In a statement regarding the uprising that followed the murder by police of George Floyd in the USA Şükran Doğan, the Deputy Chair of the Labour Party (EMEP), said “In solidarity, we salute the struggle of the American people against racism and inequality.”
Reminding us that abuse, attacks and murder by police of black workers is not uncommon in the United States, Doğan said “black people are perceived as ‘criminals’ by default, treated as second class citizens and are held responsible for everything that is wrong in society. Racism, despite becoming illegal in the 19th century, is still a painful part of daily life for black and other migrant communities. The ruling classes in the USA try to divide and rule people along race, religion, nationality and try to pit them against each other.”
Observing that the Covid-19 pandemic exposed deep inequality in the ‘land of opportunity’ more clearly, Doğan said:
“In the country, where herd immunity was most mercilessly exercised, and the consequences felt by workers most deeply due to collapse of social and health services, the pandemic has been a catastrophe for the people but reaction and anger has also reached a peak. George Floyd was killed in tehse circumstances and shouting ‘I can’t breathe’ the American people went out on to the streets against racism, inequality, unemployment and poverty. The anger and the protests of the American people is spreading to the rest of the world. Workers are out on the streets also in Britain, Germany and France.”
Reminding us that in the autumn of 2019 peoples’ movements of 2011 were rekindling but were halted by the pandemic, Doğan went on to say “American workers’ actions simultaneously affect workers in other countries; it gives them confidence. Workers around the world will not remain silent. They resist capitalist tyranny, police oppression and dictatorships in any way that they can. They fill the squares and turn off the power all around the globe.”
Stressing that they stand with the people standing up against tyranny, Doğan said: “the rage is aimed at the imperialist-capitalist system. Alongside our worker friends around the world, we salute this movement. We know that the solidarity of peoples and the unity and struggle of workers will defeat racism and fascism. In solidarity, we salute the struggle of the American people against racism and inequality.” (EVRENSEL DAILY)
Bülent Falakaoğlu
Hakkı Özdal
