Radicals.

           Final reminder of today's event on Glasgow Green, marking the state murder of James "Purlie Wilson, one of the radicals of the 1820 insurrection, hanged and then beheaded on the 30th. August, 1820. A gathering will take place at the spot of his execution, Sunday August 29th. 1pm

 

"His trial was a mummery,
all Scotland did agree;
the jury urged for clemency,

the judge ignored their plea,
and promised Pearlie: "Hanged ye'll be
upon the gallows tree!" 

 

Thanks Loam for the poem.

 

James Purlie Wilson's speech from the dock before he was executed. 

Details:
opposite Glasgow's High Court
at the gates of Glasgow Green
Sunday, 29th. August 2021
1pm.

Glasgow.

       A new addition to  Spirit of Revolt website, a radical map of Glasgow, if you are interested in Glasgow's working class history, the history from below, then visit the "Education" box on Spirit of Revolt website, and find out about some of the people and events that helped shape our City. Just visit the page and click on a star and learn from history.

Visit ann arky's home at https://radicalglasgow.me.uk  

Sma' Shot Day.

    Sma' Shot Day a traditional workers celebration held annually in Paisley, according to the powers that be, will be a virtual event this year, that's the same as saying it will be cancelled, but you can watch pictures of past events on your screen. But fear not, a small group of die-hard supporters of working class traditions will be holding a small event to mark this memorable day in working class struggle. The Glasgow Keelie will have a stall where you can come and meet the "Cork", he is usually burnt at the annual celebration. Sadly he will not be burnt this year, so come along a tell him what you think of profit grabbing greedy bosses, pick up a free copy of Radical Paisley, Glasgow Keelie and other free literature, chat with the stall members, and keep alive this important day of workers celebration of victory.

Details:
Saturday 3rd. July, 1pm. to 3pm.
Paisley, The Cairn, the Cairn is at the west end of the pedestrianised area near the arcade, M&S etc.

     TRAVEL ON SATURDAY: Cairn is at the west end of the pedestrianised area where the arcade, M&S etc  If not from Paisley, or on the direct train line to Largs, Ayr, Gourock. From Glasgow Central, trains to Paisley Gilmour St. There is another small line which terminates at Canal st, via Dumbreck, a bit further away which used to be ideal for Sma Shot, as in 2019. For 2021 walk up New St. to get to the Cairn. By bus 9 First Bus, 38 McGill, 26 McGill via Govan & Braehead, 17 McGill via Bath St, Kelvin Hall, Tunnel and Cardonald. The Glasgow Times has reported that some localised Orange order parades are scheduled in various parts of Glasgow & could delay some bus travel.

 Timetables via https://www.travelinescotland.com

Visit ann arky's home at https://spiritofrevolt.info  

Anarchist Agitators.

          Spirit of Revolt, like other groups, has seen its activities curtailed somewhat due to this Covid19 pandemic. However we  can still function at some level and one of those is our "Read of the Month" feature.  For August “Read of the Month” we have chosen a booklet from our Bratach Dubh Collection, Anarchist Agitators: Information and correspondence organ of the Social-Revolutionary Anarchist Federation. This is issue 50, we have several other issues of this serial which you can read at Bratach Dubh Collection T-SOR-5-1-17. which run from 1976-1986. Enjoy.

Anarchist Agitators: Read on Line

  

   While at our website, why not browse and see what other gems we hold, all there for you to read and perhaps learn from, you could give us a wee feed back of what you think. Perhaps you have some material of your own that you would like to see get a good home, send us an email from our contact page. 

Visit ann arky's home at https://radicalglasgow.me.uk 

Bloody Friday.

      Sometimes I feel a poem can say in a few verses more than a book can in several chapters.

 Troops at the docks in Glasgow, January, 1919.

