Sunday 14th April Sheffield Half Marathon: this Sunday
This weekend 11 people are “Running for Palestine”, and raising money, in the Sheffield Half Marathon on Sunday 7th April. We are hoping people will come out with their Palestine flags and show their support along the route. There are a couple of suggested places to gather if you wish: corner of Ecclesall Rd and Knowle Lane, the leaders will be coming through from about 9.50am junction of Fitzwilliam St and Charter Row as they come towards the end, the leaders will be coming through from about 10.30am
All the money being raised will go to Sheffield Palestine Cultural Exchange charity and then for emergency aid in Gaza. You can make a contribution by funding Elena: https://donate.giveasyoulive.com/fundraising/run-for-palestine-2 – or any of the other runners if you know them. So far over £4000 has been raised between the runners.
Wednesday 17th April Living & working in a changing climate: women waste pickers’ experience
1500-1730 in The Wave, University of Sheffield. The Urban Institute and the Institute for Global Sustainable Development at The University of Sheffield are excited to announce they are co-hosting a hybrid workshop and art exhibition on Brazilian women waste pickers. Chair: Professor Dorothea Kleine, Director of the Institute for Global Sustainable Development. Presentation by Professor Vanesa Castán Broto of the Urban Institute, who will talk about the empirical work that grounded the photographs followed by Dr SJ Cooper- Knock, Senior Lecturer in the School of Law and Department of Sociological Studies, on how art can be used as a means to engage with disadvantaged communities. Finally, we will hear from visual artist/photographer Verônica Alkmim França on how the photos were taken and the inspiring story of waste pickers, before reviewing a short film on the Cyanotype technique. We will then view the exhibition itself for those attending in person followed by a drinks reception and a link will be shared for online participants to view the art.
The exhibition is on till 15th May, only accessible during working hours though.
Thursday 18th April “Demonstration to end the Hostile Environment”
N.B. now rescheduled to 12 noon till 2pm (was 2-4pm) Venue: Home Office, Vulcan House, 6 Millsands S3 8NU. This demo has been called by a coalition of migrant justice groups, organisations and networks, including: Solidarity Knows No Borders (SKNB) Yorkshire, Abolish Reporting Campaign, Voice for the Voiceless Immigration Detainees Yorkshire (VVIDY), South Yorkshire Migration Action Group(SYMAAG), Fresh Grassroots Rainbow Community (FGRC), Sheffield Solidarity Group, Stand Up to Racism Sheffield, Justice for Simba Campaign, Yorkshire Migrants Solidarity Movement, MEDACT Sheffield and Migrants Organise.
- Campaigners demand an end to the government’s ‘inhumane’ and ‘cruel’ hostile anti-migrant agenda, and call for unity and solidarity across communities.
- In response to the Rwanda Deportation plan and ahead of the election, a coalition of migrant and refugee justice organisers are uniting to call for compassion and welcome.
Sarli Nana, Organiser with Migrants Organise and Solidarity Knows No Borders, says: “The cruel Rwanda deportation plan did not happen in a vacuum- it is part of a wider ‘hostile by design’ agenda. In Sheffield, people who have come here for protection and a better life are facing racism, discrimination, homelessness, criminalisation and now further deportation to face more persecution and even death. We know there is a better way to welcome people into our community. Today we are showing our politicians that a better way is possible – everyone who cares about our futures need to come together to strengthen the solidarity movement.”
Veecca Smith Uka an activist and Convenor of Fresh Grassroots Rainbow Community and Yorkshire Migrants Solidarity Movement, says: “Every individual has the right to seek sanctuary in accordance with international law. Many people coming to the UK are fleeing from dire threats and persecution in their home countries. The UK’s hostile environment policies, which are both cruel and contrary to international norms, must be abolished.”
Boucka Koffi, campaigner from the Voice for Voiceless Immigration Detainees Yorkshire, says: “The UK’s neo-colonial immigration system is hostile by design. The system developed directly out of the collapse of the British Empire and the desire to control the entry of racialised and dispossessed former colonised peoples. The only way to have a fair and just system is to scrap the current one. You cannot fix a written off, designed to be inhumane system.”
Saturday 20th April Big South Yorkshire march for Palestine
Assemble 11am Mount Pleasant Park Nether Edge S7 1BY then march 111.30 to City Hall for rally. Bring plates to protest the starvation as a weapon of war.
Please make every effort to attend and say with the loudest voice we must stop arming Israel. Israel’s excessive violence against the Palestinian population in Gaza has killed over 33,000 people (mostly women and children), destroyed most its housing stock, its hospitals, schools and university, and imposed a deliberate strategy of withholding food and other essential supplies as a weapon of war. Now people, especially children are dying of manmade starvation in 2023. It is unbelievable that our UK and the USA governments still continue to pledge their unwavering support in the supply of arms to Israel to continue its slaughter. Weasels word to implore Israel to allow in more aid fall on deaf ears whilst the arms keep flowing. That’s why this march’s focus is on stopping the arms supply to Israel which almost certainly makes the UK complicit in genocide. We know from opinion polls that the majority of public opinion wants to stop arming Israel but the Tories and Labour think they can ignore us. Let’s show them that we will not be silenced. We are standing up for what’s right after all.
