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Stop the Leave campaign’s racist, xenophobic attack
No to Fortress Britain! No to Fortress Europe!
• StoptheracistscapegoatingofimmigrantsandMuslimsfortheeffectsofgovernmentpolicies
• Buildtheimmigrant&youth-ledmovementfortherightsofimmigrantsandrefugees
• OpenthebordersofBritain&Europetoimmigrantsandrefugees!Stoptheimperialistwar-driveintheMiddleEast.
• EqualcitizenshiprightsandfreedomofmovementFORALLwholive,work&studyinBritainandEurope.Amnestynowforallimmigrantsandasylumseekers.
• Jointhemovementforcivil&immigrantrightswithmassactionagainstausterity,poverty&inequality–Forfree,publiceducationandhealthcareFORALL–Foraneconomicpolicytomeettheneedsofthepoor,oppressed,workingclassandstrugglingmiddleclasspeopleofallraces&nationalities–NationalisetheBanks
ThecampaignforBritaintoLeavetheEuropeanUnionisdrivenbyracistimmigrant-bashing.Inrealitythatisitsonlypolicy.Thereferendumon23rdJuneishappeningbecausepoliticiansofallthemainparties,especiallytheConservativeswiththeirrebelliouschildUKIP,havecreatedorcondonedacycleofracistrhetoricandpolicythatblamesimmigrantsfortherisinglevelsofinsecurity,povertyandinequalitythathaveresultedfromthepoliciesofsuccessivegovernments.Itisalogicalextensionofthosepoliciesinthecontextofrisingeconomicandpoliticaluncertainty,reflectedintheconflictswithintheConservativeParty.TheimpactofaLeavevictorywouldinevitablyhaveanegativeimpactonthepoliticalclimateandpolicymakinginBritain,strengtheningtheracistscapegoatingofimmigrantsandthedemonisationoftheMuslimcommunity,andcreatingfurtherhardshipsforrefugeesandimmigrants.TheassassinationofLabourMPJoCoxisanindicationofhowaLeavevictorywouldemboldenthemostviolentelementsoffar-rightracism.
TheMovementforJustice(MFJ)condemnstheracismandxenophobiaoftheLeavecampaign.TheMFJiscommittedtobuildingamovementthatdefendstherightsofimmigrantsandrefugeesasequalmembersofsocietyandfightsthedivide-and-ruleimmigrant-bashingpoliciesoftherichandpowerful.MostofusintheMFJareasylumseekersandrefugeeswhoescapedpersecutioninAfricaandAsiaandarenowleadersinthestruggleforfreedom,equalityandjusticeinBritain.
Wearebuildingamassmovementagainsttheracism,immigrant-bashingandanti-Muslimbigotrythatarethemostimportantweaponsoftherichandpowerful,andweknowwecaninspireandleadmassstrugglesagainstpovertyand‘austerity.’Ourmovementinsideandoutsidedetentionhaswonaseriesofvictoriesagainstthatinhuman,racistsystembecausewespeakthetruthaboutracismandbecauserefugees,asylumseekersandpastandpresentdetaineesareleadersattheheartofthestruggle.
EveryonewhohastakenpartintheMFJ’sSurroundYarl’sWooddemonstrationshasexperiencedthedynamicpoweroftheoppressedwhenweorganiseincollectiveaction,andknowsthatwecanshutdowndetentionandwinmuchmore.
ItisnosurprisetousthatthestrongestsupportfortheRemaincampaigncomesfromBritain’sblack,AsianandMuslimcommunitiesthataredirectlythreatenedbytheimpactofaLeavevictory,fromtheyouthwhowantafutureofprogressandhope,notanugly,backward-lookingandimpoverishedFortressBritain,andfromLondon,themostmulticulturalandintegratedcityinEurope–togetherwithScotland,where8%oftheUK’spopulationhavewelcomedathirdoftheSyrianrefugeesallowedintothecountry.