      This this short poem is from Adrian Mitchell's book of poems, Heart at the Left. I believe this poem looks back at Glasgow's "Bloody Friday" 1919, when the police attacked a peaceful protest in George Square, resulting riots and soldiers being posted on the streets of Glasgow and at all dock entrances and elsewhere about the city. Obviously hinting that the British state would have no hesitation of doing it all over again.

As far as I'm aware, these tanks were stationed in a warehouse in Gallowgate,  in Glasgow's East End, January, 1919.

Divide and Rule for as Long as You Can.

Glasgow.
Trade Unionists march through the square
Towards the City Chambers.

Police. Police. Police.

And in the streets leading off the Square---
Scottish soldiers with rifles.
Live ammunition,
They may be ordered to shoot into the crowd.

And behind the Scottish soldiers---
English soldiers with rifles.
Live ammunition.
If the Scottish soldiers refuse to shoot into the crowd
The English soldiers will be ordered
To shoot the Scottish soldiers.

Oh, but that was log ago.

That was in the future.

Visit ann arky's home at https://radicalglasgow.me.uk

Radical Map.

     As there was quite a fair bit of interests on my recent post on Glasgow's radical history pack, I thought I would put up this little piece my work on Glasgow's radical history. Hoping that it might help feed your appetite in that subject matter. Enjoy.

Just click on the link and learn and enjoy.

http://radicalglasgow.me.uk/?page_id=33

Visit ann arky's home at https://radicalglasgow.me.uk

Thieving Employers.

         If you know anything about your working class history you will be aware of all those long and hard struggles to wrestle some concessions from the employer class to improve our quality of life, The 8 hour day, the 40 hour week, paid holidays, sick pay etc.. They were long and hard struggles, and the progress was slow. Some people paid dearly in those struggle from being blacklisted by employers, arrested by the state and on occasions some paid with their life.
        A short period and people took these conditions as normal, only to find that bit by bit they were being dismantled by the employer class, all under the banner of efficiency, profit and the illusion of "freedom of choice". All these changes stripping away at workers conditions were always given the stamp of legitimacy by the state, the corporate bosses minders.
        From this we should all realise that conditions won from employers are not ours to keep, they will be taken back bit by bit by the employer class. Their battle for ever increasing profit and low production costs will always drive them to chip away at your conditions. This is done in various ways, today its methods include zero hours contracts, pushing workers to be "self employed" etc. freeing the employer from national insurance, holiday pay, etc. Also freeing the employer from any responsibility concerning the employee and their conditions.
        The only sure way to improve our working conditions on an ever improving scale, is to remove the employer, in other words bring down capitalism and its co-joined partner, the state.
       This extract may sound very familiar to lots of you, the total disregard by the employer, of the employee as a human being.

This extract from Aotearoa Workers Solidarity Movement

 Published on Anarchist News:

