2020 has been a very tumultuous year in politics at a time when we have all had to change our behaviours as we interact with the world. Looking back at the struggles of the year, we’ve seen international outrage and solidarity following the brutal murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Walter Wallace Jr. and many others and, during the global pandemic, the Conservative Government favour has proven time and time again that the economy is valued higher than the science and the lives of our families and neighbours. However, these inequalities laid bare during the year have galvanised historically marginalised and underrepresented groups to take to the streets. The North Staffordshire Green Party has been proud to be present in the many acts of self-representation and civil disobedience taking place in Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme.
Black Lives Matter for Stoke have been a continual source of political inspiration for our party. Born in kinship with the movement in the USA and its goals to defund the police and bring justice for those that have lost their lives to institutional racism, BLM for Stoke began taking to the streets, in all weathers, to call for justice for BIPOC people living in Stoke and for our diversity to be celebrated and represented in local government. A racist agenda has been able to fester in Stoke City Council under the leadership of Abi Brown who has refused to remove Jackie Barnes and Melanie Baddely from their cabinet support positions despite their history of discriminatory behaviour against their own constituents. It has been with both sadness and anger that we stand with BLM for Stoke as they call for their removal from office. Racism has no place with our city. We wish you luck as you continue your efforts as SABLE: Staffordshire Association for Black Lives Equality.
The post The politicisation of the Covid crisis has had far reaching consequences for our local community. The COVID-19 Action Group Stoke on Trent and North Staffordshire joined countrywide protests highlighting the injustice of the decision by ministers to not fund free school meals over the October half-term holiday. On 31 October, NSGP were pleased to accompany protesters marching to Aaron Bell MP’s office in Newcastle-under-Lyme, speaking truth to power as we left messages of disgust on paper plates. Not long after, and with growing pressure from individuals such as Marcus Rashford, the government U-turned on the ill-advised policy: Powerful civil disobedience in action!
Reflecting on our successes of 2020, we are celebrating our position as the 3rd most popular party. Labour’s lurch to the right has made clear that we are the only party representing the left in parliament. Furthermore, we are the only party willing to express that we are unapologetically anti-apartheid. We stand in solidarity with Palestine, ethnic Kurds, and other indigenous groups facing violent oppression around the world. The Green Party has continued to build links with Palestine Solidarity groups, such as Sumud Palestine, to share their stories and bring about international justice.
Central to our political philosophy is increasing our awareness of the class struggles in our community by listening to the passionate groups that are engaged in holding our toxic systems of government to account. This way, we can mutually build a policy platform that reflects and addresses the needs of our community members that have historically been unheard. It is our hope that by attending protests and marches we can learn to be effective allies and build a local political party that will stand in 2021 to support and directly involve all of the voices in our constituency. When the systems of government don’t deliver: Take to the streets; the Green Party will be right behind you amplifying your voices.