ManyofthosevotingforRemainhavesupportedtheMFJandcontributedtogrowingstrength:youhavebeenwithusonourdemonstrationswiththedetaineesinHarmondsworth/ColnbrookandYarl’sWooddetentioncentres,thathavebeenthefocusofthegrowingmovementagainstdetentionoverthepasttwoyears;youhavemarchedwithusondemonstrationsinsolidaritywithrefugees,forfreepubliceducation,againstausterityandwar,oronPeckhamCommunityPrideinFebruary;youhavebombardedairlineswitchboardsandgonetoHeathrowtostopdeportations;youhaveattendedourpublichearingstoputdetentionontrialandorganisedmeetingsforusorcontributedtoourfundraising,youhaveheardusspeakatyourcolleges,universitiesandconferences.YouwillbewithusontheImmigrantRightsBlocatLondonPridetwodaysafterthereferendumandonthenextSurroundYarl’sWoodon10thSeptember.
InrealityyouwillbecastingyourvoteagainstLeave,ratherthanforaRemaincampaignthatleavesmostpeoplefeelingconfused,baffledorindifferentandoffersonlyacontinuationofanuninspiringstatusquo.NorisitavoteforEUinstitutionsthathaveestablishedthesupra-nationalFrontexborderforce,
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thatareclosingbordersandcondemningimmigrantsandrefugeestodrownintheMediterraneanorliveindestitutioniftheyreachanEUcountry.Itisnotavotefortheeconomicpoliciesthathavedevastatedthejobs,livingstandardsandpublicservicesoftheGreekpeopleandimposedmassunemploymentontheyouthofSpainandPortugal.
Inrealitytherewillbeananti-racistvoteforRemain(whichcouldwellbedecisive)becausethosevoterswanttodosomethingaboutthethreatposedbytheLeavecampaignandcan’tseewhatelsetodointhecircumstances,becausethemovementisnotyetbigenoughandpowerfulenough–inrealitybecausetheMovementforJusticeisnotyetpowerfulenough.Thatiswhathastochange.
Our movement, our future
ThechallengeandopportunityforeveryonewhoisvotingforRemaintopreventavictoryfortheracismoftheLeavecampaignistojoinandbuildtheMovementforJustice.TheneedforMFJtogrowwillbemoreurgentafterthereferendum,regardlessoftheoutcome,andwewillfacenewchallengesandopportunities.Wehavetobuildandorganisethegrowingcommunityactionagainstimmigrationraidsandextendittomaketheover-reachingpowersinthenewImmigrationActunworkable.
WehavearealopportunitytostoptheHomeOfficebringinginanewformoftheunlawfulFastTracksystem;thefighttobringbackdeportedMFJfighterProssyNfromUgandaisanintegralpartofthatstruggle.Wehavetheopportunity
tobuildthefightamongstudentstodisruptanddefeattheGovernment’santi-MuslimPreventprogrammeinschools,collegesanduniversitiesfollowingthedramaticvictoryofAlgerianrefugeeMaliaBouattiaasthefirstblackwomanandfirstMuslimpresidentoftheNationalUnionofStudents(NUS).WehavegrowingopportunitiestolinkthefightforimmigrantandrefugeerightsandforLGBTequality,shownbythesuccessofPeckhamPride.
Moreover,weknowtheracistscapegoatingofimmigrantswillcontinuebecausetheGovernment(onbothsidesofthereferendumdispute)iscommittedtofurtherausteritymeasures,andbecauseoftheprecariousstateoftheglobaleconomy.BuildingtheMovementforJusticeisthefightforourfuture,andbuildingtheleadershipofimmigrantsandrefugeesinourmovementwillbethekeytoourgrowth.
ImmigrantsandrefugeesarethestrongestandmostdeterminedfightersforfreedomandequalityinBritainandEuropebecauseofthestrugglestheyhavefacedtogethereandthestrugglestheyfaceoncetheyarehere.TheproblemforrefugeesandimmigrantswhohavesuccessfullyopenedthebordersintoBritainandtheEUisthattheyaregenerallydispersedandalwaysinagrindingdailystrugglewithracistlawsandinstitutions.Inthatsituationtheyhavetorelyoncharitableorganisationsthatinturnrelyonthepowers-that-beinonewayoranother,andonlyseerefugeesasvictimsdeservingofsympathy.Immigrantsandrefugeesneedamovementthatistheirown–amovementinwhichtheyareleaders,organisingtofightanunjust,racistsystem,andwheretheycanbuildtheirownrelationshipwiththepoorandoppressedandprogressiveforcesinthesocietiestheyarelivingin.BuildingthatmovementandleadershipisthestrategyoftheMFJandthebasisoftheimpactwearehavingandeveryvictorywehavewon.