     WORKER: Well yes, my terms and conditions leave a lot to be desired. For example, I was on a contract for a maximum of 20 hours, but if I had no students I had no pay. So in reality because of the vagaries of the people we teach, who often have chaotic lifestyles, my hours could vary anywhere between 10 and 20 in a given week, so obviously my pay reflected this. Also we have to take leave around the school holidays. So effectively, because you can't earn enough annual leave to cover this amount you are without pay for around 8-10 weeks a year.
     AWSM: Is the pay good?
    WORKER: On paper it looks ok. I won't go into the exact figures, but it is $30+ an hour and seems generous. The reality however is very different. I get paid what is known as an inclusive rate. This means I get deductions for my holiday pay, which I know isn't that unusual, but also I have to pay the kiwisaver employer contributions out of my pay, which was a new thing for me and totally surprised me as I didn't even know that was a thing. Also we don't get paid for any time we spend preparing lessons or marking, and it is expected we are in the building at least half an hour before any class that we are teaching starts. Another thing that winds me up is once a month we are expected to attend staff meetings, without pay, that can drag on for over 2 hours, thanks to two managers who will talk and talk interminably about nothing much - of course they will be getting paid as they enjoy the luxury of 40 hour contracts.
      AWSM: In the previous question you said you were on a contract with a maximum of 20 hours, did this change?
      WORKER: Yes, at the end of Term 2 last year I was asked if I would like to take on a new course that involved 40 hours per week teaching. I accepted and they put me on a salaried contract which actually saw my pay drop by about $8 per hour. The course actually involved a lot more than 40 hours a week with gathering resources and marking, and of course, such is the lot of a salaried worker, you don't get overtime - but of course if you ever leave early then it is seen as theft of time. I got reprimanded once for leaving an hour early for a doctors appointment - this having worked for the previous 4 saturdays above my 40 hours to catch up with my workload.
      AWSM: Things like that must drive you mad?
     WORKER: Honestly, I have been in the workforce for a long time now and I have no expectation of being treated differently. I really don't think I have ever had a boss who I had any respect for and would treat you decently.
      AWSM: Are you still on that contract now?
    WORKER: No. As soon as my course finished they put me back on a 20 hour/Zero hour contract. Presumably so they don't have to pay me fully for public holidays. When I return at the beginning of next term I will be offered the 40 hour contract again.
      AWSM: How do your colleagues view their working conditions?
    WORKER: No-one really talks about it. I try and get others involved in conversations but they really don't want to rock the boat at all.

Visit ann arky's home at https://radicalglasgow.me.uk

The Virus Persists.

      September, 27th. marks an anniversary of a fight back, and success, by ordinary people. It was on that date in 1936 that fascist Oswald Mosley lead a march of 1000 Blackshirt fascist in Leeds, however it didn't go unnoticed. They were met by around 30,000 locals who attacked them with all manner of missiles, some hitting Mosley. The locals continued their assault by singing the Red Flag and drowning out the fascist speeches. It is sad that today that the virus persists, we are still facing this fascist menace as it continues to raise it vile head from the sewers of society and spews out its divisive rhetoric. Our parliamentary pampered Oxbridge political ballerinas pay lip service to this fascist rise by their abhorrent derogatory language. Fascism will only be beaten and finally eradicated by the people, on the streets, not by the institutions of the state. Fascism and the state are very close relatives.

 

Working Class History

@wrkclasshistory

#OtD 27 Sep 1936 1000 uniformed fascist Blackshirts led by Oswald Mosley in Leeds were confronted by 30k locals who attacked them, pelted them with stones, hitting Mosley, and drowned out speeches by singing The Red Flag

Visit ann arky's home at https://radicalglasgow.me.uk

Who Was Peter McKellar?

 

       The history of the struggles of the ordinary people has an endless list of unknown heroes, people who stood against the power of the state and struggled for justice and peace. No matter what the state threw at them they remained true to their principles. They are part and parcel of our working class heritage yet remain unknown. Where possible we should try to find out who they were, and record their principled stand against the relentless authority of the state. 

      I have tried to remember and record some of those working class heroes and events in Strugglepedia, but there are still so many that remain unrecorded, hidden somewhere in some dark corner of history. If we can, we should bring them into the light of the known  mosaic of our proud and colourful history.

     To that end I wrote this piece some time ago, but sadly got no response, so this is another wee try to find out , "Who was Peter McKellar"

     I believe that we should never forget those comrades who stood against authority when it was at its harshest and most repressive. Reading through an old copy of The Word, on the Sparrow's Nest site, I came upon the case of Peter McKellar. The article starts with:-- 

     Our comrade Peter McKellar of 38 South Annadale Street, Glasgow, will have been court-martialled for the second time before these lines are printed.
     Then aged 22, a glazier by trade, he registered as a conscientious objector on December, 26, 1939. His case was heard on April 23, 1940, by the Glasgow Tribunal, consisting of Sir A. C. Black, K.C., Sir Robert Bruce, J.P.. L.L.D., and Mr. (now Sir) R. Bryce Walker, C.B.E., etc.
    McKellar told the Tribunal that his father was killed in the great war. He would not butcher nor yet be butchered. It was enough that this had happened to his father. The Tribunal sympathised with him. He replied that he wanted justice as an anti-militarist, not sympathy. --------

      Who was Peter McKellar, is there anybody out there who can throw some light on this comrade and man of principle. We should remember our own, record their life, they are part of our history, the history of the ordinary man and woman of our communities.  So if you have any wee bit of info, no matter how little a detail, please share it with ann arky, so that we can try to put his page in its rightful place in our history.

