protected] or last time out and is taken Nottingham 3:30 52 Beachy Rd, London E3 2NS to step up here at the main Morning Star morningstaronline.co.uk Saturday/Sunday morningstaronline 22 May 22-23 2021 sport @m_star_online

Layth’s take with Layth Yousif Champions League spot is the biggest prize left on the table this weekend S THE Premier It was a simple act of kindness, pat the badge was another. So, League season testament to a good man. understandably, there was deep creaks to a finish Time to congratulate Ruben joy and no little schadenfreude this weekend after Dias. Members of the Football from Foxes fans when the goal a long and tortuous Writers’ Association correctly was chalked off. year,A the race for Europe is the voted the Man City defender It also meant that Morgan only thing left to fight for. their footballer of the year. could breathe a sigh of relief. With Manchester City On a small personal note, Dias And so it came to pass that deservedly crowned weeks becomes the fourth successive the only captain in Leices- ago, and the three relegation winning FOTW I have voted for, ter’s history to have lifted the places decided with Sheffield a nice record. I wonder who Premier League title also did United, West Brom and Fulham will shine next season? the same for the FA Cup. The all dropping down to the sec- Did you watch the FA Cup man the chairman called this ond tier, the fourth Champions final last Saturday? Wonder- week their greatest ever player League spot and three remain- ful, wasn’t it? Or perhaps I raised the venerated silverware ing places are the only issues should clarify: it was wonder- aloft alongside pal Kasper unresolved. ful to anyone who wasn’t a Schmeichel, whose outstanding While Liverpool and Leices- Chelsea fan. Apart from the saves from Chilwell and Mason ter may share the same number fact that in a tournament that Mount had also contributed to of points (66), the Reds have a is nearly 150 years old, a brand the heartwarming victory. goal advantage of plus four. Jur- new name was added to the And then there was Brendan gen Klopp’s side crucial 3-0 vic- list of winners, there were so Rodgers, firmly cementing his tory over Burnley at Turf Moor many delightful and poignant reputation with English silver- this week gave them the edge sub-plots. Fifth time lucky for ware after a trophy-laden spell over the Foxes. With Leicester Leicester. in Scotland with Celtic. to face fast-imploding Totten- Youri Tielemans’s winner I must admit I was dubious ham on Sunday, anything could was surely one of the best goals about him for a long time, happen. Liverpool for their part in cup-final history, certainly having watched the infa- host Crystal Palace, in a final as good as Santi Cazorla’s out- mous 2012 “Being Liverpool” send-off for the gentleman that standing effort for Arsenal in documentary, when Rodgers How heartwarming was it to onstration at 2pm on Sunday and brightest issue yet in our is Palace manager Roy Hodgson. their 3-2 victory over Hull City was in charge at the Mersey- see him hug Foxes chairman ahead of the Brighton game. It’s 34-year history. Football has rightly paid in 2014, and Steven Gerrard’s side giants, not least when he Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, vitally important to keep the Needless to say, the front tribute to the man who has last-gasp long-range effort for came across as a football David and how poignant too, after the pressure on the club’s absentee cover simply says: Kroenke Out, spent nearly 50 years in the Liverpool against West Ham in Brent with the “three names tragic death of his predecessor, owners as loyal supporters con- imposed on a brilliant image professional game. My small 2006 in Cardiff. in the envelope” stunt, which his father Vichai. It also showed gregate outside the stadium to of demonstrators outside the contribution would be recall- As a neutral, you couldn’t left Gerrard and Jamie Car- the bond an owner can achieve exercise their democratic right Emirates by Islington artist ing the aftermath of a post- help but praise VAR — for ragher, among others, none with a club, its players and fans to demonstrate peacefully. If Ruth Beck. If you’re planning match presser at Palace a while once — after ruling out what too impressed. — if they only take the time to only Gooners had their own to go to the demo, why not buy back. A father and son waited appeared to be a late equaliser. It was a scene that stayed