TheMFJisfighting,basedofthecollectivestrengthofthepoorandoppressed,
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withoutillusionsintheestablishedpoliticalandlegalsystemsbutreadytoexploititscontradictions.Wespeakthetruthaboutracismbecausetheoppressedmustovercometime-wornprejudicesinordertodefeattheausteritypoliciesoftherichandpowerfulandfightforequalityandfreedom.WefightByAnyMeansNecessarybecausetheexploitedandoppressedmustdeterminewhatitwilltaketowin;wedon’tletthepowers-that-betelluswhatmethodsare‘acceptable.’
WecanjointhismovementtothestruggleagainstpovertyandausteritybecausethefightbyimmigrantsandrefugeestoexposeandovercomeracistscapegoatingpoliciesiscentralandnecessarytobuildingtheintegratedmassactionthatcanstoptheGovernment’sausteritypolicies,restoreandexpandpublicservicesandwinfreepubliceducation.Thestrength,victoriesandhonestyofourmovementcaninspiremillions,showingawaytowinandprovidingrealleadership.
Noneofthiswillhappenspontaneously.Consciousness,organisationandleadershipareessentialforamovementthatcanwin.ImmigrantsandrefugeeswhoareupagainstthesharpendofBritishandEUracismeverydayoftheirlivescan’taffordtoindulgeinthefrivolousluxuryof‘spontaneous,’unorganised,leaderlessstruggle.Spontaneouslywealwaysenduprelyingontheestablishedsystemandinstitutionsinsomewayorother,
simplybecausethosearetheprevailingideas.ThatishowtheheroicspontaneousstrugglesoftheGreekworkingclassandyouthledtotheelectionofagovernment
that,despiteitspromises,endedupcarryingoutevenbiggercuts.ThatiswhytheMFJiscommittedtodevelopconsciousnessandbuildorganisationandleadership.JointheMovementforJusticeNow.
Open the borders
TheMFJcallsforOpentheBordersbecauseitiswhathundredsofthousandsofrefugeesandimmigrantsaredoingeveryday,fromtheAegeanSeatoCalais,inordertosolverealandpressingissuesintheirlives.Theirpracticalactionhasplacedthisdemandfirmlyonthepoliticalagendaforallanti-racistandimmigrantrightsmovementsacrossEuropeandallprogressivestruggles,includingthelabourmovement.ThemassmovementofpeoplewhoarebattlingeveryobstacletoopenthebordersofEuropeisassertinginpracticethehumananddemocraticrightsthatBritain,theEUandthe‘West’havebeendeclaringinwordsfortwocenturies:‘Liberty,EqualityandFraternity’;‘Life,LibertyandthePursuitofHappiness’;therightofasylum;therightsofthechild;therightsofwomenetc.
Inresponse,amovementhassprungupinEuropetoputthosevaluesintopractice.PeoplelivingonGreekislandsandinItaliancoastaltownsaredefyingthreatsofarrestandprisonbyrescuingrefugeesfromtheseaandhelpingthemtosafety.InsouthernItalypeoplearedefyingtheauthoritiesbyprovidingmaterialsupporttorefugeeswhohavebeengivenpapersorderingthemtoleavethecountry.IntheSiciliancapital,Palermo,lastweekend’sLGBTPridemarchwasdeclaredamarchinsupportofmigrants.IncentralEuropeandelsewherepeoplehavebeenputtingrefugeesincarstogetthemacrossborders.Alltheseactionsareopeningtheborderstoo.AndacrossEuropelargedemonstrationshavesupportedthestruggleofimmigrantsandrefugeesandchallengedtheracistpoliciesoftheEUanditsmembergovernments.
Europe’sgovernmentshaveanoppositeresponsetoimmigrantswhoescapethe
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unendingwarfarecreatedbywesterninterventionsintheMiddleEastandthepovertyandsocialconflictcausedbywestern‘freemarket’exploitationofAfrica:theyclosetheborders,buildmorefences,condemnthousandstodrownintheMediterranean,andincreasetheirracistrhetoric.