 Visit ann arky's home at https://radicalglasgow.me.uk

The Struggle Continues.

      We the ordinary people have a history we can be very proud of, and we should do what we can to remember those who helped make that proud history. We should tell their stories and keep their ideas alive, we are still struggling to achieve their ideas and dreams. Their lives can inspire us and point us in the right direction, the lives they lived should not be in vain. There are those today who are writing that rich history of the ordinary people in their struggle for justice and freedom, we must offer up our solidarity. It is our duty to carry that battle forward for that better world for all. The final chapter in that history will be our victory over injustice, exploitation, authority, poverty and wars.

From Roar Magazine.

• ROAR Collective

      From the barricades of the Paris Commune to anti-colonial resistance in the South Pacific, Louise Michel was one of the most important revolutionaries of the 19th century.

       Louise Michel, born on 29 May, 1830, is today remembered as one of the most influential and charismatic revolutionaries of the 19^th century. Her role in the Paris Commune of 1871 — first in the ambulance service and later on the front lines with the National Guard fighting against the Versailles troops — eventually led to her capture and deportation from France to a penal colony in New Caledonia.

It was during her exile that Michel turned towards anarchism, which would continue to dominate her writing and organizing for the rest of her life. In 1880 she was granted amnesty, and upon her return to France she continued her revolutionary activities, writing articles, giving speeches, setting up a soup kitchen for impoverished ex-prisoners who returned from exile, and traveling across Europe delivering her revolutionary message to large audiences. In 1890 she opened the International Anarchist School for children on London’s Fitzroy Square, before returning to France in 1895. Michel died on 10 January, 1905, after which her funeral in Paris was attended by more than 100,000 people.

      Michel’s revolutionary defiance is clearly expressed in her defense speech before the 6^th council of war after her capture during the defeat of the Paris Commune:

I do not wish to defend myself, I do not wish to be defended. I belong completely to the social revolution, and I declare that I accept complete responsibility for all my actions. I accept it completely and without reservations.

You accuse me of having taken part in the murder of the generals? To that I would reply Yes, if I had been in Montmartre when they wished to have the people fired on. I would not have hesitated to fire myself on those who gave such orders. But I do not understand why they were shot when they were prisoners, and I look on this action as arrant cowardice.

As for the burning of Paris, yes, I took part in it. I wished to oppose the invader from Versailles with a barrier of flames. I had no accomplices in this action. I acted on my own initiative.

I am told that I am an accomplice of the Commune. Certainly, yes, since the Commune wanted more than anything else the social revolution, and since the social revolution is the dearest of my desires. More than that, I have the honour of being one of the instigators of the Commune, which by the way had nothing–nothing, as is well known–to do with murders and arson. I who was present at all the sittings at the Town Hall, I declare that there was never any question of murder or arson.

Do you want to know who are really guilty? It is the politicians. And perhaps later light will be brought on to all these events which today it is found quite natural to blame on all partisans of the social revolution…

But why should I defend myself? I have already declared that I refuse to do so. You are men who are going to judge me. You sit before me unmasked. You are men and I am only a woman, and yet I look you in the eye. I know quite well that everything I could say will not make the least difference to your sentence. So a single last word before I sit down. We never wanted anything but the triumph of the great principles of the revolution. I swear it my our martyrs who fell at Satory, by our martyrs whom I acclaim loudly, and who will one day have their revenge.