understand the club — and if equivalent of Aiyawatt instead a copy and wave the front cover patiently on the steps outside The decision followed former with me, clouding my opinion they actually care. of the Kroenkes. to let the world know how you the media centre at Selhurst Foxes player — oh, the irony — of him. But having seen him Vichai and Aiyawatt had — I’ll be there of course. In feel. Park, holding an Inter Milan Ben Chilwell’s ping-pong effort close up in various post-match and have — Leicester in their fact I’ll be there from 11am, For Arsenal supporters, it’s shirt. Media duties completed, in the box, which came off vet- pressers at the King Power and hearts, and the outpouring of by the arches on Hornsey Road, the only thing left to fight Mr Hodgson proceeded to make eran defender Wes Morgan. the Emirates over the last cou- love and affection was a joy to flogging the new issue of the for this season. That is, if you his way out of the area, noted For Leicester fans to see ple of years, he has changed my watch, even for a neutral. Cer- Gooner Fanzine. Our team discount an improbable tilt at the pair, immediately switch- Chilwell run off in joy in view. Calm, composed, articu- tain Premier League owners and yours truly have been the European Conference and ing to Italian, speaking kindly the belief that he had scored late and empathetic, he is very take note. busy burning the midnight leapfrogging bitter rivals Spurs to the dad and lad before sign- against his former club was much a progressive manager For Arsenal supporters, we oil putting together the fin- in the process — which simply ing the shirt. It made their day. one thing: to see him kiss and and an intelligent thinker. have the Kroenke Out dem- ishing touches on our biggest won’t happen. …Or will it? morningstaronline.co.uk Morning Star morningstaronline Saturday/Sunday @m_star_online sport May 22-23 2021 23

The left wing with James Nalton Football’s tackling racism and fascism at grassroots level

S A global “A non-league club’s deep avoidance of misguided works closely with commu- ture in place at the club and acknowledged that plenty game rep- links within their own com- decisions to positive change, nities in Manchester and the political guidance and more needs to be done in r e s e n t i n g munity is a unique opportu- grassroots education, and National League side Curzon expertise that exists within the sport. diverse com- nity to shape and mould the community integration, Ashton FC. it as a result of community “There is still much work munities and club and drive change,” says which would naturally dis- “There’s not a plan with representation. to do to combat racism, but Agroups of people all Michael Meadows, a director courage ideas that lead to anything — and they’re all “The club’s founding val- we are very heartened by around the world, at COLFC in the Commu- racism and fascism. surface and token acts that ues, to establish democratic football’s stance and by the and one which is, nity, the community arm When not combined with do nothing to actually deal ownership, equality and fact that a local club at the in the main, sup- of Northern Premier League such community work, the with racism on a base level. diversity are only possible if heart of our county want to ported by and side City of Liverpool FC. top-down anti-racism cam- “What is needed is more we were to reject any sugges- tackle it front and centre played by work- “At COLFC we realise that paigns of football governing education at a grassroots tion of a position of political and promote the right mes- ing-class people in order to truly represent bodies are ineffective, and level which needs to work neutrality,” Meadows says. sages,” he said. from those com- the city of Liverpool, we in the worst cases can lead across multiple platforms “We cannot coexist along- “CDARC would encourage munities, football must immerse ourselves in to a push-back against these and agencies.” side anyone who wishes to other grassroots football is in a position of the attitudes and values of initiatives. Grassroots movements are exclude valued members clubs to link with local anti- influence when it the community in which we One example is the Black better positioned to explain of our diverse community racist groups in their area comes to tackling exist. Lives Matter (BLM) move- these initiatives and engage based on religion, ethnic- and adopt Durham City’s racism and fascism