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| Event Flyer |
On Thursday, 2 February 2017, members
of the Reading Trades Union Council (including its Vice-President and
Communications & Correspondence Secretary) joined Labour Party members,
peace activists, students and those of a tolerant disposition young and old at
the ‘Reading anti-Trump’s #MuslimBan
solidarity gathering‘ outside Reading Town Hall. Beginning at 5.30pm, a crowd of around 200
people assembled – including a large number of children – holding homemade
banners of protest against the American President, Donald J. Trump’s Executive
Order, signed on 28 January, which banned travel to the USA from seven
majority-Muslim countries (Iran, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Libya, Yemen and Somalia).
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| Nada addresses the diverse gathering of anti-racists |
The organisers of the event, Nada
and Wendy, were incensed by Trump’s action and felt the need to respond to his
bigotry with a peaceful show of protest open to all like-minded people. As Nada
explains, ‘It was organised in two days. I addressed the crowd and spoke about
the need to be vigilant about who is to blame for the underfunding of the NHS and
local schools. We need to protect each other and to demonstrate that we won’t
allow people to be scapegoated or demonised for problems that they did not
cause. We came out in solidarity with those who were made refugees through destructive
wars.
‘We committed to defend anyone
who feels under threat from the prejudice that is dominating the headlines. We
are united as a community in valuing every person in our community. I was
inspired by the turnout and people’s commitment to stand up for those targeted
for their difference. I learnt many things but the key message was clearly that
there’s a strong will to get involved and be active, and continue the
resistance against racism and prejudice and invasions’.
Among the banners on display were
ones reading ‘Stop Racist Wars Now’, ‘More in Common + United’ and ‘I am Malala’.
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| Reading Trades Union Council's Vice President and Secretary |
Speeches at the event can be
found here: https://www.facebook.com/andy.croy/videos/10154147442756218/
and here: https://www.facebook.com/hattonn/videos/10101143138300717/.
***Stop
Press*** Following Reading’s successful anti-Trump rally, US District
Judge James Robart in Seattle stayed the Executive Order on 3 February pending
a Federal Review. For the time being, Trump’s racist Order has been reversed –
but pressure needs to continue to prevent its reinstatement as well as the further
enactment of his illiberal and anti-democratic policies.
Fraternal
Observer at Oxford & District Trades Union Council’s AGM
Also on 2 February, John Partington,
RTUC Secretary, hurried from the anti-Trump demonstration to attend the Oxford & District Trades Union Council’s AGM
as an invited guest, returning the tribute paid when Pól Ó Ceallaigh, Chair of
the O&DTUC, attended RTUC’s AGM in December.
Key issues discussed were Oxfordshire
County Council’s proposal to create a unified county authority, absorbing
Oxford City Council and the other district councils in the county. Debate over
the political consequences of such a move was had, with the proposal being
contrasted with the alternative of a series of unitary authorities being
established. There is currently no proposal for the status quo to be maintained
– though that seemed favoured by the majority of attendees. Anything else would
erode Labour’s strength in Oxford City, which is surrounded by a sea of Tory
Blue throughout much the rest of the county. The delegates also looked forward
to key events in the diary, including ‘Labour’s Industrial Strategy’ conference,
Oxford (11 February), ‘Stand up to racism’ rally, Oxford (16 February), ‘Hands
off our NHS!’, London (4 March), Levellers’ Day, Burford (20 May) and the Trades
Councils’ Conference, Sunderland (10-11 June).
The election of officers was completed
in an orderly manner, with Pól Ó Ceallaigh as President, Sue Tibbles as Secretary and Richard Kelsall as Treasurer, among others; these officers were
also elected as a slate to the corresponding roles in the Oxfordshire County
Association of Trades Union Councils.
