In London, May I saw 16,000 take to the streets. For the first time, trade unionists and anti-capitalists joined together to demonstrate on May Day. This was also the first time that a May Day a march went Trafalgar Square while Parliament was sitting.
This was a colourful and diverse march with a strong OL COCHUC of youth. Peace Palestinians, aclIvIsts, Anarchists antifascists and environmentalists come together 1n colourtul and vibrant demonstration against the ravages of the capitalist system.
The media may try to ignore the demonstrations against this vile and corrupt system - but they will never keeD from marching. They will try and convince us all in the so called "free press" that the demonstrators are a small minority.
Yes, we are a minority - but we are growing day on day. Even after September 11, the anti-capitalist movement is growing stronger and on May Day protests from Sydney to Paris saw youth and trade unionists united. As George Monbiot put on Newsnight later that day: "the demonstrators may be small here in the West but they are massive across the world".
The media don't say any. thing about what we are fighting but just around. In Argentina, the bosses system is crumbling with banks closed and millions without work. The Zionist state of Israel killing innocent children in the name of the "War against Terrorism. Poodle Blair and his puppet master George W Bush are planning to kill thousands of Iraqis. All this is done in the name of global The Socialist Alliance had a high profile on the demonstration, with many placards and banners, particularly when you consider 1021 Wall y members marched with the Stop TAP war Coalition, Globalise Resistance or one of the many other campaigns the we are all active in.
The coming together of the different campaigns on May Day to march together is a vital step in the fight against Global Capitalism.
Many young demonstrators on the march were eager to carry the Socialist Alliance placards and young comrades I spoke to we eager to learn about the As young Alliance members we hava duty not just to fight elecnons - wnica are vital - Dut to campaign on the issues that the youth have been invigorated by. We want to turn the Socialist Alliance into an anti-capitalist workers party.
Many youth have been turned off by which they are told means other people making decisions for them. That is why we have to build the Socialist Alliance on the sane line as Rifondazione Communista in Italy or the Socialist Party.
For these organisations elections are only a part of the struggle and they understand that it is direct action which will bring the workers and the youth side by side in struggle against oppression.
We have seen mass demonstrations in Spain and Italy and France where youth The Left and the Euro have been a large and vital part of the process in building the international fightback that is needed. And with the rise of the far right across Europe we must give the new generation who are coming into struggle the alternative to the fascists -the battle of ideas and the actions of socialists is important in battle against the far right and the capitalist class.
The media say Resistance is futile but we are marching and we are organising. May Day is an important day for the Workers & Anti-capitalist movement we have came together we have discussed and learnt new ideas.
Many of the older trade unionists were visibly marching with a spring in their step. As they marched along side they, like me they were inspired by the convergence of the young and old.
For the future is in the hands of the youth - but the past struggies can give our young movement a vital and more dynamic feel as we learn the lessons of the comrades who marched before The main if not the most important slogan we use is "Another world is possible", the idea that this fight is one we can win and must win. May Day shows that a convergence of the Anti-capitalist movement with others fighting against war, poverty and the destruction of our planet is possible.
A united fight against this system is the only way we will rid the planet of the disease of capitalism. That is why the fight to build the European Social Forum due take place in ltaly in November will be a major priority over the months ahead. socalist k apitalism he restasc Part of the united May Day march through London Outlook FREEDOM on the up - we have suf-