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From The Socialist newspaper, 3 March 2021
Swansea Black Lives Matter protest against racist police brutality
Black Lives Matter protest - Swansea (Click to enlarge)
Charlie Wells, Swansea Socialist Party
Eleven members of the Socialist Party and Socialist Students from Swansea and the surrounding area attended a Black Lives Matter (BLM) demonstration, wearing masks and socially distancing, on 27 February. The protest swelled to 100, angry at the police brutality and racism in South Wales.
There has been a heightening of tensions between the BAME community and police in South Wales after the deaths of Mohamud Mohammed Hassan in Cardiff and Moyied Bashir in Newport, both of which happened immediately after interactions with police.
Prior to these events, the conduct of police in South Wales towards BAME people had been called into question. Campaigns such as the Free Sianda movement had already shone a light on racist policing in South Wales.
The protest heard speakers from the local BAME community, who wished to express their feelings about the role of the police and insidious practices such as stop and search, which disproportionately target BAME people. The event concluded with a moment's silence in order to demonstrate solidarity with the wider BLM movement, and with the individuals who have been victims of police brutality and harassment.
As a result of the right-wing fearmongering which has been whipped up surrounding the rise of the BLM movement, there was a small right-wing counter-protest. However, the brave young organisers of the BLM event stood proudly and did not allow the calls of 'all lives matter' or the accusations of being 'cultural marxists' deter them from making their voices heard.
Young people all across Wales are showing that we will not allow our rights to be trampled upon by the police. We are willing to fight and protest in order to defend those rights.
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In The Socialist 3 March 2021:
Budget
Not a budget for the working class!
Public sector workers respond to the budget
News
President of 'big four' Labour-affiliated trade union joins TUSC committee
International Women's Day
A fighting programme for women's rights and socialism
A history of International Women's Day
What we think
Liverpool Labour meltdown - Fight for socialist policies
School safety
Schools' safety - teachers demand fighting union strategy
Features
'Casino capitalism' - driving another potential financial Armageddon
Workplace
Bus workers under attack and fighting back
Manchester indefinite bus strike against 'fire and rehire'
HMRC: Pay deal agreed but at what cost?
Sparks force bosses back but fight continues to stamp out deskilling
Reinstate victimised bus driver Declan Clune
Tech workers walk out against 'fire and rehire'
Victory for Judith, defend Moe
Campaigns
Why we need socialists in London city hall
Swansea BLM protest against racist police brutality
Union fight to save musicians' livelihoods
Labour surrenders to Tories in Devon
Determined to smash the fighting fund target to fuel election challenge in May
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