in “Just like the city, we have ment’s brief incorporation with people on the ground, ity, homophobia, sectarian approach. sport and society. a diverse and vibrant mem- into top-level football. bringing diverse communi- politics or bigoted views.” “It can only help spread On top of that, the groups bership and fan base, and if At this level, games con- ties together. As a COLFC statement the message of football as a of people who support these we weren’t to protect their tinued during the pandemic, This could temper the said at the time: “By neces- force for good.” teams — in their hundreds values and act to uphold and and the taking of the knee emergence of the far-right sity, our inclusion cannot Non-league clubs are nat- or thousands or millions, at protect them, we wouldn’t prior to kick-off began as groups that still exist in be extended to, and abused urally more connected to club or international level — be representing either in an support of BLM; but the clear football, and ultimately by, those who would seek to their local area, but there’s mean these organisations honest way.” messages behind that move- kick them out altogether; exclude.” no reason clubs in the top naturally have a community On the back of the Euro- ment didn’t remain front but such groups have been Just as Curzon Ashton divisions can’t follow their base to work with. pean Super League saga, and centre for long. emboldened in recent years work closely with 0161 Com- example and adopt similar Despite their huge influ- which involved another Starting as a gesture by the words and actions of munity, Northern League grassroots initiatives that go ence, there is relatively little club in the city, Liverpool that, for once, actually high-profile right-wing poli- club Durham City AFC have beyond slogans and PR. action taken by the biggest FC, there have been numer- meant something and had ticians in power in the UK a similar relationship with Many of the world’s big- organisations, with govern- ous discussions about sup- a grassroots political move- and around the world. the County Durham Anti- gest clubs are built on a ing bodies often turning a porter involvement at clubs ment behind it, it was soon As a result, the far-right Racist Coalition (CDARC) local identity that was then blind eye to incidents of and how such fan integra- replaced and diluted. have made their presence and have encouraged clubs adopted by fans around the racism or fascism, issuing tion would be structured Broadcasters received com- known more openly at across the country to estab- world, so in many ways have meaningless meagre fines, and actioned. plaints and soon reverted to games, and for clubs that lish links with such organi- a bigger grassroots base to and doing little at the Clubs already truly embed- one of their numerous safe are open to all, they can be sations. work with. grassroots level where real ded in their communities to slogans. Commentators now difficult to remove. “It fits perfectly,” said Dur- They would then be in a change can happen. the point where they take sound like they’re reading This is something COLFC ham City chair Gary Hutch- better position to pressure This is where those at the their direction from these from a script as they explain had to deal with in 2019 inson. “We want to be a club governing bodies to turn top could learn from clubs groups of people would this pre-match ritual. when far-right groups such with the right approach, the their words into actions operating at a lower level rarely, and probably never, “Token gestures, petty as the Football Lads Alliance right ethics — a club where and grow positive move- who, across the globe, are encounter the problems with fines and other farcical and the Democratic Football people feel safe and wel- ments from the ground up, involving everyone in their poor decision-making that attempts by the FA, Premier Lads Alliance tried to work come, whatever their back- using sport to connect with clubs to the point where many top-flight clubs have League and Uefa, to name their way into the club. ground or circumstances.” the communities in which many are actually run by experienced in recent years. but a few, are absolutely COLFC were able to ban Tim Dredge, welfare these clubs reside, and with the communities in which This supporter influence pathetic,” says Joe Chlebik these groups and do so effi- officer at Durham City others to where their influ- they reside. can be