Red And Black Telly: LABOUR CONFERENCE 2019.

RADICAL WORKERS’ BLOC AT TOLPUDDLE 2019

Tolpuddle Martyrs Festival and rally 2019 Friday, 19th to Sunday, 21st July 2019. View map No stall this year, apparently they were “oversubscribed”. Nah we don’t either, more time to get drunk then.

On the plus side the IWW are back, with a new improved stall run by Dorset branch.

Wob kitchen will run from Friday evening to Sunday lunch, next to the Big Tent; you’ll hardly notice the difference. Wessex Solidarity will make some of our literature catalogue available on the day. We’ve lots of new stuff that isn’t in the reference library as we’re running out of storage space – it hasn’t been updated for years. Why not get in touch now if there’s a subject you’re particularly interested in.

Catering Cadre: Comrade Les, our Wob kitchen chef is offering free training on outside and event catering for Radical Workers and groups who want to feed their members, homeless or unemployed workers in a safe and cost-effective way. Topics including:

• Basic Health safety and hygiene.
• Basic budget and Menu planning.
• Basic dietary requirements.
• Basic safe use of LPG and Butane gas cookers.

Let us know if you’re interested or come and see us about it at the festival.

Safe Space Policy: “don’t be a dick”.

This year we ask Radical Workers to be especially kind to members of the Prison Officers Association, as they are ever so sensitive, and easily upset by loud noises and rude words.

Bloody hell it was hot! Tolpuddle R.W.B. 2018

Brighton Kurdistan Solidarity Festival Friday, 26th October 2018

Save the date!

Kurdistan Solidarity Fest 2018 is coming up on Friday, 26 October at the Cowley Club.

Music lineup and further details to be announced soon, but will include a minimum of two musical acts and delicious feast.

Donations will benefit the Anna Campbell (Hêlîn Qereçox) memorial mural fund.

Facebook event here: https://www.facebook.com/events/253271658668160/

BKS

Bristol remembers Anna Campbell.

From Brighton Antifascists’ Facebook page

Today [24th March] a small demonstration was held in Bristol in memory of Anna Campbell. Anna died fighting against ISIS and the Turkish state in Afrin last week.

Simultaneously in London people took to the streets. Today demonstrations were held all over the world in support of Afrin for world Afrin day, but the demonstration in London was dedicated to Anna’s honor and was headed by those closest to Anna.

Anna was an anarchist, antifascist, squatter, hunt sab, prison abolitionist and all round radical revolutionary who had travelled to Rojava to fight with the YPJ for the Kurdish revolution. In Bristol 200 + of Anna’s friends, family and other comrades who had not had the pleasure of meeting her marched in solidarity to honour Anna’s life. The march lasted for two hours taking the main roads and disrupting business as usual throughout the city.

Afrin has been besieged by the Turkish state for the past two months. And from today has been fully occupied by Turkish forces though resistance continues. The YPG and YPJ have been fighting ISIS in Iraqi, Syrian and Turkish Kurdistan. Yet the British state continues to arrest international fighters who return to England under terrorism laws and arming the Turkish state in its offensive against Kurdish-held areas.

We stand in solidarity with Anna’s fight and that of Kurdish revolution.

We send our deepest condolences to Anna’s friends and family.

Anna is with us!
We fight on!

24th March #WorldAfrinDay Brighton → London

Brighton Comrades:

Friends, comrades and others inspired by the struggle of Anna Campbell (Shehîd Hêlîn Qereçox) and her commitment to the Kurdish Freedom Movement will be going together to the demonstration in London for #WorldAfrinDay.

Event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/205096633582492/

Meet Brighton station by the piano at 10:30am to travel together.
After the demonstration there will be a memorial for Anna at the Kurdish Community Centre in London.

If people would like to stay overnight in London to attend the Newroz (Kurdish New Year) celebration the following day, sleeping space can be organised.

Newroz has long been a symbol of struggle and resistance for the Kurdish people and its celebration has long been illegal in Turkey.

“Hêlîn, you are going to be my way. Now I should not feel lost anymore. Every time the forces of the state, patriarchy and capitalism try to influence me I will think of you, and you will be my light to continue always looking forward. Like you always did. Hêlîn, your murder just gives me more strength and generates in me more anger. The pain is not going to blind me, it will only make me stronger. I know that while following your steps I am on the right path, the road to freedom, which was always your way.” (Internationalist Commune)

PLEASE SHARE!

URGENT DEMO IN BRIGHTON: STOP THE FASCIST TURKISH STATE INVASION OF ROJAVA! Thursday 25 January 2018

From Sussex Kurdish Community info@kurdishcom.com

Churchill Square, Brighton, Thursday 25 January 2018 12pm

The Fascist Turkish State has begun its threatened invasion of Afrin in Rojava/Northern Syria. 72 Turkish fighter jets have been bombing Afrin since 4pm Saturday, many civilians including children have been killed!

We must defend Afrin with the spirit of the Kobane resistance!

We call on people in solidarity with the Kurdish struggle to protest and condemn this genocidal invasion.

EVERYWHERE IS AFRIN! EVERYWHERE IS RESISTANCE!

