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Class Action's Blog Page The views expressed in this blog page are the views of individual bloggers. They are not neccessarily the views of Class Actions. 4th January 2011 - Alabama Rising - An Anti-Racism Poem. Happy new year to all our comrades and supporters. The first blog entry this year, is a poem I wrote back in 2008 called 'Alabama Rising'. The first four lines in Italics are from an old black slave song. Alabama Rising tells the story of how minorities and workers worldwide are mistreated (just like in our best known anti-racism track House Nigger No More). Alabama Rising takes inspiration from the iconic moment at the 1968 Olympic games when Tommie Smith and John Carlos, did their famous 'Black Power' salute in protest against racism. That salute is still just as relevant today as too many people who are oppressed for whatever reason subscribe to their oppressors ideology. Alabama Rising ultimately encourages oppressed people to rule their own destiny and reject the roles their oppressors have forced upon them. Two practical and recent examples of the oppressed rejecting their oppressors ideology are both the occupy movement and the strikes, more of the same please! I hope you enjoy the poem. Aslan AK Alabama Rising 'Our troubles will soon be over, I'm going to live with Jesus - after a while. Praying time will soon be over, I'm going home to live with Jesus – after a while.'
My mama's lullaby ringing in my ears, Eyes staring into oblivion but shedding no tears. Ritual by white ghosts of burning cross' over, As I gasp in eternal terror, time stops forever.
My troubles are over in God's eternity, Divided I stand tall in utter dignity, Praying time is over, long live liberty, Agony no more in my odyssey.
In the heaven of justice and equality, Shrouded by the tranquil beauty of transparency, I see no colours, no shapes nor a single imagery, Past, present, future merge, no more mystery.
Transatlantic network of evil charted industrial slavery, Powering the most brutal civilizing empires of history. Disbandment of slavery, retreat from colonies, All tactical manoeuvres, maximising economic gains.
The age of globalization, Neocons' new century, Surplus classes yearn for scraps of trickle-down economy. Ku Klux Klan's trees still growing ever green, Martin Luther King still lives with his dream.
Destruction of races, slavery still rampant, Generation of drug addicts, gangs and emptied mind, Boosted by the live vaccine of viral morality, All propagate the myth of western white supremacy.
No longer there, the slave- huts in plantations, Inhabitants now reside in ghettos and penitentiaries. Excel in what matters, iron curtains will glide, White-house-niggers prolong this historic divide.
You: the only guardian of freedom, justice and equality, Stand up and be counted, abandon your cultured naivety. There is no constitution, law, amendment, judge or charity, To convert the possibility of your dream into probability.
Society's rules designed for your exploitation, Judges and juries shine in their historic mission. Your goals are alien, values history's burden, You now live in fantasy worlds, devoid of reason.
The richness of English; strength of your oppressors, But an enigma to the surplus races and classes. As kidnapping becomes extra-ordinary rendition, State torture is legalized as coercive interrogation.
Civilian war casualties turn into collateral damage, Democracy suspends by hanging chads in cyber-age. Habeas corpus only exists for rich and mighty, Neocon's justice for you: guilty until proven guilty.
As the doctrine of shock and awe engulfs the Earth, You are not even fit as unemployed of any worth. Your mission; missionary soldier in far away places, Guarding the heritage of your forefathers' oppressors.
Faithful servitude rewards yellow ribbon distinction, Festering an undignified life with certain extinction. Slaughtering defenceless innocents brings no honour, But the survival of the richest who returns no favour.
Fooled not, freedom and dignity are never gifted, They are the sacred icons of eternal conflict, Paid in tortured lives, blood, tears and sweat, By the selfless oppressed and occasional brave convert.
Caring humility: the mark of true freedom, Clear this cruel selfish capital from God's kingdom. Don't be a conspirator when civilizations collide, Fight for your own freedom, not for genocide.
Deceived not by the spin of slanderous history, They are all crafted by the guardians of your misery. No single path for humanity, survival is diversity, Civilizations rise and fall, there is no eternity.
In the field of the burning cross where I was lynched, Now stands a granitic obelisk, weathered and caged, Emerging from the mother earth rich in skulls and bones, Shackled by rusty chains, engulfed by raging flames.
As it rises into the sky, like the ghost of dystopic ages, It is still the same block, but now free of spiked cages, Shattered chains free clenched fists, like Carlos and Smith, A fragile green globe crowns the vision of slaves' spirit.