extended from the of 0161 Community, which ciently thanks to the struc- and a member of CDARC, ence has spread. Saturday/Sunday SPORT May 22-23 2021 n ATHLETICS SPORT ON TV Saturday ■ CRICKET: County Championship, Surrey v Middlesex – Sky Sports Cricket 10.55am. ■ CYCLING: Giro d’Italia – Eurosport 1 10.25am, S4C 2pm. ■ FOOTBALL: Championship play- IOC: WE WILL NOT offs, Brentford v Bournemouth – Sky Sports Football 12pm, Sky Sports Main Event 12.10pm, Swansea v Barnsley – Sky Sports Football, Sky Sports Main Event 5.15pm; League One play-offs, Sunderland v Lincoln – Sky Sports Football, Sky Sports Main Event 2.45pm; Scottish Cup final, St Johnstone v Hibs – Premier CANCEL 2021 GAMES Sports 1 1.30pm; Bundesliga, Werder Bremen v Gladbach – BT Sport/ESPN Olympics will go ahead despite Japan’s state of emergency 2.15pm; LaLiga, Real Madrid v Villar- real – Premier Sports 1 5pm; Serie A, by Our Sports Desk “The advice we have got from Sampdoria v Parma – Premier Sports 1 7.45pm; FA Trophy, Hereford v AFC the World Health Organisation Hornchurch – BT Sport 1 3.45pm; and all of the scientific advice is LaLiga, Valladolid v Atletico Madrid The Olympic Games will pro- that all the measures we have – Premier Sports 2 5pm. ceed even if Tokyo remains in outlined in the playbook, all ■ HORSE RACING: Haydock Park – ITV a state of emergency, accord- those measures are satisfac- 4 1.15pm. ■ ing to a senior member of the tory to ensure a safe and secure MOTOR SPORT: Monaco GP, practice 3 – Sky Sports Main Event, International Olympic Commit- Games in terms of health, and Sky Sports F1 10.45am, Monaco GP, tee (IOC). that’s whether there is a state qualifying- Sky Sports Main Event, The Japanese capital is one of emergency or not.” Sky Sports F1 1pm; World Rally Cham- of nine prefectures in Japan Coates was asked about a pionship, World Rally Championship which is in a state of emer- series of negative opinion in Portugal – BT Sport 1 7pm ■ gency due to the coronavirus polls among Japanese resi- RUGBY LEAGUE: Super League, Catalans Dragons v St Helens – Sky pandemic until May 31 at the dents, many of whom are Sports Arena 4.55pm. earliest. still calling for the Games to ■ RUGBY UNION: Heineken Champi- However, the chair of the be cancelled amid the global ons Cup, La Rochelle v Toulouse – BT IOC’s co-ordination commis- health crisis. Sport 2 4pm, Channel 4 4.15pm; Rain- sion, John Coates, is confident “There may well be a correla- bow Cup, Sharks v Stormers – Premier that even if those measures tion between some of these per- Sports 2 11.55am, Lions v Bulls – Pre- mier Sports 2 2.25pm. have not been lifted by the time centages and the low percent- the Games are due to open on ages so far of people in Japan Sunday July 23, it will not affect the who have been vaccinated,” the ■ CRICKET: County Championship, event being staged. Australian said. Surrey v Middlesex – Sky Sports Cricket 10.55am, Sky Sports Main “We’ve successfully seen five “I’m expecting that as Event 11am. sports hold their test events the number of vaccinations ■ CYCLING: Giro d’Italia – Eurosport during the state of emergency,” increase that there will be 1 12.15pm; Tour of Murcia – Eurosport he said at a Tokyo 2020 briefing better polls and public opinion finish line is within touching ation of the event come into the time they arrive in Japan, but 1 4.15pm. yesterday. will improve, but if it doesn’t distance. country. Coates insisted the plans for ■ FOOTBALL: Premier League, “All of the plans that we have we just have to make sure that “This is testament to the Overseas spectators have Arsenal v Brighton – Sky Sports daily testing of athletes would Arena 4pm, Aston Villa v Chelsea in place to protect the safety we get on with our job and our work of the Tokyo 2020 organ- already been barred, and a remain in place regardless of – Sky Sports Action 4pm, Fulham and security of athletes and job is make sure these Games isers and the incredible support decision on how many – if any the vaccination programme. v Newcastle – Sky Sports Mix 4pm, the people of Japan are based are safe for all participants and of the Japanese government.” – Japanese fans can attend will Athletes and other partici- Leeds v West Brom – BT Sport 2 around the worst possible cir- all of the people of Japan.” The government has called be taken next month. pants must all abide by the 4pm, Leicester v Tottenham – Sky cumstances, so the answer [to The final co-ordination on Games