OpentheBordersistheonlyrational,progressiveandrealisticpolicyforaworldwhosepeopleandcountriesaresoincreasinglyinter-connectedthroughfreemovementofgoods,services,andmoneyandthroughhighlydevelopedcommunicationsandtransport,andwheresocietiesareincreasinglyconnectedbypersonalrelationshipsthroughthelargeandrapidlygrowingnumberofinternationalandintercontinentalfamiliesthatinsomecitiesarecomingclosetoamajority.Andwhenthisinter-connectedworldisatthesametimesogrosslyunequal,itisinhumananddestructivetodenyfreedomofmovementtothemillionsofpeoplewhomustmovetosurvive.
OurmovementfightsforOpenBordersbecausethealternativeistyrannyandbarbarism.
Europe in crisis, Britain in crisis
InrealitythatisthechoiceforEuropeasitfacesitsbiggestanddeepestcrisissinceWorldWarTwo.Thisisnota‘migrantcrisis’asthemediakeepcallingit-thereisaprofoundcrisisintherelationshipbetweenEuropeanditsnearneighbours,thecountriesoftheMiddleEastandAfrica,thatispartoftheglobalcrisisthatEuropeisfacing.Itisthecrisisofaneconomicsystemthatcan’tmeettheneedsofhumanity,orcreateamoreequalandprosperousworld,becauseitsonlygoalistomaximisetheprofitsofasmallminority.Thegreedofthecapitalistswhodominatetheworldeconomycreatedthebankingcollapsein2008,andtheycan’tfindanywayoutofthelongdepressionthatfollowed.Thatisleadingtodangerousinternationalconflictsandtomoredamagingattacksontheworkingclassandthepoorineverycountry.
TheMFJseesnothingprogressiveintheEU.Itisanimperialistclub,setuptoprotecttheinterestsoftherulingclassesofwestEuropeancountriesbyintegratingtheireconomiesmoreclosely.ThoseinterestsincludeexploitingpoorcountriesandformercoloniesinAfrica,Asiaetc.,andsincethe1980stheEUhasexpandedtoincludeandexploititspoorerneighboursineasternandsouthernEurope.NowthecrisisinglobalcapitalisteconomyhasbroughtthisEUprojecttoajudderinghaltandsentitintoreverse.ThecountriesandregionsofEuropearepullingapartandfallingout–buttheyarealsofarlessabletoprosperseparately.
NeithertheEUnoracapitalistBritainoutsidetheEUofferanysolutionorhopetothepoorandoppressed.BritainispartofthecrisisinEuropenotseparatefromit–whetheritleavestheEUorstaysin.Forthatreason,whilewerecognisethepositiveanti-racistandpro-immigrantreasonswhymanypeopleandmanyofoursupporterswillvoteforRemaintodefeatLeave,theMFJdoesnotendorsetheRemaincampaign.
Wecan’tpoliticallyendorsetheEUthatisthebailiffanddebtcollectorforthebanksholdingGreecetoransom,theinternationalenforcerofausterity,theparentofFrontexandmassdeporterofrefugees,andtheinstitutionthathasnegotiatedthenotoriousTrans-AtlanticTrade&InvestmentPartnership(TTIP)–arobbers’charterthatgivesgiantmonopolycorporationspowerovernationalgovernmentswhosepoliciesmightdamagetheirprofits.Toendorsethatwouldbeabetrayaloftherefugeeswhoareopeningthebordersandeveryanti-racistandanti-austeritystruggleinEurope.
WeshouldhavenoillusionsintherecordandroleoftheLabourPartyandtradeunionleadershipswithregardtotheEU.Theyhaveincreasinglyfalleninlinewiththedominantfreemarketsideologyofthecapitalistssincethe1980sandbeenamongthestrongestsupportersoftheEUonthatbasis.UnderBlairand
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BrowntheLabourPartyimplementedfreemarketpoliciesthatledtorisinglevelsofinequality,passedaseriesofracistimmigrationactsandintroducedFastTrack.SincethentheleadersofthelabourmovementhavetriedtopresenttheEUassomekindofcounter-weighttotheausteritypoliciesoftheTories–aludicrousstrategywhiletheEUwasimposingincreasinghardshiponGreece,Spain,Portugal,Irelandetc.(andreducingtherealwagesofGermanworkers).
