Victory over fascism in Italy remembered

By New Worker
correspondent

Theo Russell speaking

Comrades from Greece, Italy, Spain and Britain came together at a meeting organised by the Communist Party (Italy)  last Saturday to remember the victory over fascism in Italy on 25^th April 1945, at London’s historic Marx Memorial Library in Clerkenwell Green.

Mikhail Monocholias, of the Greek communist KKE, said that in Greece the KKE had led the anti-fascist struggle, which became the greatest mass movement in the nation’s history. He recalled the many atrocities carried out by the Nazis, such as the extermination of the entire male population and the total destruction of the town of Kalavryta in which 700 civilians were executed.

He noted the recent rise of the fascist Golden Dawn in Greece, its links with the state’s forces of repression and criminal organisations, and said that neither the bourgeois state nor bourgeois anti-fascist groups could defeat fascism.

David Delgado, speaking on behalf of the Communist Party of the Peoples of Spain (PCPE), said that in Spain the fight against Franco turned into a mass democratic movement that united the working class.

He pointed out that the fascists had never actually been defeated in Spain, but had changed their organisation names and tactics. As a result, the anti-fascist struggle in Spain is still continuing.

Alain Fissore, of the Communist Party (Italy), said that the victory over fascism could not be celebrated in the same way as bourgeois parties, but in the spirit of the resistance, which fought for a better Italy free from social and economic exploitation.

He said capitalism is moving factories and jobs to more convenient countries to do business, destroying jobs, whilst across Europe the working class is under attack from employers. “Today’s resistance means attacking such a capitalist agenda by reinforcing the idea of a much-needed control of the workplace by workers, defending our jobs and getting rid of bosses who exploit the workers.”

Theo Russell delivered greetings on behalf of the New Communist Party of Britain (NCP), praising the active and dedicated support of CPI members in Britain for anti-fascist and other actions.

He said that the victory over fascism in the Second World War, led by the Soviet Union, in which millions participated around the world, had paved the way for major advances for national liberation movements in the struggles against colonialism and imperialism, and led to the emergence of new socialist countries that supported and protected the sovereignty of small developing nations.

The common message was that whilst the struggle against fascism continues today, the only guarantee of total victory would be by destroying capitalism itself.

Peace Now! US troops out of Korea!

By New Worker correspondent

Korean solidarity activists stood outside the new and heavily guarded American embassy in London last weekend calling for peace on the Korean peninsula and the withdrawal of all US troops from south Korea. Called by the Korean Friendship Association  (KFA), the picket was supported by New Communist Party members in London, including Theo Russell from the Central Committee, together with comrades from the Italian Communist Party and supporters of the British Posadist movement.

KFA Chair Dermot Hudson took the mike to call for the scrapping of the provocative military exercises that US imperialism intends to hold in south Korea next month, which, he said, were “an unwarranted challenge to the developing peace process on the Korean peninsula.”

This was the first KFA picket outside the new US embassy in Vauxhall. It certainly won’t be the last!

Support the Ukrainian anti-fascist resistance!

NCP leader on the picket line

by New Worker correspondent

Members of the New Communist Party joined other demonstrators in London’s Whitehall on Saturday to show solidarity with Ukrainian anti-fascists and hear warnings from campaigners in the United States that Washington is preparing to provide $500 million in military aid to the Ukrainian regime, including so-called “defensive lethal assistance”.

NCP leader Andy Brooks joined British and Italian comrades at the protest picket opposite Downing Street called by the NCP and Socialist Fight with the support of the Solidarity with the Anti-Fascist Resistance in Ukraine (SARU) campaign. Gerry Downing of Socialist Fight took the mike last Saturday, along with NCP comrades Theo Russell and Dermot Hudson, whilst others gave out leaflets and argued the case with those who wanted to know more about the problem.

Messages were read out from international campaigners including Dmytriy Kovalevich, a Ukrainian antifascist in exile, and Phil Wilayto, coordinator of the Odessa Solidarity Campaign based in Richmond, Virginia.