organisers to further The IOC is confident that “playbooks” which govern Sports Football, 4pm – Liverpool whether a Games could take commission ended yesterday, reduce the number of overseas v Crystal Palace – Sky Sports Main over 80 per cent of residents almost every aspect of their Event 4pm, Man City v Everton – Sky place during a state of emer- and Coates said: “After nearly visitors to Japan, insisting that at the Olympic Village will lives while in Tokyo for the Sports Premier League 4pm, Sheff gency] is absolutely yes. eight years [of planning] the only those essential to the oper- have been vaccinated by the Games. Utd v Burnley – BT Sport 3 4pm, West Ham v Southampton – Sky One 4pm, Wolves v Man Utd – BT Sport 1 4pm; League Two play-offs, Morecambe v Tranmere – Sky Sports Football n MEN’S RUGBY LEAGUE 12pm, Forest Green v Newport – Sky Sports Football 6pm, Sky Sports Main Event 7pm; National League, Sutton v Hartlepool – BT Sport 1 12.15pm; Ligue Rainbow Laces games moved forward to June 1, Angers v Lille – BT Sport 1 7.45pm, Brest v Paris St Germain – BT Sport by Our Sports Desk support for former Hull KR and thing to support Mose. 2 8pm; Eredivisie, Feyenoord v Utre- cht – Premier Sports 1 11.10am; Serie St Helens prop Mose Masoe in “He’s a great example of what A, Atalanta v Milan – Premier Sports his battle against a life-chang- we want the team to represent 1 7.40pm. CLUBS will join forces in round ing spinal injury by wearing a — overseas players who have ■ GOLF: PGA Championship – Sky nine of the Super League to specially designed shirt for their given so much to the compe- Sports Golf 1pm, Sky Sports Main show their support for Stone- game against England at War- tition over here and who are Event 9pm. ■ wall’s Rainbow Laces campaign. rington on June 25. MOTOR CYCLING: World Super- coming together for a unique bikes, Ciudad del Motor de Aragon The campaign usually takes The Oxen jersey design, rugby league experience.” superpole race and race two – Europ- place in December, but Super inspired by Mose’s career and Masoe said: “I am so grateful sort 2 9.30am. League is keen to demonstrate character, will include a subtle for this amazing gesture from ■ MOTOR SPORT: Monaco GP, race – its commitment during the sea- nod to all the clubs that he rep- Tim Sheens and the Combined Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports F1 son and will provide rainbow resented in his career as well Nations All Stars. 1.55pm; World Rally Championship, laces for players to wear in as a unique shoulder and sleeve World Rally Championship in Portugal “I’ve had wonderful support – BT Sport 1 8.30am & 12pm. matches over the weekend of design that replicates his own from the rugby-league family, ■ RUGBY LEAGUE: Super League, June 10-12. tattoos. and the overseas players in the Leeds v Hull FC – Sky Sports Arena In addition, LED perimeter Organisers say £10 from each Super League are like another 7.30pm. boards at stadiums will high- jersey sale will go to the Mose family.” light the campaign and sup- Masoe Foundation, the charity portive messaging will feature chairman Ken Davy said: “Mat- grammes Liz Ward said: “It’s set up in the light of Mose’s Published by Peoples Press MSTAR 2021-05-22 SAT 1.5 on Super League social-media ters of inclusivity and diversity great that Super League is injury to provide support for Printing Society Ltd (12750R), channels. are important not only in sport committed to supporting its his family but with the long- William Rust House, 52 Beachy 20 Road, Bow, London E3 2NS. Super League says the move but also the wider communities lesbian, gay, bi and trans play- term goal of supporting other Telephone: (020) 8510-0815. is an important part of the in which our clubs exist, so it ers all year round, and we will rugby-league players who suffer Email: enquiries@peoples-press. game’s Tackle It campaign, is great to see clubs, players, keep working with them to spinal injuries. com. Printed by trade union which aims to drive out dis- match officials and fans com- help make sport everyone’s All Stars coach Tim Sheens labour at Reach. crimination based on sexuality ing together in support of this game.” said: “One of the first things we and gender identity. campaign.” Meanwhile, the Combined agreed as a management team Super League executive Stonewall director of pro- Nations All Stars will show their was that we’d want to do some- Saturday/Sunday May 22-23 2021 9 770307 175466