by Jay Coward, South East London Socialist Party
I thought that criticism of Black Pride’s sponsors, for their close proximity to the Israeli state, would make it quite a tense atmosphere, and a challenge to initiate conversation. But I was completely mistaken.
The mood this year was not of celebrating the victory of a new Labour government, not an animosity towards Black Pride for its choice of sponsors, and hesitance to release that information, but an attitude and air of wanting more.
Photo: Ian Pattison
People we in the Socialist Party spoke to thought Keir Starmer will bring nothing new to working-class people. People were hungry to hear our view of what the next steps are.
Palestine is on all minds globally. Labour is in government in Britain. But is this enough to achieve everlasting change? The verdict was absolutely not.
There was cynicism towards the system at large. And there was a lot of jabs against the fact that Labour and the Lib Dems chose to attend.
All of this meant that we had a very busy day, filled with people who were tired of platitudes and inaction. Instead, they were eager to hear our programme and thoughts about ending the conditions that spawn racism. A programme to win back jobs, housing, services and democratic power to the workers for a socialist world.
We had to make extra room as people arrived for our meeting. And three people joined the Socialist Party there and then on the day.