Dates For The Big Red Diary

Hello comrades!

2016 isn't yet over, but lots is going to be happening in 2017 for everyone who opposes oppression and exploitation and wants to drive back the right in and out of parliament!

There are going to be plenty more events going on, but here are some you'll want to be sure you don't miss!

January

3rd - Action For Rail have called a national day of action, as on the 1st January new rises in rail fares will be announced. This comes against a backdrop of strikes as the RMT act to defend the safety of the railways in Liverpool and the South East.

12th - SWP Meeting: Prospects for Socialist in 2017, including report back from national conference. This is likely to be a members-only meeting, please email branchsec@derbyswp.org.uk for more information.

26th - SWP Meeting:

How can we beat Trump?

After the solidarity protest against the inauguration of Trump on 20th January in London, this meeting is essential to help us navigate an increasingly polarised capitalist world.

Join us on Thursday 26th January at 7 pm, at the West End Community Centre, Mackworth Road, Derby.

February

4th - Stand Up To Racism Trades Union Conference
It's vitally important that active trades unionists are also active anti-racists as our rulers attempt to whip up hatred between groups of workers. Get yourself down to the national Stand Up To Racism Trades Union Conference at Hamilton House in London!

March

4th - Save Our NHS National Demonstration, London
18th - National Stand Up To Racism demonstration - celebrate UN Anti-Racism Day!

Update #90

Hello everyone,
Welcome to this week's update from Derby Socialist Workers Party.

In this week's update:

• Next branch meeting - Greece: Austerity & Resistance
• Report from People's Assembly National Demonstration April 16th
• Marxism 2016 - have you got your tickets yet?

Branch Meetings

The SWP is a party of activists who know that we need to understand the world to be effective in our actions. Our meetings have a discussion about key issues: economic, political, historical and cultural; as well as planning for events and activities.

Last week we had a really great discussion on Pride, Politics & Protest: a Marxist Analysis of LGBT+ Oppression.

This week we look at Greece and how the situation between the Troika, Syriza and the Greek working class is developing with Greece: Austerity and Resistance

Thursday 21st April
7 pm
West End Community Centre on Mackworth Road (next to Britannia Mill).

All welcome. See you there!

People's Assembly Against Austerity - National Demonstration 16th April

This demonstration was big and loud! Read our report here: http://derbyswp.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/thousands-take-to-streets-to-demand.html



Marxism Festival 2016

The first peek at this year's Marxism Festival is out now.

Marxism festival is the biggest event of its kind in Europe - thousands of people attending a five day festival of ideas, with meetings on a vast range of subjects and loads of activities. Here is last year's opening rally to give you an idea of the event:

It is a fantastic event and anyone who wants to change the world should get down to it!

For more details see the official website here: http://www.marxismfestival.org.uk/

If you want to go but are worried that you will not be able to afford it please get in touch. 

We will do everything we can to help you to attend this fantastic event. email derbyswp@gmail.com or find us on Facebook, Derby SWP or on Twitter @derbywsp



Can't make our meetings?
If you want to find out more about us, meet some of our comrades, sign up to any of our petitions, find out about campaigns we are involved in, buy our paper or get hold of some of our other literature, why not come along to the campaign stall on Saturdays?

Find us on St Peter's St from 12 pm!

Thousands Take to the Streets to Demand Cameron's Resignation

Today's People's Assembly demonstration in London was as angry as it was massive. The tens of thousands who filled the streets and Trafalgar Square came from all over the country, and they weren't happy with the Tories.

Two coachloads went from Derby. On the coaches on the way back a lot of the talk was of the large size of the demonstration but also the way that the mood was inspiring. Thousands of people will have returned home tonight knowing that they are not alone in their anger at the injustices of this government. What is needed is action to harness that anger and energy.

There was a large union presence on the demonstration. Junior Doctors are engaged in the fight of their lives to save the NHS, and teachers are about to join the fray. Organisations like the People's Assembly have the potential to engage a new layer of activists in supporting these struggles. Let's make it happen! Talk to your workmates, work with the People's Assembly, have a union meeting about solidarity action. In short: be a socialist!

Update #89

Hello everyone,
Welcome to this week's update from Derby Socialist Workers Party.

In this week's update:

• Next branch meeting - Pride, Politics & Protest: A Marxist Analysis of LGBT+ Oppression JOINT WITH NOTTINGHAM BRANCH
• People's Assembly National Demonstration April 16th - get the coach and join in! 
• Junior Doctors - report from the pickets
• Marxism 2016 - have you got your tickets yet?

Branch Meetings

The SWP is a party of activists who know that we need to understand the world to be effective in our actions. Our meetings have a discussion about key issues: economic, political, historical and cultural; as well as planning for events and activities.

Las week's introduction to Marxism and Religion will hopefully be posted on this blog in the near future. 
This week's meeting is a bit of an experiment for us - a joint meeting with our nearest sister branch, Nottingham. We hope to have joint events on a regular basis and build large-scale public meetings with a greater scope for broadening discussion and bringing fresh voices to branch events. 

