Another controversial May Day in Nottingham
Published:
May 08, 2013 06:59
by Nottingham Indymedia |
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Notts Indymedia
Notts Trade Union Council organised a march and rally in Nottingham to mark international workers’ day on Saturday 4th May. Trade unionists, anti-cuts activists, socialists and anarchists marched from the Forest Rec to Market Square where speeches were given. The tradition of dissent within the local labour movement continued where it left off last year, with both the prominence of Nottingham South Labour MP, Lillian Greenwood, and Socialist Workers Party loyalist, Richard Buckwell, being contested. Dissenters accused Greenwood of being a “scab” and “Just another Labour drone” whereas Buckwell was condemned for his support of the SWP Central Committee’s handling of rape allegations, leading one participant to conclude that the event was “not a safe space”.
Newswire: Mayday Events 2 Rally | Mayday Events 1 Parade | Nottingham Mayday - not a safe space | Petition urges Trades Council to think again | How the grinch stole May Day
Previous features: Anti-Labour party protest at Nottingham May Day | Mayday 2011 in the East Midlands
In the run up to this year’s May Day event, a petition signed by over 100 people, requesting that the invitation to Richard Buckwell be withdrawn was handed to Notts Trades Council. “Richard B” had signed a statement in support of his party, the Socialist Workers Party’s Central Committee’s handling of rape allegations against a senior party figure by female members. According to those initiating the petition, Buckwell had supported “the assessment of a rape claim by a young female party member against a seasoned male party leader through a disciplinary committee laced with the accused’s close friends, the complete silencing of the voice of the accuser, and the labelling of mass party and community opposition to the proceedings as “unpolitical,” “feminist creep,” and seeking to set back the momentum of class struggle.”
Buckwell was one of those leading the May Day march, holding the Trades Council banner, and was given a platform at the rally. This resulted in “boos and walkings-off when ‘Richard B’ came forward to speak”. This led one participant to conclude:
“As for the Nottingham and Mansfield Trades Union Council, they appear to believe in unity at all costs. This is precisely the problem of a (still) male-dominated trade union movement that cannot allow a sliver of dissent and will happily side-line concerns from the wider activist community about a very serious gender issue – which means that a place we may wish to act can no longer be considered a ‘safe space’.”
In the run up to this year’s event, discontent over the Trades Council’s handling of last year’s was still evident. A private statement to last year’s keynote speaker, Sir Alan Meale, was leaked on Indymedia. According to the poster this was evidence of the Trades Council “toadying up to Meale and the Labour party whilst slandering those who protested as anti-trade union.”
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afew links& the need for rape kits-basic training in UK hospitals
Published: May 11, 2013 18:16
by
"Green Syndicalist","Absolutely No Leninist dicktatorship supporter, but a fan of Groucho"
The UK's largest forensic company shutdown as unprofitable in 2010& leading foresensic experts called privatisation a omnishamble, there are still procedures in practice though that make it worthwhile.
A rape kit except for blood sampling does not seem complicated& if done by a registered doctor& witnessed by a independent female witness of some standing, evidence should stand up in court.
Even better,in the US, rape kits& trained nurses are available in hospitals, it seems we have never had this in the UK, this sounds like a vgood idea.Rape kits are simple,the trainings more subtle, each hospital in a city could get away with about 3 trained nurses who could easily be nurses already working in a GUM-STD clinic, who have all the basic tools necessary& are already trained in much of the procedures. It seems no counties-countries in the UK have these kits already?, they would obviously be easier for many to use& would be good for all,except rapists proper.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/ranks-of-the-socialist-workers-party-are-split-over-handling-of-rape-allegation-8448429.html%20%20%20http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/mar/22/swp-cover-up-rape-complaint www.counterfire.org/index.php/articles/analysis/16241-the-crisis-in-the-socialist-workers-party-and-the-future-of-the-left
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rape_kit%20%20%20 http://www.rainn.org/get-information/sexual-assault-recovery/rape-kithttp://www.cps.gov.uk/legal/p_to_r/rape_and_sexual_offences/forensic_scientific_and_medical_evidence/
http://www.stratfordbeaconherald.com/2013/03/23/petition-demands-rape-kits-at-stratford-general-hospital
ex SWP, counterfire view
Published: May 13, 2013 13:09
by
Absolutely No Leninist dicktatorship supporter, but a fan of Groucho
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At least this got a hearing at the SWP central mtg, are we so perfect?
in some radical groups& friends groups with most of society including anarcho's if a popular person- "leader" was accused of this it often only would have been discussed if possible by a select few socially& it wouldnt have even been mentioned at mtgs etc.Some excuse or other would be used& the member would have been quietly ejected via Kangaroo court& shunned& or physically punished.
SWP needs commending for at least trying to do half of it in a better way!,BUT not the way they then dealt with it, the girl should have had far more support& been taken for forensic testing to prove it to any doubters, but like group who regularly stand upto systematic corruption its not suprising she didn't or was persuaded not too. I know similar things happen within other parts of the activist community, is the wider community& activists so perfect???.
In situs like this with known activists I would immediately advise any woman& occassionally man raped to get forensic evidence etc with the support of rape crisis&good friends, preferably also keeping a sample of dna from fingernails& or semen taken within witness of a doctor etc . As for this situ with the SWP if I was them I would call in a independent rape council, give both parties questions& have them assessed with lie detectors. Is it being completely hushed up& or having judge, jury& executor deal with it in the back of a pub etc is not a good solution??