Once more I belong to you. Do with me what you please. Take my life if you wish. I am not the woman to argue with you for a moment….

What I claim from you, you who call yourselves a Council of War, who sit as my judges, who do not disguise yourselves as a Commission of Pardons, you who are military men and deliver your judgement in the sight of all, is Satory where our brothers have already fallen.

I must be cut off from society. You have been told to do so. Well, the Commissioner of the Republic is right. Since it seems that any heart which beats for freedom has the right only to a lump of lead, I too claim my share. If you let me live, I shall never stop crying for revenge, and I shall avenge my brothers by denouncing the murderers in the Commission for Pardons….

I have finished. If you are not cowards, kill me!

Visit ann arky's home at https://radicalglasgow.me.uk

Spirit of Revolt Big Day.

       Friday May 10th. 2019 was an important date for Spirit of Revolt, of course we have lots of important dates at SoR, but this one marked the occasion of our first collection being entered into the Mitchell Library Archive Catalogue and will now be available in the reading room of the archive department on the 5th. floor. Spirit of Revolt has 38 collections listed on its website, and others in the pipeline. Most of them contain thousands of documents and most have a considerable number of those documents scanned and on line to read on the website https://spiritofrevolt.info However the Allan Burnett is the first collection to be completely, scanned and on line. Hence our pride in seeing it now being readily available for the public through both our own website and the Mitchell Library Archive Catalogue.
         The scanning process is slow and time consuming, but the backbone of getting our material on line to make it easily accessible to the public at large. Have a look at our website and see what we stand for, and if you feel you would like to volunteer to be part of that operation then you can contact us at info@spiritofrevolt.info

 

       Our archivist, Paula, in the middle, and wrinkly old me, handing over the completed Allan Burnett Collection to a Mitchell archivists. 

     A proud Paula handing over to wrinkly old me, the SoR catalogue, that will be available in the reading room of the Mitchell Library Archive Department.

      A proud moment when I sit down and peruse the Spirit of Revolt, Allan Burnett Collection catalogue that will be available to the public in the reading room of the Mitchell Library Archive Department.  

       A big thank you to all those who made this possible.

Visit ann arky's home at https://radicalglasgow.me.uk 

"Writers For Miners" Free CD.

        Spirit of Revolt is anarchist/libertarian-socialist archive dedicated to preserving and making easily accessible to the public at large, Glasgow/Clydeside grass-roots history of struggle. We are not connected to any political party or trade union nor do we receive any funding from any of these organisation. We are a volunteer group who give our time freely, however in a capitalist society funds are a necessary evil to survive and grow. We rely on our various outreach programs to raise funds, and the much appreciated supporters who have signed a direct debit to help sustain this project, to them, a great big thank you.
         In an endeavour to increase our funds and help secure the project, we are, for a limited period offering a CD and booklet, Writers for Miners, to anyone who signs up a direct debit for £5 or more, to Spirit of Revolt. It will be free delivery in the UK, further afield we would have to look at the cost. Have a look at our website https://spiritofrevolt.info, if you like what we are doing and think we are doing a good job, then the price of a couple of coffees a month would be much appreciated.

Details of the CD and booklet:

