Gardaí bow to pressure from solidarity campaign

December last year, 11 members of the anti-fees campaign group Free Education for Everyone including three Socialist Youth members, occupied the constituency office of Paul Gogarty, the Green Party Spokesperson for Education, in Lucan. This was in protest at education cuts and the threat of college fees.

By Rita Ann Harrold, Dublin Socialist Youth

After a few hours, Gardai forced open the door with a battering ram and the protesters were arrested. After being photographed, fingerprinted, strip searched, questioned and generally intimidated all were released without charge.

Lurgan SY: Why you should fight for socialism

Public Meeting – Lurgan Socialist Youth

Why you should fight for socialism!

4.30pm Tues 10th November

Lurgan Library

Dublin Discussion Forum for Young People: 1 in 5 on the dole

Solidarity Appeal – Protesters threatened with cautions for anti-fees occupation

FEE (Free Education for Everyone) activists in Ireland involved in an occupation of Paul Gogarty TD’s offices (Green Party Education Spokesperson) in December 2008 have now been threatened almost a year later with “adult cautions” by the Gardai (police). This includes three members of the Socialist Party.

The occupation was a peaceful protest (pictures and story here http://www.indymedia.ie/article/90082 update here http://www.universityobserver.ie/2009/09/15/file-sent-to-dpp-over-fee-occupation/comment-page-1/) against the threat to re-introduce full third level fees. The threat of “adult cautions” under the Public Order Act is an attempt to intimidate these students to prevent them protesting again in the future, as well as to deter others from engaging in protest.

To Whom It May Concern:

I am writing to you regarding the student occupation of Paul Gogarty’s Office in December 2008 by the FEE (Free Education for Everyone) campaign for which the students involved are now being threatened with “adult cautions”. This protest at the Green Party Education Spokesperson to try to stop the re-introduction of third level fees was an entirely peaceful protest.

The threat to caution these students is an outrageous attack on their right to protest and an attempt to intimidate others considering protest.

 I demand the removal of the threat of these cautions. All of the students in question simply exercised their right to protest and should suffer no consequences for this. The matter should simply be dropped by the Gardaí.

 Yours faithfully,

Belfast SY: Keep the Racist BNP Off TV!

Youth Against Racism has organised a protest against the BBC’s invitation to the far-right, racist BNP to participate in Question Time. The protest will take place at 5.30pm on Thursday 15th October outside BBC Broadcasting House, Ormeau Avenue, Belfast.

The BBC have offered the BNP a platform on Question Time. The far-right BNP won 2 seats in the recent European elections. This party is attempting to develop a respectable image, but their core is out-right fascism. Their founder called Hitler’s ‘Mein Kampf’ his ‘Bible’ and Nick Griffin, the current leader, regularly denied the Holocaust.

Sexism and violence against women – Time to take a stand

The lenient sentencing of R&B singer, Chris Brown, to five years’ probation and six months’ community labour for assaulting his former girlfriend and pop star, Rihanna, illustrates that the courts are not serious about tackling violence against women. In a vicious assault, Brown punched, chocked, bit and threatened to kill his former girlfriend.

By Laura Fitzgerald, Dublin Socialist Youth 

Brown’s pig-headed statement after the assault was  – “Everybody that’s haters, they just being haters. I ain’t a monster.” His attitude is indicative of the hip hop and pop genre that he is part of, in which women are objectified, legitimising sexism and taken to its conclusion, can send a message that women’s bodies are playthings to be used, abused and violated. This sexist culture is, like violence against women, a product of an economic system that forces women into low-paid jobs, poverty and economic dependence. Sexist images and attitudes in popular culture ideologically reinforce and justify this systematic discrimination.

One year to stop fees – get active!

As if not having a job was bad enough for those starting at 3^rd level this autumn, the threat of the re-introduction of fees, in various guises, has put one of the most vulnerable groups in society in a precarious situation.

By Joeseph Loughnane, Dublin Socialist Youth

 

Picture the scene – a student is finding it very hard to find part-time work, the student’s parents have had their hours and pay cut, fees of €8,000 have been introduced. By the time the student leaves college, they will have massive debts hanging over his head for the next part of his life, and could struggle even to find a job. Multiply this story by thousands and this will be the picture if fees are introduced.

“Generation Yes” – empty attacks to hide stunning lack of knowledge of Treaties

Socialist Youth asks:

Why won’t Generation Yes debate with us?

Joint Press Statement – Joe Higgins MEP & Socialist Youth

Generation Yes, a self-proclaimed “movement of young people… committed to promoting the benefits of EU membership”, launched a second attack on Joe Higgins MEP (Socialist Party) today, accusing him of calling “for a No vote to Lisbon to punish the government for their handling of the financial crisis.” This follows a Generation Yes video posted on Youtube a week ago and a half ago, attempting to ridicule the arguments of the No campaign.

Protests follow homophobic terror attack in Tel-Aviv

On 1 August, two gay and lesbian youth were murdered in Tel-Aviv, in the most severe homophobic terror attack in Israel’s history. The attack was followed immediately by an important wave of protest, in which the Socialist Struggle Movement (CWI in Israel) fully participated, against the Israeli establishment’s incitation to homophobia, and against oppression of LGBT people.

 Charlie James and Shahar Ben-Khorin, Socialist Struggle Movement (CWI in Israel)

CWI banner reads “The homophobes in power are responsible for the disaster”

Charlie James, a CWI member, used to volunteer in the “BarNo`ar” (“Youth Bar”) – where the attack occurred – and some of his friends were among the victims. He adds a personal note:

I had a personal connection to the “BarNo`ar”. When I relocated to Tel-Aviv a few years ago, the “BarNo`ar” was one of the first and most favorable places for me, a place where I could meet new friends, play billiards, chess, cards, and talk about everything. When I grew up, I became a guide over there, trying to give back what was given to me. We were there – me, Nir (his life now brutally taken), Nofar, and Khen. Every weekend we used to come, in rotation, to assist in operating the place, preparing food for the kids and the youth, calming their quarrels, organizing events, and most importantly – discussing with them, and let them realize that they’re not alone in this world, and there are people to support them. It was a sacred mission for us.

Kilkenny SY – Public Meeting

OPEN DISCUSSION FORUM :

Minimum wage under threat, unemployment and college fees…

What’s the socialist alternative?

7pm Wed 19th August

The Club House Hotel, Patrick St