Our speaker at this week's meeting Pride, Politics & Protest: A Marxist Analysis of LGBT+ Oppression will be Laura Miles, who has literally written the book on this topic. All our meetings have great discussions but this week's should be especially big and fantastic, so come along this 

Thursday 14th April
7 pm
West End Community Centre on Mackworth Road (next to Britannia Mill).

All welcome. See you there!

People's Assembly Against Austerity - National Demonstration 16th April

In the wake of Osborne's budget and with the Junior Doctors fights now looking set to be joined by teachers, the Tories tearing themselves apart, now is the time to ramp up the pressure and bring them down! Join the national demonstration organised by the People's Assembly on 16th April.

There is transport going down but it is almost full up! Book your ticket here!


Junior Doctors - report from the picket lines

Read our report from the pickets in Derby and see the pictures on the blog here.

Marxism Festival 2016

The first peek at this year's Marxism Festival is out now.

Marxism festival is the biggest event of its kind in Europe - thousands of people attending a five day festival of ideas, with meetings on a vast range of subjects and loads of activities.

It is a fantastic event and anyone who wants to change the world should get down to it!

For more details see the official website here: http://www.marxismfestival.org.uk/

If you want to go but are worried that you will not be able to afford it please get in touch. 

We will do everything we can to help you to attend this fantastic event. email derbyswp@gmail.com or find us on Facebook, Derby SWP or on Twitter @derbywsp



Can't make our meetings?
If you want to find out more about us, meet some of our comrades, sign up to any of our petitions, find out about campaigns we are involved in, buy our paper or get hold of some of our other literature, why not come along to the campaign stall on Saturdays?

Find us on St Peter's St from 12 pm!

Update #88

Hello everyone,
Welcome to this week's update from Derby Socialist Workers Party.

In this week's update:

• Next branch meeting - Religion: oppression and expression. What do Marxists say about faith?
• Junior Doctors on strike this week - show solidarity!
• People's Assembly National Demonstration April 16th - get the coach and join in! 
• Anti-Semitism and the Far Right
• Marxism 2016 - have you got your tickets yet?

Branch Meetings

The SWP is a party of activists who know that we need to understand the world to be effective in our actions. Our meetings have a discussion about key issues: economic, political, historical and cultural; as well as planning for events and activities.

This week we will examine religion from a Marxist perspective at our branch meeting entitled Religion: oppression and expression. What do Marxists say about faith? Join us for a lively discussion on Thursday 7th April, 7 pm at the West End Community Centre on Mackworth Road (next to Britannia Mill).

All welcome. See you there!

Junior Doctors on Strike - Show Your Solidarity!

The Tories are still trying to press ahead with their plans to privatise the NHS, and part of this is the attempt to impose a new contract which will result in doctors working unsafe and unfair hours. Our doctors are determined to fight for our NHS and for fair working conditions - show your support on the picket lines this week!

There will be picket lines from 8 am outside the Derby Royal Hospital on Wednesday and Thursday this week (6th and 7th April). Join the doctors and show your support - their fight is our fight!



People's Assembly Against Austerity - National Demonstration 16th April

In the wake of Osborne's budget and with the Junior Doctors fights now looking set to be joined by teachers, the Tories tearing themselves apart, now is the time to ramp up the pressure and bring them down! Join the national demonstration organised by the People's Assembly on 16th April.

There is transport going down - book your ticket here!

Anti-Semitism and the Far Right Today

One of our recent meetings was on the subject of anti-semitism and the far right today. The comrade who gave this talk has kindly given us the text of his talk - read it on the blog here!

Marxism Festival 2016

The first peek at this year's Marxism Festival is out now.

Marxism festival is the biggest event of its kind in Europe - thousands of people attending a five day festival of ideas, with meetings on a vast range of subjects and loads of activities.

It is a fantastic event and anyone who wants to change the world should get down to it!

For more details see the official website here: http://www.marxismfestival.org.uk/

If you want to go but are worried that you will not be able to afford it please get in touch. 

We will do everything we can to help you to attend this fantastic event. email derbyswp@gmail.com or find us on Facebook, Derby SWP or on Twitter @derbywsp



Can't make our meetings?
If you want to find out more about us, meet some of our comrades, sign up to any of our petitions, find out about campaigns we are involved in, buy our paper or get hold of some of our other literature, why not come along to the campaign stall on Saturdays?

Find us on St Peter's St from 12 pm!

Update #87

Hello everyone,
Welcome to this week's update from Derby Socialist Workers Party.

In this week's update:

• Next branch meeting - Fortress Europe: refugees, racism and the state
• Emergency protest against forced school academisation called by Derby NUT this Wednesday!
• Report back from National Demonstration - Stand Up To Racism & Fascism, refugees welcome here #M19
• People's Assembly National Demonstration April 16th - get the coach and join in!
• Marxism 2016 - have you got your tickets yet? Discount on tickets until end of March!

