Leicester Defies Trump’s Racism

Solidarity is a critical weapon in these tumultuous times, as was demonstrated in Leicester earlier tonight when over 350 people gathered in the city centre to protest Trump’s bigoted policies.

Photo by Andy Twigg

Similar and much larger protests in the US have forced Trump onto the back foot, as airports were literally shut-down by enraged citizens. Industrial action also has a central role to play. Over the weekend, for example, the New York Taxi Alliance called for a one-hour stoppage of all pickups from the airport. They wrote on Facebook:

“Our 19,000-member-strong union stands firmly opposed to Donald Trump’s Muslim ban. As an organization whose membership is largely Muslim, a workforce that is almost universally immigrant, and a working-class movement that is rooted in the defence of the oppressed, we say no to this inhumane and unconstitutional ban.”

We must build on the example of the New York Taxi Alliance. Now is the time to build a united working-class resistance movement of millions who are determined to bring an end to capitalist injustice and institutionalized oppression.

Bernie Sanders’ inspiring campaign demonstrated the growing thirst for socialist ideas in America, while the re-election of revolutionary socialist Kshama Sawant in Seattle with around 100,000 votes shows that the days of the establishment, be it Democrat or Republican, are weakening by the day.

Here in Leicester demands are being made of our Labour Council to support Jeremy Corbyn by opposing Tory austerity. The city has £142 million they can use to prevent further cuts to public services, so the question in the month ahead is will they continue to sit on their hands and plead powerlessness? Our city expects and demands better.

Labour councillors must follow the example of their elected leader Jeremy Corbyn and shake off their similarities with the discredited US Democrats, whose unrepentant support for big business and war was one of the driving forces behind poor voter turnout and, ultimately, Trump’s election!

If you want to find out more about how the Socialist Party is working to build an international fightback against the billionaire-class, then why not coming to our Trump-focused public meeting on Thursday night, 7.30pm, at the Barley Mow pub on Granby Street.