AcrossEuropeLabour’ssisterparties,liketheSocial-DemocratsinGermany,theSocialistPartiesinFranceandSpainandPASOKinGreece,haveplayedthesamerole,asclosealliesanddefendersoftheEU’scapitalistestablishment.Theirgreatestpoliticalcrime,inBritainandEurope,hasbeentheirrefusaltoseriouslydefendtherightsofimmigrantsandrefugeesandtheiractivesupportfor‘FortressEurope’immigrationcontrols.
JeremyCorbynandJohnMcDonnellhavealongrecordofopposingthosepolicies,campaigningagainstimperialistwarsandsupportingrefugeesandimmigrants,whichiswhyCorbynwaselectedasLabourleaderlastyear.Inthereferendumcampaign,however,theyaretryingtoputatotallyunconvincing‘left’glossontheRemaincampaign.FarworsethoughisLabour’sabjectandnear-totalrefusaltospeakthetruthaboutracismandanti-immigrantprejudiceandcomeoutfightingagainstthescapegoatingofimmigrants,oreventocallforanamnestyforthethousandsofimmigrantslivinginlimbo,withoutrightsorstatus,foryearsordecades.Thisisadisgracefulbetrayaloftheblack,Asian,MuslimandimmigrantcommunitiesthathavebeenamongLabour’sstrongestsupporters–and it is a betrayal of poor and working class white communities.
Labourhaseffectivelywrittenoffpoorwhitepeopleforpurposesofthereferendumcampaign.Inmanyareasitisavoidingsuchneighbourhoodsaltogether.Labour’sproblemisthatitcan’tfightthescapegoatingofimmigrantsaslongas
itacceptstheargumentthatthereisnoalternativetotheeconomicpoliciesthathavedevastatedsomanyworkingclasscommunities.EssentiallyLabourandthesocial-democratsandliberals(andjustabouteveryjournalist)acrossEuropeallbelievethatthebasisofracismliesintheprejudicesofthe‘whiteworkingclass.’Infacttheracismoftherulingclassisfarstrongerandmoreprofoundbecauseitisrootedinandservestheirrealmaterialinterests.Racisminpoorandworkingclasscommunitiesisshapedbylivingintherace-and-classdividedsocietyofanimperialistpower,butitisnotasstrongasthepoliticiansandmediakeeptellingus.
ThedecisionforCorbyn,McDonnellandtheirMomentumcampaigniswhethertoremainprisonersoftheLabourMPsandbureaucratswhoaredeterminedtodestroythem,evenatthecostoffurtherdefeatsfortheirownparty,ortojoininbuildingthemovementofmassactionagainstracismandausterity,inBritainandacrossEurope.
MFJwillfightforthelabourmovement,especiallyforthetradeunions,tobepartofthemovementwearebuilding–becausethisisalifeanddeathquestionforthelabourmovement.TherewillonlybeaseriousandpowerfulresurgenceofmassworkingclassstruggleinEuropeifimmigrants,refugeesandmigrantworkersarealeadingpartofitandiftheyareabletobreaktheunionsfromtheircollusion(includingcollusionbysilence)withtheraciststereotypingofimmigrants.
TothatendtheMFJhastobuildarelationshipwiththestrugglesofimmigrants,refugees,thepoor,oppressedandexploitedacrossEurope,unitedagainstallourrulingclasses.Wehavethesamefightagainstracism,austerityandrepressionandthemovementforimmigrantandrefugeerightsisthedecisiveissueeverywhere.Strugglesaregrowingacrossthecontinent.Wehavetobuildthatinternationalmovementregardlessoftheoutcomeofthereferendum.
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What we are fighting for
MFJisfightingforequalcitizenshiprightsandfreedomofmovementforeveryonewholives,worksandstudiesinBritain&Europe,whateverournationalorigin,andtoendthe‘allocation’anddispersalofrefugeestoparticularcountries,townsetc.