The Writers for Miners Events, 1984

      In 1984-85 events known as “Writers for Miners” took place on consecutive Saturdays in Glasgow’s 3rd Eye Centre to raise funds for striking coal miners at local pits in one of the most significant industrial disputes in world history.
      With 140,000 out on strike the Thatcher Government planned to break the power of the NUM union, the most well organised group of workers in the country. With 11,291 arrests and lasting 1 year it unleashed massive state repression, brutality and violence. The other unions largely did not show solidarity and the strike failed, opening the door to the destruction of working class communities, job insecurity and privatisation.
      Performers, poets, visual artists and others decided to support the striking miners in Scotland and formed artists-in-Solidarity which organised fundraising for the miners’ families by holding events. This CD is a recording of those events. James Kelman explains, “Radical history is marginalised by the State and events of this nature should be recorded otherwise they are forgotten. The STUC offered to part-fund the project but on this occasion failed to come up with the money. We still went ahead. It was hoped that a selection of songs, poetry and prose-readings might be produced eventually in the form of a couple of albums (all proceeds to the miners’ strike fund). It didn’t happen, for one reason or another…The original project was launched in support of the miners and their families. Those days may have gone but solidarity and comradeship haven’t. All proceeds from the sale of the Writers for Miners album will go toward the Spirit of Revolt (S.O.R.) Archive, in appreciation of the crucial work carried out by the S.O.R. volunteers in the preservation of radical history”.

In 1984, those involved were,

Norman McCaig, Freddy Anderson, Hamish Henderson,

 Duncan Maclean, Kathleen Jamie and Robert Alan Jamieson,

 Donald Saunders, Peter Nardini, Rab Noakes,

Nancy Nicolson, Alasdair Gray, Jeff Torrington, Agnes Owens,
Carl MacDougall, James Kelman, Archie Hind, Donald Saunders,

Tom Leonard, Edwin Morgan, Edward Boyd, Danny Kyle, 

Tom McGrath, Jeff Torrington, Agnes Owens, Archie Hind. 

Where will you get such a fabulous collection of performers on one CD?

         You can contact us at our donate page, https://spiritofrevolt.info/donate/ or at  info@spiritofrevolt.info Set up your Direct debit, send us your address and we will forward the CD and booklet. In anticipation we thank you for your support.

Visit ann arky's home at https://radicalglasgow.me.uk

Glasgow May Day 2019.

 

      May Day is fast approaching and for the fourth year, the May Day Organising Group have organised a series of events round the theme of May Day. This year it is a mixture of fascinating, informative, exciting and fun events.

It kicks off with Wednesday, May 1st, gather at the Cenotaph George Square, 11:45am and a colourful noisy march to the Donald Dewar statue in Buchanan Street, where there will be a rally with musicians, singers, poets, stalls and an open mic. Thursday 6:00pm,  May 2nd. a history tour, a leisurely walk around the city, stopping at points of interest in working class history, ending up at The Green. Saturday, May 4th. 2:00pm a film show, Salt of the Earth, in the Quakers Hall at Charing Cross. The culmination of this May Day celebration will be our now regular Picnic on The Green, Sunday May 5th.. Again there will be performers food to share and lots of fun. We are still looking for more performers to come forward and take a wee slot at these events, singers, dancers, jugglers, musicians, poets, etc. so if you think you can fill a slot please get in touch. So do come along to any or all of these events and let's get May Day back to what it should be, a celebration of ordinary people, celebrating their struggles and victories, a fun day for all the family. We have to rescue May Day from the dead hands of the sanitised version we have at the moment, a sedate march through the city and then listening to our political ballerinas spouting how they will lead us to the promised land.

Links for detail info and to contact:

https://mayday.link/

https://mayday.link/blog/

Visit ann arky's home at https://radicalglasgow.me.uk

The Green, Free Speech, May Day.

        If you are in or around Glasgow on Monday April 15th. why not come along to Spirit of Revolt's regular free event? Every three months or so we hold an open free event in the Mitchell Library, where we put on display material from our archive and arrange for some members to give a short introduction to the content of the event, and then it is an open discussion where those attending can contribute their own ideas, experiences, and thoughts on the subject matter. The subject of this particular Show and Tell is The Glasgow Green - May Day and the important part The Green has played in the history of our city.

       The idea behind these events is to bring the archive to the people, and bring the people to their history, and making our history come alive.

Details:

Free Event.

Monday 15th. April.

12:00-2:00pm.

Mitchell Library, 5th. floor,

Blythswood Room. 

Visit ann arky's home at https://radicalglasgow.me.uk