Stop Turkey`s war on the Kurds and #DefendAfrin

The seven year long internal conflict in Syria turned into an international war, which resulted in the killings of hundreds of thousands of people and the displacement of millions, was almost nearing an end. The Turkish government under the leadership of Recep Tayyip Erdogan, together with Al Qaeda (Heyet Tahrir El Şam), ISIS and with other Salafist groups are now preparing a military operation to attack Afrin, a Kurdish city (canton) in Northern Syria. This will mean a new bloody conflict that would drag the region into a renewed catastrophe, inflicting hunger, killing more children, displacing the local population and another international humanitarian crisis. Under international law this action is defined as an “operation for invasion”.

In 2017, Raqqa, the capital city of so-called ISIS, was liberated by an international coalition that included the SDF (made up of Kurdish and Arabic forces). This was the start of the end of ISIS. This new situation of ending the horrific war raging through Syria, finally led to a political dialogue for a possible solution for peace in the region. Any Turkish military attacks on the Kurdish city of Afrin will only initiate the start of yet another bloody conflict.

The safest and the most stable areas of Syria, are those regions that are now under the administrations of Kurds and their allies. One of these cantons is Afrin. Afrin became a safe haven from the begining of this war, freed from any conflict and war.

Neither Afrin Canton, nor the other northern Syrian Kurdish regions, have ever attacked or threatened to attack Turkey. In fact, Turkey has constantly threatend and attacked the villages and localities several times in recent years. The legal definition of Turkey’s actions, in the international law, is defined as “attacking a sovereign country”, invasion of their land and unprovoked assault on their civilians. This act is an example of Turkey’s long enmity towards the Kurdish community.

Our call and demands to the international community:

• Afrin has been one of the most stable and secure regions in Syria over the past five years. With this in mind, the city has taken in as much as its original population in IDPs. The UN and the International Coalition must ensure the continuation of Afrin’s stability and security. Afrin must be protected against external attacks.
• Afrin is not a threat to Turkey and has not attacked anyone. The Turkish state is attacking Afrin because it is against the Kurds and Kurdish gains. This reality must not be neglected and the Turkish state’s attacks must be prevented.
• Russia, who is responsible for Afrin’s air space, must not be a spectator to Turkey’s attacks and must prevent any such show of aggression.
• The attacks of the Turkish state against Afrin, Rojava and north Syria as a whole is beneficial for ISIS and other Salafist groups. The International Coalition Against ISIS must take precautions against this and must prevent the Turkish army’s attacks.
• The Turkish state is an occupying force in Syria. The international community must not be a spectator to this situation and the Turkish army must be made to leave Syrian soil

Kurdish Solidarity Network meeting 10-11 February in Brighton.

KSN Networking Proposal pdf

We can now confirm a meeting date on 10-11 February at the Cowley Club in Brighton.

A suggested outline for the weekend is to have meetings (including breaks) from 12-6pm on Saturday 10th, followed by social time in the evening, where we can also, for example, organise a film, talk, or other activity, then optional time on the Sunday for workshops around themes… for example, “what is solidarity?”, or “History of the Kurdish Women’s Movement”… whatever people are interested in / would like to offer.

If you are able to come to this meeting, please send an email to brightonkurdsolidarity@riseup.net with the name of your group (individuals are also welcome), number of people, whether you need crash space and for how many people and which night(s), any dietary requirements, and if you have something to offer or a suggestion about what you would like to see happen.

From K.S.N. by e-mail

Support the Cowley Club

Cowley club appeal

If you’ve ever visited the Cowley Club in Brighton it’s a great community resource and worth defending. It’s struggling financially due to the council imposing punitive business rates.

These places are a threat to those who seek the total commercialisation of our town centres and are coming under pressure everywhere. We’ll miss them when they’re gone. Please consider supporting this appeal:

If enough people set up a small standing order each month from their bank account we could thwart the bureaucrats and developers by keeping our radical social centre alive. A tiny amount you won’t miss, even one pound a month per person would be a massive help!

Name: The Cowley Club Ltd
Account no: 60362080
Sort Code: 09-01-55

Thanks! X

Revolutions in Rojava and Beyond: Brighton 3rd November 2016

‘Revolutions in Rojava and Beyond: Perspectives on Democratic Transformations’

Free event at the Brighton Dome Studio Theatre, New Road, Brighton BN11UG Thursday 3rd November 2016, 4pm to 8pm

Co-organised by the ESRC STEPS Centre, members of the Sussex Kurdish Community and members of Brighton Kurdish Solidarity, join us for the screening of several short activist-produced films, followed by a panel discussion with key speakers Janet Biehl, Ercan Ayboğa, and Dilar Dirik.

Register at Eventbrite

Havin Guneser talk on Abdullah Öcalan’s Manifesto for a Democratic Civilization, Brighton 24 May

Tuesday, 24 May 7:00pm at Brighthelm Centre Auditorium (North Road, Brighton BN1 1YD).

As part of a book tour, Kurdish journalist and activist Havin Guneser will be speaking on her 2015 translation of Abdullah Öcalan’s Manifesto for a Democratic Civilization: the Age of Masked Gods and Disguised Kings.
For more information and to register.
Facebook event