"Another World is For Sale"- Activists Reclaim the ESF
By Leila Deen
The ESF is currently reeling in the aftermath of an intervention in this evening's planned Ken Livingstone-led plenary. A small but vocal deputation of radical activists from the automous meeting "Beyond the ESF" arrived at the Forum this evening, taking over the stage full of speakers moments before the evening's major plenary (Read: SWP Rally).
There were slight scuffles of resistance from the stage occupants, who saw the occupation of the stage as a race, not political, issue. However, to anyone that has spent 5 minutes in ESF organisational meetings, it soon became clear that this was the long overdue eruption of serious internal dissatifaction amongst British lefties.
Banners targetted "head-liner" Livingstone, reading "Free the ESF", "Ken's Party, War Party" and "Left or Right, the Bosses are all the Same". Unfortunately Ken, the self-proclaimed leader of the Anti-Fascist movement, seemingly got wind of an increasing dissatifaction within the movement and bottled out of the appearance, sending vans of London's finest in his place.
Despite a great deal of confusion, stemming from the break down of interpretation (due to the exausted Babel's volunteers iniciating a simultaneous but separate rebellion) the vast majority of participants seem pleased that the autonomous activists highlighted this co-option of their ESF. Many international participants were seemingly kept in the dark regarding the party affliation of the majority of the "Steering Committee" (Read: Socialist Action) and how this stands in direct violation of the ESF Charter and its founding principles.
Of course, there were those a little peed off as speakers and delegates alike had come a long way to discuss anti-fascist issues. However, once the activists had effectively made their point, and had it sufficiently, they keenly left the stage so that the important anti-facist discussion could continue. In this observer's view, the intervention enlived an otherwise bland forum, beginning anew the debate and analysis of how we want our forum to be run. The corridors suddenly came alive with dicussion of what this means for the future of our moment, party-liners versus non-subscribers.
The intervention highlighted, for them so blind, that never again should an ESF think it is OK to employ exploited temporary workforces to sell over-priced, poor quality food to people that came from all over Europe to discuss equality and social justice. Nor close doors to organise our movement for us. Nor invite party politicians hiding behind another name.
We wait, as I write, for news of that same deputation, who were promptly nicked on existing Ali Pali. Bless 'em.
The ESF is currently reeling in the aftermath of an intervention in this evening's planned Ken Livingstone-led plenary. A small but vocal deputation of radical activists from the automous meeting "Beyond the ESF" arrived at the Forum this evening, taking over the stage full of speakers moments before the evening's major plenary (Read: SWP Rally).
There were slight scuffles of resistance from the stage occupants, who saw the occupation of the stage as a race, not political, issue. However, to anyone that has spent 5 minutes in ESF organisational meetings, it soon became clear that this was the long overdue eruption of serious internal dissatifaction amongst British lefties.
Banners targetted "head-liner" Livingstone, reading "Free the ESF", "Ken's Party, War Party" and "Left or Right, the Bosses are all the Same". Unfortunately Ken, the self-proclaimed leader of the Anti-Fascist movement, seemingly got wind of an increasing dissatifaction within the movement and bottled out of the appearance, sending vans of London's finest in his place.
Despite a great deal of confusion, stemming from the break down of interpretation (due to the exausted Babel's volunteers iniciating a simultaneous but separate rebellion) the vast majority of participants seem pleased that the autonomous activists highlighted this co-option of their ESF. Many international participants were seemingly kept in the dark regarding the party affliation of the majority of the "Steering Committee" (Read: Socialist Action) and how this stands in direct violation of the ESF Charter and its founding principles.
Of course, there were those a little peed off as speakers and delegates alike had come a long way to discuss anti-fascist issues. However, once the activists had effectively made their point, and had it sufficiently, they keenly left the stage so that the important anti-facist discussion could continue. In this observer's view, the intervention enlived an otherwise bland forum, beginning anew the debate and analysis of how we want our forum to be run. The corridors suddenly came alive with dicussion of what this means for the future of our moment, party-liners versus non-subscribers.
The intervention highlighted, for them so blind, that never again should an ESF think it is OK to employ exploited temporary workforces to sell over-priced, poor quality food to people that came from all over Europe to discuss equality and social justice. Nor close doors to organise our movement for us. Nor invite party politicians hiding behind another name.
We wait, as I write, for news of that same deputation, who were promptly nicked on existing Ali Pali. Bless 'em.
posted by Red Pepper at 8:29 PM
<< Home