Symbol of an all inclusive utopia in my new country, Humanity at peace, in Nature's new century, This monument may even be an epitaph to my mama, Rises from the ashes, Democratic Republic of Alabama. Rejoice the high of freedom and dignity, Shout it loud and clear in humilitious ecstasy: Divided we stand, no more tyranny, Praying time is over, rule your destiny.
Copyright Aslan AK 2008 ________________________________
26 August 2011: The night of Tuesday 9th August 2011 saw more than
2000 youths take to the streets in While a riot it is evident this is not just mindless thuggery and vandalism. As Peter, name has been changed to protect identity, told me "The killing of Mark Duggan is the latest in a string of police racism. It is institutionalised. We do not trust the police. We will not co-operate with the police." The same sentiment was emphasised by Ahmed who argued that "I have been stopped and searched many times tonight. I've been to my friends, and was only trying to get home. Now I'm staying put." It becomes apparent why so many had taken to the streets. Upon arriving at the scene I witnessed riot police moving people along, where about two hundred or so frustrated they were not being allowed the freedom to reassemble took their rage out on a Tesco store – similar events were repeated throughout the night with another Tesco being hit again elsewhere, Spar, and a burning Miss Selfridge amongst other businesses being hit by youth. Clearly the police had a plan already in place to instigate a response. On the other hand when some rioters attempted to smash up an Oxfam shop there was uproar, with many demanding it was not done. Undoubtedly this is because Oxfam as a charity is seen as the nice side of capitalism. Whilst all this was going on there was the odd chant of ‘No Justice, No Peace, Fuck the Police” but never really caught on. Echoes of ‘Fuck the Rich’ and ‘Fuck the Tories’ were heard all night but again were never widespread. This itself is recognition that working class youths are getting shafted while the Tories’ banking friends get away with murder by their bailouts. It was only later on in the night after the crowd reached 2000 and then started to dwindle that dogs and horses were sent in. No doubt to attempt initiate response and arrest people though none was seen first-hand, some however did bite at the bait and did ‘come on then’ motions the crowd largely did not have the confidence to take on an arm of the state, instead they gave the police the run around all night. What the riots do show is polarisation
in society, a growing number of working class youths are sick of a system
that favours the rich over the poor, the few over
the many. Moreover it also appears from the I suggest people read this alongside the statement the SWP released. There is also a doctored version of my report that discusses
the cuts in Author: Matt Hale,
Member of Socialist Worker’s Party ________________________________ 18 August 2011: The I have recently learnt that the newly opened Class Actions had the honour of Tony Mulhearn (one of the leading members of the 47) appearing on our track ‘Militant’ (our tribute to the 47). I was inspired to write lyrics about the 47, because I admired their courage and could see the parallels with the current public service cuts and those that Thatcher made. The 47 are as relevant as ever. It is essential that the 47 are featured in the Museum of Liverpool, to give visitors a taste of 1980’s Liverpool and more importantly, to recognise one of the bravest working class struggles of all time. Please contact the museum asking them to include the 47 here For more information on the Author: ________________________________ 10th August 2011: Here are some thoughts on the recent riots: Firstly, I do not condone the rioting or looting. I say this
after witnessing the riots first hand in Salford
and Secondly, I do understand the sheer frustration of people at the current situation in this country. A couple of girls who rioted in London explained to the BBC, how the rioters were showing the rich and police that they could do what they wanted and even went on to blame the Conservatives! Although I appreciate that a lot of the rioters were not directly politically driven, I do believe they were reacting to years of poverty and neglect made worse by the current Con-Dem cuts. The current cuts imposed on us by the Con-Dems are unnecessary and unacceptable. We should demand that the bankers be made to pay for their crisis and not have to suffer scenes like this again! In 2008 the banks, due to their own negligence received a
£500 Billion bailout which contributed to the current public service cuts. If
the bailout was necessary and inevitable then the bankers should have been
made to pay for it via a heavy ‘Robin Hood’ tax. Currently
ordinary people have been made to pay for something which wasn’t their
fault. The former has been acknowledged by Mervyn
King, Governor of the Bank of The attitude of the coalition to I hope something good comes out of these riots and this Government finally realises that when services and jobs are cut, unrest is inevitable. However with their current track record and support for the bankers, I certainly won’t be betting on it! As our track ‘Con-Dem Nation’ states this government has created a lost generation. Author: ________________________________ |
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