Rage against racism- report

national | miscellaneous | news report Saturday March 23, 2002 19:04 by Shane Kenna - Socialist Youth

Report of the Socialist Youth Rage against Racism: Thanks to all those who attended, especially Globalise Resistance who made their presence heard and known with a few good Chants! TOMORROW BELONGS TO THOSE WHO PREPARE TODAY-Malcolm X

With a great atmosphere, a gathering of over 70 people mostly Youth marched through Temple Bar and shouted anti racist slogans and called for an end to the racist policies of Fianna Fail, the establishment and declared that it was profit who was the enemy not asylum seekers.

The rally was, like the march, a success with an excellent rendition of traditional Armenian music, rock and pop.

Latif Sirhilden, a Kurdish refugee, gave a rousing speech in which he told the large gathering of the plight of the Kurdish people who are daily oppressed in Turkey. He Praised SY in Cork and Dublin for the work that the organisation is doing to combat racism in Ireland and he slammed Noel O’ Flynn and Joe O'Callaghan for playing the race card in Cork.

Chris from Belfast, gave a report of the anti sectarian work by Socialist Youth comrades in Northern Ireland and informed the gathering of Socialist Youths policy of uniting Catholic and Protest Youth (especially students) against Capitalism and the ruling class. He raised the points that the working class have more in common with each other than with the bosses and establishment politicians and that all sectarian crimes and acts must be condemned.

Sinn Féin was slammed as a capitalist party for this the evidence of Bairbre De Bruins record on hospitals as MLA for health in the Northern Ireland executive was cited.

During this speech it was raised that Sectarianism had to be tackled “ In the class room, on the streets, in the workplace”

Paul from Dublin raised the issues about Racism, he declared that “10,,000 people wait on the hospital waiting lists, that 13% of Irish children are born into poverty,” for this it was capitalism who is the enemy and the establishment, NOT the Asylum seekers. He resolved that if there were no refugees than the establishment would use something else to put the blame for the problems it creates on, that Capitalism would indeed attempt to place the blame on and use as scapegoats “Single mothers, the unemployed etc”

Many of the speeches also pointed out the wrongs of Capitalism and how it sordidly survives through “Cheap labour” which ultimately leads to poverty. All speakers also employed the key theme “Racism benefits the establishment.” It is true to say this as the establishment uses racism as a divide and rule tactic to weaken the working class.

Paul raised the question “What if anti racism fails?” The answer was simple, it will be the Youth who will suffer. It is us who will have to live with racism, it is us who will have to live with further scapegoating by capitalist media and establishment and perhaps fascism.

Susan from North Dublin, raised the historical event which 42 years ago this week in then Apartheid South Africa, Black South Africans took to the streets and protested against the apartheid system. The protesters were massacred by the then South African police, which ultimately forced the UN to declare March 21st International anti racist week.

She raised the fact the Establishment is trying to paint itself as Anti racist through its anti racism campaign yet the Government is still intent on deporting refugees back to their countries and allows the swift arrest and removal of refugees.

For this she raised the fact of the hunger strikers in Mount Joy Prison, informing the gathering that most of the refugees waiting deportation were sent home in an awful state with poor health, with one man being badly assaulted by Customs. Indeed one Asylum seeker a Nigerian man who is being detained in Mountjoy declared “I would rather die in an Irish prison than live in Nigeria”

Susan called on all at the rally to come to the protest at Mountjoy tonight at 7: 30 in a show of solidarity with the remaining asylum seekers in Mountjoy.

At the rally, it was agreed and raised that the establishment is the enemy, and that it is that very organism of the state that creates the problems of Irish society NOT the asylum seekers. It was noted that a movement of radical youth should come together and fight racism a build a new society free from racial hate which is created by capitalism. We agreed that Young people have a particular role to play in combating racism

The mood of the March and rally was extremely comradely. And I thank all those who attended, especially who Globalise Resistance who made their presence heard and known with a few good Chants!

SO THANKS TO EVERYONE……
TOMORROW BELONGS TO THOSE WHO PREPARE TODAY-Malcolm X