Hands off Cuba

HUNDREDS of people gathered at Maritime House in south London earlier this month for the second annual garden party fund raiser for medical aid for Cuba. Party goers danced to great live salsa music from Omar Puente and heard speeches from a host of labour movement activists and Cuban representatives. Speakers highlighted the need for international solidarity with Cuba and to build the fight against imperialist war, racism and fascism. Bob Crow welcomed guests and said that Cuba was a proud example of a multi-racial nation that had always answered the call for international solidarity, despite being under constant blockade from the heartland of imperialism, the United States, just 90 miles away. “I had the honour of being in Revolution Square in Havana, alongside other RMT activists and British trade unionists this year in a crowd of well over a million, celebrating May Day as no other nation can,” he said. He said that the solidarity and comradeship of that day were inspiring, and provided a stark contrast to some of the worst aspects of politics in today’s Britain. 20 A memorial to members of this union and its forerunners who fought fascism in Spain from 1936 to ’39 was unveiled by Spanish anti-fascist war veterans Jack Jones and Bob Doyle. Jack said that the plaque served as a timely reminder that the labour movement must close ranks against the threat of fascism today. “The far right in Britain is attempting to gain ground on the back of popular discontent and we must learn the lesson of Spain,” he said. Honouring anti-fascist volunteers Hands off cuba TOP RIGHT: RMT president Tony Donaghey, Tony Benn, John McDonnell MP LEFT TO RIGHT: Morning Star editor John Haylett, SSP convenor Tommy Sheridan, anti-fascist veterans Bob Doyle and Jack Jones, Bob Crow with Cuban MP and film maker Sergio Corrieri and Tony Benn, Bob Crow, revellers enjoying the sounds of the eight piece salsa band Omar Puente