What's the Spartacist League up to these days?
- Thread starter Idris2002
- Start date
Idris2002
Christmas Eve, you know?
I thought they were just a private eye invention
I actually don't know if the PE 'Dave Spart' character was inspired by our Chicago friends - though Paul Foot would surely have been aware of their unique perspective on things.
Can anyone out there shed more light on this fascinating question?
Idris2002
Christmas Eve, you know?
Let's hope so, we don't want just anyone joining the movement.
Nigel
For A Degenerates' Workers State
Didn't they have a meeting in Fleet Street recently as commemoration !
belboid
Exasperated, not angry.
Yes
Idris2002
Christmas Eve, you know?
Wow, you really do like fish.
charlie mowbray
The Enforcer
To compare the Sparts to Big Flame is crass and ludicrous.
Grump
Well-Known Member
Who has done that?
mx wcfc
Well-Known Member
When I was first at uni I was on the SWP stand at the first years' student fair (I was a first year too, but already hardened SWP
). For whatever reason a Spart came over and started giving us grief. He was shouting and hammering his fist down on our table. "Oi" I said "Don't you dare break that copy of Mike Carver's "Ordinary People/Brixton" single" "I'm really sorry" he said, quite genuinely concerned, and wandered off. The Sparts always amused me after that. I used to love taking the piss, I mean they had to be even more CIA than the comrades we thought were CIA, but their line on Ireland was fucking shameful.
). For whatever reason a Spart came over and started giving us grief. He was shouting and hammering his fist down on our table. "Oi" I said "Don't you dare break that copy of Mike Carver's "Ordinary People/Brixton" single" "I'm really sorry" he said, quite genuinely concerned, and wandered off. The Sparts always amused me after that. I used to love taking the piss, I mean they had to be even more CIA than the comrades we thought were CIA, but their line on Ireland was fucking shameful.
chilango
Hypothetical Wanker
I've two, no three, fave Spart stories. All of which I've no doubt shared on here before.
3) At an SWP MayDay rally at Ally Pally in 1992ish the Spart who thought he could argue with the Warsaw Ghetto veteran.
2) Neath or Llanelli or Camarthen or somewhere the American Spart taken completely aback by Earth First!s appearance this side of the Atlantic. Completely ruined his planned polemical intervention into some local protest.
3) The American (again) Spart I found trying to do a paper sale at the (in)famous El Chopo "punk market" in Mexico City. Except he was two blocks away in a Walmart carpark and clearly petrified.
3) At an SWP MayDay rally at Ally Pally in 1992ish the Spart who thought he could argue with the Warsaw Ghetto veteran.
2) Neath or Llanelli or Camarthen or somewhere the American Spart taken completely aback by Earth First!s appearance this side of the Atlantic. Completely ruined his planned polemical intervention into some local protest.
3) The American (again) Spart I found trying to do a paper sale at the (in)famous El Chopo "punk market" in Mexico City. Except he was two blocks away in a Walmart carpark and clearly petrified.
chilango
Hypothetical Wanker
I also once went in a Spart organised march in London. A "Free Mumia" thing. Give ''em their due the Sparta and Earth First! were the only orgs I remember pushing the Mumia campaign over here.
Their red armbanded security detail were a bit wtf though. I also have some vague memories of a kerfuffle over flag burning on that march. Damn memory
Their red armbanded security detail were a bit wtf though. I also have some vague memories of a kerfuffle over flag burning on that march. Damn memory
LDC
On est tous des pangolins
The Mumia campaign didn't half attract some bonkers political sects (and not just EF!
). In London there was a women who used to sport a black beret and over whatever else she was wearing a tshirt with 'WE NEED HIM MAO MORE THAN EVER!' around a pic of the man himself.
chilango
Hypothetical Wanker
The Mumia campaign didn't half attract some bonkers political sects (and not just EF!
imposs1904
Thread Killa'
I remember encountering a couple of Spart paper sellers outside Brooklyn College in 2006. Naturally, they were both German.
butchersapron
Bring back hanging
They did have the foresight to run a series of bulletins in the 90s with the fantastic title of
Hate Trotskyism – Hate the Spartacist League
which is an absolute treasure trove of bonkers doctrinal and sectarian invective.
Hate Trotskyism – Hate the Spartacist League
which is an absolute treasure trove of bonkers doctrinal and sectarian invective.
The39thStep
Urban critical thinker
Many many moons ago when I was at North London Poly in the Harrington Out Campaign the Sparts used to send about four or five members ( there were two Americans and a couple of well meaning but clearly barmy new recruits ) to any meeting we had. As they had some people working on the Tubes their slogan was something like 'Only the organised power of the London Underground Workers can stop fascism by a General Strike' . Which a) wasnt true and b) very unlikley to happen. After a while people occupying began to get fed up with them and put a motion up for them to leave. I put a counter motion up for them to stay and join the occupation but that they had to join in a play a full and equal part not just come to meetings. They said they would agree to this no doubt dreaming that they would play a leading role .They did .We put them on toilet cleaning duty. 'Cleanliness is next to Trotskyism ' I told the meeting. They loved it.
Idris2002
Christmas Eve, you know?
"Irish Workers Group calls on Pope to expel Chinese Ambassador"
chilango
Hypothetical Wanker
butchersapron
Bring back hanging
I think they left because the proper sparts were too sparty. 5 members in 2016 according to the new book Contemporary Trotskyism.
chilango
Hypothetical Wanker
you got a link to the book?
butchersapron
Bring back hanging
chilango
Hypothetical Wanker
The39thStep
Urban critical thinker
My fave are The Communist League. The Militant - March 6, 2017 -- UK: Communist League says workers need political power
First of all I'm not quite sure why a Candidate for the Manchester Mayor is canvassing in Huddersfield but I tell you what he changed some peoples minds in a flash once he patiently explained . If I ever become a travelling salesman by the way I am going to straight to Eric Abones house, he'll buy anything.
First of all I'm not quite sure why a Candidate for the Manchester Mayor is canvassing in Huddersfield but I tell you what he changed some peoples minds in a flash once he patiently explained . If I ever become a travelling salesman by the way I am going to straight to Eric Abones house, he'll buy anything.
andysays
Love and solidarity
Reading this post has left me imagining a Trotskyite version of the Spice Girls which includes a member called Sparty Spice...
The39thStep
Urban critical thinker
Ken Macleod, the author, was in the Sparts. He got kicked out of the IMG but I think there was always a question as to whether he was recruited to the Sparts whilst in the IMG or whether he was already a Spart and went into the IMG to recruit their members.
Here the Sparts take on the explusion of the 'Communist Tendency' https://www.marxists.org/history/etol/newspape/spartacist-uk/033_1981_06_Bristish-spart.pdf
Here the Sparts take on the explusion of the 'Communist Tendency' https://www.marxists.org/history/etol/newspape/spartacist-uk/033_1981_06_Bristish-spart.pdf
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