Message of Solidarity from the TUC GC and TUC Disabled Workers Committee

Last week Bookmarks a popular politically Left bookshop was attacked by right-wing extremists. A group of masked extremists entered the shop last Saturday chanting fascist songs as they threatened staff members. The thugs screamed abuse, tore up signs advertising books and focusing on publications they disapproved.

Today, a week later, a solidarity event was held across the road from the bookshop at the Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church. Speakers at the event included:

• Tariq Ali, campaigner and author of Street Fighting Years
  
  
• David Graeber, author of Bullshit Jobs and Debt
  
  
• Hsiao-Hung Pai, author of Bordered Lives and Angry White People
  
  
• Robert Verkaik, author of Posh Boys
  
  
• Louise Raw, historian and author of Striking A Light

• Ann Mitchell, stage and TV actor, who will read a poem
  
  
• Louise Regan, Equality Officer, National Education Union
  
  
• David Rosenberg, author of Rebel Footprints: 

• Weyman Bennett, co-convenor of Stand Up to Racism

• Lindsey German, author and Stop the War Coalition

Last week I was asked by the TUC if I would be able to deliver a message of solidarity at the event. Her is the message that I read out at the event:

Good afternoon Comrades

I’m Seàn McGovern Unite member and Disability Rep on the TUC General Council bringing you a message of Solidarity from the TUC Disabled Workers’ Committee.

Comrades, last week’s attack on Bookmarks by UKIP thugs is yet another reminder of a burgeoning extreme right-wing movement in the UK.

Indeed, we are witnessing a resurgence of neo-Nazi and fascist parties across Europe.

And then there’s Trump whipping up Islamophobia and race hatred of Latinos aimed at the poor and dispossessed of the United States.

In the UK dog-whistle politics has become the norm with demagogic politicians the likes of Farage and Boris Johnson making inflammatory statements that serve their right-wing political agendas.

Comrades, disabled people know all about being scapegoated.

It has been our lot down the centuries.

Today the propagation of poverty porn on our TVs coupled with the vilification and demonization of disabled people also makes us targets of hate crime

So, to paraphrase Pastor Niemoller:

When they come for our Muslim sisters and brothers, 

When they come for our Black brothers and sisters, 

When they come for our Jewish neighbours, 

When they come for our migrant workers, 

When they come for our LGBT communities and 

When they come for disabled people 

Let’s be there shoulder to shoulder and cry – “No Pazaran”

Solidarity