The week in protests
Action on Palestine! Welfare Cuts! Climate! Other things I forgot!
Hello, good morning. I’m back in your inbox (sorry) with the listings for this week. I would normally try to fold everything together into one email but there is just so much going on that it got so long substack started shouting at me so I had to split it in two.
There is a lot below, so I will not keep you long (edit: this is a lie), but I think it’s worth noting the breadth of the battles we’re fighting at the moment, with many more gearing up to be fought over the coming months.
It is daunting. Overwhelming even, to consider the sheer scale of the fight but in many ways, the number of things happening (and this is far from everything!) feels inspiring. If you spend your life only listening to, watching or reading the news, or indeed many voices online (no beef), you’d easily come to the conclusion that the left is a spent force — the last vestiges of it slowly wiling away their final moment fighting about shit that doesn’t matter amongst the dying embers of Corbynism.
The reality is the left (whatever that is) is very much alive and kicking. In communities across the country last week activists sprung into action in reaction to Reeves unconscionable cuts to welfare. For over 18 months people have been organising and taking action over the genocide in Gaza. There are no end of industrial disputes. Climate battles. Migrant support actions. Bailiff resistance. And more and more and more.
It’s easy to get sucked in to the doom scroll (god knows I am guilty of it) but, as fun as it is getting involved in *discourse* (again, guilty as charged), it can mean we miss out on drawing strength, fire, passion and energy from all of the incredible work happening in real life. Truth is we are organising, we are fighting and we have achieved some spectacular wins in the last few weeks alone (more on this to come!).
All of this to say — the world is shit, the government is shit (that pretty much applies wherever you’re reading this) but people are brilliant and its vital to remember the power we hold.
Also I made an instagram for this newsletter. There was probably a more graceful way of segueing to that but, it’s late as I write this so please go and follow it, I will post fun memes I think of and make my boyfriend design for me like the masterpiece below (if you click it it will take you to the insta through the magic of the internet). Also I promise to actually post useful things like reminders of demos, stats, quotes etc. Maybe I will do some interviews on it. Who knows. Anyway, click on the picture and come along for the ride.
Listings
Tuesday 25th March
London: Boycott Bloody Insurance, Aldgate Square, EC3N 1AF, 10am
Boycott Bloody Insurance say, “🚫 Join the march in London to call for a boycott of bloody insurance this Tuesday at 10AM, meeting at Aldgate Square. We will mobilise until each insurance giant cuts ties with genocide, the climate crisis and the detention industry.
#BoycottBloodyInsurance”
London: Tax the super rich rally, 1 Horse Guards Road, SW1A 2HQ, 5pm
War on Want say, “Inequality is soaring and public services are crumbling. We need investment, not cuts.
Ahead of the spring budget, join our rally to tell the UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves: #TaxtheSuperRich instead of taking money from the poorest.
There will be speeches from politicians, activists and trade union leaders, including @carladenyer, @therealdalevince and many more.
📅Tuesday 25 March
⏰ 17:00 - 19:00
📍Treasury, London, SW1A 2HQ
🙋Sign up via the link in the bio”
Wednesday 26th March
Nationwide: Balls to the spring statement!
As Chancellor Rachel Reeves unveils a suite of cuts, including billions in vital support for sick and disabled people, Disabled People Against Cuts have called for a national day of action on Wednesday. You can see a fairly exhaustive list of actions below but do make sure to follow them on instagram for more updates.
London: London vs oil welcome talk, Portsoken community centre, E1 8AH, 6:30pm
London vs Oil says, “🚨Welcome talk in central London🚨
🗣️1.5 degrees is locked in. Hear about the plan & how we are going to tackle the climate emergency we’re in.
⏱️26th March, 6:30-8:30
📍Portsoken Community Centre (events space upstairs)
20 little Somerset street, E1 8AH
✍️Sign up with link in bio!”
Thursday 27th March
London: Resist counter terrorism use on the Filton 18, Old Bailey, from 9:30am
Palestine Action say, “Eighteen actionists are being held under counter terrorism legislation for allegedly breaking the machinery of genocide.
In August 2024, six people broke into an Israeli weapons factory and dismantled killer quadcopters destined for use by the Zionist militia against capitive Palestinians. A further 12 were arrested during violent police raids on their homes for allegedly being part of the action. All 18 are now being held on remand.
On Thursday 27th March, we're calling for all those who stand in solidarity to mobilise outside the Old Bailey for what will be a pivotal hearing in their case. This will be the first opportunity to challenge the state's violation of their rights and demand a fair trial.
MOBILISE from 9.30am @ Old Bailey, London.