Dmytriy Kovalevich said that: “The Kiev government mercilessly suppresses the left and antifascist forces inside Ukraine, while our army and fascist volunteers daily shell the defiant miners’ cities of Donbas region – punishing them for the resistance against Nazis and neoliberal policies imposed by IMF [International Monetary Fund].

“Once, British soldiers and antifascists fought against Nazis, now the British government supports a regime that promotes outright Nazis, justifying their violence. Every single day the civilians and antifascist fighters die in result.”

Phil Wilayto sent greetings “to the sisters and brothers gathered today at Downing Street to demand an end to British military aid to Kiev and the war in Donbas,” and warned that Washington was preparing to provide $500 million in military aid to Ukraine including so-called “defensive lethal assistance”.

He said “It is very, very encouraging to see this level of awareness and determination displayed by our comrades in London. Similar protests have taken place here in the United States, but I’m afraid they have been few and far between.”

‘Seize the day’ McDonnell tells May Day Rally

On the march!

by New Worker correspondent

THOUSANDS of trade unionists, socialists, communists and members of Turkish, Kurdish, Iranian, Iraqi, Indian, Pakistani and other communities living in London last Monday gathered in Clerkenwell Green outside Marx House for the start of the annual May Day march to Trafalgar Square.

The New Communist Party, with its banner, was on the march along with our comrades from the Italian Partido Communista and the Greek KKE communist party as well as the Irish Connolly Association.

It was a colourful march with several bands and many families with children, along with pensioners, students and all sorts.

And there could be no doubt that these May Day marchers were all in full support for Labour, led by Jeremy Corbyn, to win the 8^th June general election. In the past, with Blair, Brown and Miliband as Labour leaders, arguing for support for Labour has been an uphill task but not now.

The millions of workers of Britain suffering under the oppressive Tory austerity regime have very good reason to vote now that Labour has a leader who opposes austerity.

In Trafalgar Square John McDonnell, the Shadow Chancellor, told the crowd: “There are those in the Tory press who will wish to paint this gathering in a negative light, but this rally on a day like today is really about the positive contribution many hard-working people in our country make. And how we can protect them, for the future of our country depends upon it…

“Today’s May Day rally must be remembered for its purpose – to focus all our minds on removing a Tory Government. And it falls on each and every one of us to be upbeat and take that peaceful positive vision of a Britain reborn on the 8^th of June to each and every doorstep over the next few weeks. But it is not protest alone that changes these things. Changing government policy is the ultimate aim. And changing this Government in its entirety is our ultimate goal right now.

“Yesterday, I announced Labour’s 20 point plan to transform our workplaces from the shop-floor right up to the boardroom. Today, Jeremy Corbyn announced Labour’s plans to reform the housing market, to give renters the protections they desperately need.

New Worker seller and Italian communists

“But we can only achieve those goals if all of us here today take this passion out into the communities in our country, win the arguments on the doorsteps, and in our family and friendship groups, to get a Labour Government elected next month. Today may be the 1^st May, but let’s make 8^th June the last day of Theresa May and her Tory Government.

And it is vital we do this. As this is a Tory Government that has presided over a country in which our nurses have to rely on foodbanks, yes that’s right. Nurses, the heroes of our NHS. Abandoned by this Government. And all this Tory Prime Minister can say about it is there are ‘complex’ reasons. It just shows how out of touch and how little she and her party really care about the problems facing hard-working people in our country.

“The reasons why people use foodbanks are not complex – they use them because they are hungry and cannot afford to feed themselves. And many of them are in that position because of seven wasted years of Tory economic failure.

“That’s why we need a Labour Government that will stand up for the many, and not the few…

 “This will be the biggest political battle we have ever known. But remember we are fighting for the future of our country. The choice is a Tory future in which nurses use foodbanks, and millions live in poverty and low pay. Or a Labour future for the many, with a high wage, high skill, fair economy of the future. Put simply, it is a choice between a Labour Government that stands up for the interests of the many in our country, not a Tory Government that only stands up for a rich few.

“This is our opportunity, brothers and sisters. Some of us have worked for this all our lives, so the message is this; yes, carpe diem – seize the moment.

“This is our chance – take it, brothers and sisters. Solidarity.”