Owen Jones refuses to join Trump Protest because SWP is 'a cult which covered up rape'

On Saturday protestors once again took to the streets of London to protest Donald Trump.

On 21 January, tens of thousands turned out for the women’s march, in part a reaction against president Trump’s attitude to women, and that of the new Republican congress.

On Monday, thousands protested outside Downing Street, in a stance against president Trump’s ‘travel ban’ and Prime minister Theresa May’s lukewarm condemnation of the policy.

And this weekend, protestors returned, filling Grosevenor Square outside of the US Embassy before finally marching on Downing Street.

The president has already revoked the “Mexico city” executive order, meaning that American tax dollars cannot be given to foreign NGOs which counsel or provide abortions.

Yet Saturday’s protest has sparked controversy for a surprisingly different reason.

Figures on the left and opponents of Trump have distanced themselves from the march, claiming it had been organised by members of the Socialist Workers Party (SWP).

The march was formally organised by the Stop the War Coalition, Stand Up to Racism, Muslim Association of Britain, and Muslim Engagement and Development.

In a statement released Saturday, Stand Up To Racism claimed:

Forty thousand demonstrated on the streets of London today to  protest  Trump's Muslim ban and invitation to Britain. The demonstration was called by Stop the War, Stand Up to Racism, Peoples Assembly and Muslim groups MAB, MAB, MEND, & supported by Friends of Al Aqsa and CND and brought central London to a stand still. 

The protest was addressed by Trade Union leaders, MPs, leaders of Muslim organisations, Jewish organisations, and a number of campaigning groups. Jeremy Corbyn also addressed the crowd via video.

Speakers called for local anti-Trump groups around the country.

The SWP

The SWP is a Marxist political party, who traditionally do not field candidates at general or local elections. Their website describes themselves as an ‘anti-capitalist, revolutionary party’.

As advocates of protest as a force for change, the party has been a presence and often an organiser at many anti-racist, anti-imperialist, and anti-capitalist demonstrations.

Socialist Worker 'Dump Trump' signs at Saturday's protest.

Socialist Worker 'Dump Trump' signs at Saturday's protest.

In 2013 the party was criticised harshly for appearing to ‘cover up’ charges of rape made against senior members.

A woman claimed she was subjected to a series of offensive questions after raising an allegation of rape against a senior member of the party. She alleges she was asked about her sexual past, her drinking habits, and branded a ‘slut’.

The incident and perceived ‘cover up’ came to light after confidential minutes from the SWP annual conference were leaked in January 2013.

The minutes revealed party officials had asked members to trust their judgement on the matter, and stated the party had “No faith in the bourgeois court system to deliver justice”.

A second female party member approached the Guardian in 2013, and alleged that a senior party member had physically abused her in 2011 in the presence of other members, and raped her in her bedroom.

When she was convinced to report it to the party’s internal disputes committee, she claimed the “judges in the case” were central committee members Amy Leather and Pat Stack.

She alleges she was similarly questioned about her sexual history and her sobriety, as well as the man's.

During this hearing, two further women made allegations against the same senior party figure.

Contesting this account of the hearing in 2013, the SWP joint national secretary Charlie Kimber said:

The SWP strongly contests major elements of this account of the disputes committee hearing.

The woman concerned brought serious accusations to our attention, we investigated, found against the accused and took prompt action. Those are the facts of this case.

It is for this reason that activists such as Owen Jones chose not to attend Saturday’s protest.

These events did much to harm the esteem of the party, and members' faith in the leadership.

Jones, a Guardian columnist and vocal supporter of Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn during his two leadership elections, ferociously attacked the SWP via Twitter.

Jones previously helped to organise the protest outside Downing Street, and is planning another on 20 February in Parliament Square, the day that the House of Commons will debate president Trump’s state visit.

Jones also accused Stand Up to Racism, organisers of Saturday’s event, of being a front for the SWP.

Others responded to Jones’ decision by pointing out that the SWP and Stand Up To Racism were going to be just one of many groups attending Saturday’s protest.

Of the ten member committee members in charge of Stand Up to Racism (whose president is Diane Abbott MP), only Weyman Bennett, is a member of the SWP.

Bennett is also a joint secretary of Unite Against Fascism.

The rest are union officials, Labour MPs and MEPs, and representatives of the New North London Synagogue and the Muslim Council of Britain.

Writing for Labourlist, Stand up to Racism's Vice Chair stated the organisation was established out of the UAF, and not from the SWP.

A statement from the SWP in response to the allegations can be read here.

HT The Evening Standard

More: The 26 best signs from the protests against Trump's 'Muslim ban'

More: 22 of the greatest Women's March posters from all over the world

More: These illustrations explain Donald Trump's 'Muslim ban' perfectly