Bring placards, drums, banners and your crew. Let's show the state that we will not back down.”
Friday 28th March
Nationwide: Israeli Apartheid Week, National Student Day of Action
Palestine Solidarity Campaign say, “🚨 28 MARCH - NATIONAL STUDENT DAY OF ACTION 🇵🇸
In the face of the horror we have seen over the last 24 hours, with a wholesale resumption of Israel's genocide underway, students are escalating their actions to end British complicity.
The British government continues to export components for the F-16 and F-35 fighter jets used by Israel to conduct its bombing campaigns. British Universities continue to invest hundreds of thousands of pounds in companies that are complicit in Israel's ongoing genocide. We must come together to call on our institutions to end this complicity.
🇵🇸 Next Friday March 28th is our National Student Day of Action for Palestine. Join students across the country to organise walk outs, sit ins and other protests on campus to demand our universities divest from genocide and cut all ties with the Israeli occupation.”
Find out more information here.
Saturday 29th March
London: We Demand Change summit of resistance, The Cause, 60 Dock Road, E16 1YZ, 11am
Organisers say, “VENUE AND SESSIONS ANNOUNCED! Swipe to see the different workshops and sessions taking place at the summit of resistance on 29 March
Tickets: wedemandchange.uk
📍 We’re delighted to be hosting the event at The Cause, a venue that gives back to important causes and is a key part of East London’s music scene.
Workshops and sessions include:
• Welfare not warfare: mobilising against austerity and benefit cuts
• Turning the tide: why we need anti-racism
• Palestine: organising a people’s embargo
• World at war: how do we stop Starmer’s war drive?
• Who are Reform UK and how can we stop them?
• Election time - what next?
• The Rush to climate disaster: mobilising together to resist and overcome.
• Organising at work: an introduction
• It doesn’t have to be this way: Alternatives to austerity
• Strikes and struggle: why these workers need your solidarity
• Class matters: How should the trade unions respond to Starmer?”
PS,
Dates for your diary:
Saturday 5th April
Nationwide: Don’t Buy Apartheid
Organisers say, “The Don't Buy Apartheid campaign calls on all individuals, shops, restaurants, and businesses to take two key actions to support the Palestinian struggle for freedom:
1) Boycott Israeli produce like avocados, oranges, herbs and dates.
2) Boycott Coca-Cola and its brands Shweppes, Sprite, Fanta, Innocent, Appletiser, Smart Water and Costa Coffee.
Israeli fresh produce, like avocados, oranges, herbs and dates, is grown in illegal Israeli settlements on stolen Palestinian land. When businesses in Britain sell this produce, they are supporting Israel’s land theft and ethnic cleansing.
Coca-Cola franchisee in Israel operates a regional distribution centre in an illegal Israeli settlement in occupied Jerusalem. It’s therefore helping to entrench Israel’s military occupation and colonisation of Palestinian land. Consumers and businesses should buy an apartheid-free alternative, such as Gaza Cola.
Join your local PSC branch and take action at supermarkets selling these goods, and reach out to local shops, restaurants and venues to ask them to pledge to join the boycott and display a campaign poster.”
Find out more here.
Monday 7th April
London: Stratford Magistrates Court,8:45am start
In May last year, as the Conservatives ramped up rhetoric around the Rwanda plan they announced they would begin ‘rounding up’ those who might potentially be on the flights. A stunning community response in Peckham saw hundreds come down to block the coaches and declare that refugees are welcome here.
The coaches did not go that day. Those at risk of being offshored in the evil Rwanda plan stayed put in the community where they’d started to develop support networks, friends etc. Many brave members of the community (allegedly) sat in the road to block the coaches and were arrested. There have been a number of court dates already for those accused, with most being acquitted. There are still a number of future court dates, one of which is on 7th April.
In the coming weeks, I’ll write more about the stunning community resistance on that day, but for now, save the date for a rally outside the court in support of those who stood up that day and refused to be complicit in the horrors of the immigration system.
17-18th May
Bristol: Bristol Transformed festival, Trinity Centre
Genuinely one of my favourite weekends of the year, Bristol Transformed is back with yet another incredible line up of panels, workshops, talks, games, and parties.
Sessions this year include:
💰What does madness look like under capitalism?
🍉How can we build an Apartheid-Free Zone in Bristol?
⚽What is the relationship between politics and football?
✊How have Bristolians resisted oppression throughout the city’s history?
Make sure you cop your tickets fast, because it’s sure to sell out!
Thanks so much for reading. As ever if you would like your event, protest, fundraiser etc. included here or if you have any tips, press releases or save the dates please do drop me a line!
Hope to see you on the streets soon,
ben x