Branch Meetings

The SWP is a party of activists who know that we need to understand the world to be effective in our actions. Our meetings have a discussion about key issues: economic, political, historical and cultural; as well as planning for events and activities.

Last week's branch meeting was really brilliant - lively and with a great discussion. This week's topic follows naturally from Saturday's #M19 Refugees Welcome Here demonstration. Fortress Europe: refugees, racism and the state Racism from the far right is a reaction to racism at a structural level. How and why do the capitalist classes of the EU create and reinforce racism? Join us for a lively discussion on Thursday 24th March, 7 pm at the West End Community Centre on Mackworth Road (next to Britannia Mill).

All welcome. See you there!

Emergency Demonstration against forced academisation - Wednesday 23rd March 5 pm outside the Council House

On Wednesday the Tories announced, alongside its swingeing attacks on the disabled and improved benefits for millionaires, its education white paper which will force all schools in the country into becoming academies - effectively private companies which will make profit out of our children's education.

Derby NUT has called an emergency demonstration this Wednesday night at 5 pm outside the council house.

Academies are undemocratic, bad for students and bad for teachers. Join the demonstration and make some noise!

Facebook page for the demonstration: click here!

20,000 people say: Refugees Are Welcome Here!

Saturday's national Stand Up To Racism demonstration was a huge success! Read the report here!

People's Assembly Against Austerity - National Demonstration 16th April

In the wake of Osborne's budget and with the Tories tearing themselves apart, now is the time to ramp up the pressure and bring them down! Join the national demonstration organised by the People's Assembly on 16th April.

There is transport going down - book your ticket here!

Marxism Festival 2016

The first peek at this year's Marxism Festival is out now.

Marxism festival is the biggest event of its kind in Europe - thousands of people attending a five day festival of ideas, with meetings on a vast range of subjects and loads of activities.

It is a fantastic event and anyone who wants to change the world should get down to it!

There's £5 off ticket prices if you book before the end of March. For more details see the official website here: http://www.marxismfestival.org.uk/

If you want to go but are worried that you will not be able to afford it please get in touch. 

We will do everything we can to help you to attend this fantastic event. email derbyswp@gmail.com or find us on Facebook, Derby SWP or on Twitter @derbywsp



Can't make our meetings?
If you want to find out more about us, meet some of our comrades, sign up to any of our petitions, find out about campaigns we are involved in, buy our paper or get hold of some of our other literature, why not come along to the campaign stall on Saturdays?

Find us on St Peter's St from 12 pm!

Fantastic #M19 Stand Up To Racism Demonstration - 20,000 on the streets!

Several SWP comrades from Derby were on the huge, lively and positive Stand Up To Racism demonstration on Saturday 19th March.


This is the third annual celebration of multiculturalism and diversity, held to celebrate UN Anti-Racism Day.

The demonstration had the messages:

• No to Islamophobia and anti-Semitism
• No to racism
• REFUGEES WELCOME HERE!

About 20,000 people took to the streets!

This was the biggest demonstration yet, and there were plenty of delegations from trades unions too - it shows that there is a real strength of feeling to resist the attempts by the ruling class in government, the media and the bosses to create hate and fear of migrants and to try to make some of the most vulnerable people take the blame for the mess they have created.

Nazi organisation Britain First held a racist demonstration of its own. A couple of dozen fascists stood behind a heavy police cordon holding racist placards. Many protesters replied by singing songs or chanting anti-racist slogans: "Say it loud, say it clear - refugees are welcome here!" echoed down Regent Street, accompanied by some fantastic drummers and choirs.

In Trafalgar Square were some fantastic speakers, including Diane Abbott, Michael Rosen, Jeremy Hardy and Maz Saleem among many others (you can see the full list on the Stand Up To Racism website here)

Derby SWP is fully supportive of the Stand Up To Racism group and yesterday's demonstration enthused and energised its members. We will do all we can to help it grow by helping to build the largest possible alliance of people and organisations in the city opposed to racism and fascism, and we want to help to make future activities even more successful than the events we have already seen.

Report from National Stop the War Demonstration in London

Last Saturday several comrades joined the national Stop the War demonstration calling for an end to bombing in Syria. Here's a report back from the day!

We arrived outside the BBC headquarters and there was already a huge crowd gathered. There was a palpable feeling of excitement and energy. It had attracted a big mixture of ages, lots of students and middle-aged people. One group were chanting "they say warfare, we say welfare!" 

The mood of the march was peaceful and friendly, as far as I could tell. 

Walking straight through the centre of London was an interesting experience. On both sides of the pavement people were stopping to stare and gawp at us. Generally people looked quite taken aback by it.

The speeches were good, most people there were united as one. 

Overall it was a great day. There was a decent turn out and it felt good to be part of it. 

This 1 minute video gives a decent general overview https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcPRAki-Ki4