Advancing the Progressive Movement. Remembering Sharpeville.

Advancing the Progressive Movement. Defeating the Far-Right. Remembering Sharpeville.

The Liberation Movement and The Monitoring Group (TLM and TMG) are inviting African Caribbean, Asian and other people of colour comrades, colleagues as well as white allies to join us in an evening of remembrance and discussion.

We will commemorate the South Africa Sharpeville massacre that took place on March 21, 1960 that saw white apartheid police M**der an estimated 91 mostly young people and injure many more. This has become an annual event for TLM and is marked by the UN Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

Those who are the co-founders of TLM and founder of TMG and are in the leadership of both organisations have decades long experience of being at the coalface of fighting racism in all of its hideous manifestations in the UK and internationally.

We are at a pivotal point as liberationists and seekers of racial equality and justice nationally and globally: the rise of the far-right into mainstream politics in the UK, the general political shift to the right of traditional or more established parties, the anti-migrant policies that have created a hostile and dangerous environment for those seeking refuge, increasing state violence against largely African Caribbean and Asian men and the impunity given to police who K*ll, institutional racism that is pervasive and detrimental to the life chances and deadly to the lives of Global Majority people.

The genocide in Gaza, the increasing authoritarianism and war mongering of Donald Trump and his administration in the US, the recent invasion of the sovereign country of Venezuela and the kidnapping of its president, the M**der of US citizens by ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) are but a few of the critical issues faced by Global Majority people.

How should we respond as committed anti-racists, socialists, libertarians, trade unionists, grassroots activists and campaigners?

In the UK, what does the increasing popularity of Zack Polanski-led Green Party mean in the context of these grave challengers and the new Jeremy Corbyn/Zara Sultana Left leaning Your Party? And the emphatic election, against the odds, of democratic socialist and young African-born muslim Zohran Mamdani as mayor of New York, America's largest city, gives hope to progressives throughout the world.

We believe there is a need more than ever for a new Global Majority progressive movement in the UK with an international reach to work with like-minded campaigners in countries like the US.

We hope our March 20th event hosted in the Indian YMCA's historic Gandhi Room in central London can be catalyst for the beginnings of such a progressive movement.

Our line up of guest speakers include Fidel Antonio Castro Smirnov, grandso of Cuban leader Fidel Castro, Fran Heathcote General Secretary at the PCS trade union, Tsoana Nhlapo, chief executive officer of the Sharpeville Foundation in South Africa, Ben Chacko, editor at the Morning Star and Balvinder Gill, UK human rights lawyer. Palestine campaign speaker to be confirmed.

Expect powerful stories, engaging discussions, and a chance to connect with like-minded people passionate about change. Don’t miss this opportunity to honor the past and fuel the future.

*Food and drinks are included.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

Get App

Host or Publisher The National Union of Journalists Black Members Council