WefighttoendtheunequalrelationshipbetweentheBritish&EuropeanimperialistsandthepoorcountriesofAfrica,theMiddleEastandsouthern&easternEurope.NomoreimperialistwarsintheMiddleEast;endsupportforIsraelandreactionaryArabregimeslikeSaudiArabia.CancelthedebtsofAfricanandotherpoornations,includingthedebtsofGreeceandotherpoorcountriesinEurope.
Immigrationdetentionmustbeended.Itisanattackthehumanrightsofthosedetainedandonallourhumanrights;itisanattackontheimmigrant,blackandAsian communities and an attackon theworkingbydividing it from themostdynamicanddeterminedforcesthatcanleadthestruggleagainstausterity.Itwilltakeuprisingsindetentioncentresandcommunitiestoshutdownthedetentionsystemforgood,enddeportationsandenabledetaineestobuildtheirlivesinthecommunity.
Immigrant-bashing politicians - in a time of economic and political crisis andintheabsenceofastrongenoughmassmovementofthepoorandoppressed-inevitablyencouragethegrowthoffar-rightandfascistgroups.ThisishappeninginmanypartsoftheEUandwehaveawarningofhowthatcanhappeninBritainfromthefascistterroristwhodeclared“DeathtoTraitors,FreedomforBritain”afterassassinatingJoCox,aprominentfigureinRemainandwell-knowncampaignerforSyrianrefugees.Ourmovementhastobuildintegratedmassactiontodefendourcommunitiesfromthefascistanddrivethemoffourstreets.
Wemustbuildintegrated,collectiveactionbystudents,teachersandcommunitiestostopallformsofrepressionanddiscriminationineducation.Stopthesurveillanceanddeportationof international students. Shut down theBritish government’sPreventstrategy–state repressionandwitch-huntingofMuslimstudents fromnursery to university. Overturn the ban on the Hijab in schools in France andelsewhereinEurope.
Education, Healthcare, housing and welfare for all who need it are rights notprivileges.Buildamovementtodefend,extendandfundtheseservices,reversing
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privatisationandcuts,includingthebenefitcuts.Free,qualitypubliceducation,healthcareandwelfareservicesFORALL,regardlessofnationalorigin.
Wewillbuildcollectiveactiontofighttheinsecurity&povertyofgrowingnumbersof people of all races across Britain and Europe. Build community action andoccupationstostopevictionsanddefendsocialhousingandcommunityfacilities(hospitals, nurseries etc.). Organise demonstrations, pickets and strikes againstbenefitcuts.Buildworker/communityaction(occupations,strikesetc.)todefendthreatened jobs. Fight for publichousebuildingat affordable rents andpublicinvestmentinpoliciestomeettheneedsofthepoor&oppressedandcreatejobs&training.
Thepowers-that-bewilltellusthat‘there’snomoney.’Thatisalie.Therichandpowerfularesittingonhugeandgrowingsumsofmoneythatarenotbeingusedforproductiveinvestmentbecauseoftheeconomiccrisistheycreated.TocarryoutourdemandsitwillbeessentialforthepoorandoppressedtogetcontrolofthatmoneyandplanforthefuturebyNationalisingtheBanks.
TheMFJwill supportanypoliticianororganisation thatfights foranyof thesedemands,butweknowthatnoneofthedemandswillbewonbypersuadingtherichandpowerful, butby thepowerof amovement thathasestablisheddeeprootsinourcommunitiesandbecomeirresistible.AndwhenwearewinningthesestrugglesinBritainoranywhereelseinEuropewewillcomeintodirectconflictwiththeEuropeanUnion,becauseitisanimperialistclub.Thenwewillneedtobreak itup in order to create a different kind of European union altogether – a Europe of and for the poor, the oppressed and the workers of all races and national origins, with Open Borders, building a relationship of equality and co-operation with our oppressed and exploited brothers and sisters in Africa, the Middle East, eastern Europe and beyond.
Fight to Win! – Join the Movement for Justice By Any Means Necessary!
CONTACT: [email protected] 302 263
facebook.com/movementforjustice@followmfj
Thisstatementisendorsedby:CoalitiontoDefendAffirmativeAction,Integration&ImmigrantRightsandFightforEqualityByAnyMeansNecessary(BAMN,US),RevolutionaryInternationalistLeague(UK),RevolutionaryWorkersLeague(US)
&TheInternationalTrotskyistCommittee