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What's the Spartacist League up to these days?

frogwoman said:
I thought they were just a private eye invention :(
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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?
 
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:thumbs::rolleyes:). 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.
 
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.
 
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
 
chilango said:
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
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The Mumia campaign didn't half attract some bonkers political sects (and not just EF! :D). 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.
 
LynnDoyleCooper said:
The Mumia campaign didn't half attract some bonkers political sects (and not just EF! :D). 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.
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6312675099_1402987c6d_b.jpg
 
IIRC correctly the mayor of Oakland during Occupy Oakland Jean Quan was an ex-Maoist - assuming the photo was during that and the placard was about her.
 
I remember encountering a couple of Spart paper sellers outside Brooklyn College in 2006. Naturally, they were both German.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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