If you want to keep up to date with all the activities in support of Palestine in Sheffield, sign up to the Sheffield Coalition against Israeli Apartheid broadcast one-way WhatsApp group: https://chat.whatsapp.com/C0DH21BItwDBvA6b7OcHdP
Tuesday 23rd April Sheffield TUC Delegate Meeting
7pm till 9pm. Trades and Labour Club, 200 Duke Street, Sheffield S2 5QQ.Trade union members who are not delegates are welcome to attend as visitors but may not vote.
Tuesday 23rd April NT Live: NYE a new play by Tim Rice
7pm Broadcast live at the Showroom Cinema
Michael Sheen plays Nye Bevan in a surreal and spectacular journey through the life and legacy of the man who transformed Britain’s welfare state and created the NHS. Confronted with death, Aneurin ‘Nye’ Bevan’s deepest memories lead him on a mind-bending journey back through his life; from childhood to mining underground, Parliament and fights with Churchill. Written by Tim Price and directed by Rufus Norris (Small Island), this epic new Welsh fantasia will be broadcast live from the National Theatre on 23 April, with an encore on 7 May and 9 May. Please note that this live broadcast will start promptly just after 7pm.
There will be screenings with captions on 15 and 19 NT Live: Nye – Showroom Workstation – Sheffield
Friday 26th April International Workers Memorial Day
12 noon outside Sheffield Town Hall. Organised & hosted by Sheffield TUC. There will be speakers and the laying of floral tributes around the Memorial Tree. “Remember the Dead – Fight for the Living!”. A major event in the trade union health& safety calendar. Please bring your union banners.The theme for 2024 is – CLIMATE RISKS for WORKERS
The actual anniversary is declared as 28 April, but this falls on Sunday, so we decided it would be better if we held the ceremony on the nearest weekday, hence Friday 26th.
If you are looking for a local florist, we have found Townsend Florists to be very reliable and understanding. Townend Florist, 511 Ridgeway Rd, Gleadless Townend, S12 2JY 0114 254 4477
Friday 26th April “Challenging Sexual Harassment in Low Paid and Precarious Hospitality Work: Launch Event”
1pm-3.30pm, (in Sheffield) venue to be confirmed
We would like to invite you to the in-person launch of our report on sexual harassment in the hospitality industry.
Click here to book your place: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/challenging-sexual-harassment-in-hospitality-work-tickets-852356931527?aff=oddtdtcreator
In the aftermath of the #MeToo movement there has been a near constant stream of shocking examples of sexual harassment in UK workplaces. The hospitality sector, which employs 2.5 million workers around the UK, often disproportionately features in the headlines. What factors shape workplace sexual harassment, why is it such a problem in hospitality, and what can be done about it?
This major new study attempts to answer these questions, reviewing the best available survey evidence on workplace sexual harassment, and combining this with an in-depth presentation and analysis of interviews with hospitality workers in Sheffield and South Yorkshire. The launch event will include a discussion of the current context of gendered inequalities in work in the UK, the presentation of key findings, and input from Sarah Woolley, whose union (BFAWU) has led on attempts to challenge sexual harassment in hospitality.
A light lunch will be provided at the beginning of the event.
Saturday 4th May Sheffield May Day parade and rally
Bring your banners and celebrate trade unionism – our history; our battles; our victories; our humanity!
Wednesday 8th May Stand up to Racism AGM and public meeting
7pm Central United Reform Church, Norfolk Row S1 2JB
To book your free ticket https://buytickets.at/sheffieldstanduptoracism/1215396
Speakers:
- Brendan Woodhouse from Sea watch and FBU Author of DORO: refugee, hero champion survivor.
- Cllr Ruksana Haleem (report back from Calais Volunteering)
- Nahella Ashraf SUTR
We have the most racist government in history who are desperate to ramp up racism. The attack by Frank Hester, the Tories biggest donor, on Diane Abbott is shocking and part of a long line of racist dog whistle politics. Every single week we get an Islamophobic or racist comment designed to scapegoat refugees and Muslims. The divisive anti extremism plans which describe Muslim organisations as undemocratic are part of the Othering. That’s why we need to stand together and resist all forms of racism- come along to our Annual general meeting- find out how to get involved.
Care 4 Calais trip: We are planning a trip for 14th. 15th, 16th June the cost should be around £150 each including accommodation, petrol and ferry crossing. If you want to join the delegation please get in contact.
Maxine and Sahail, Joint convenors Of Sheffield Stand up to Racism
Tuesday 28th May Sheffield TUC Delegate Meeting
7pm till 9pm. Trades and Labour Club, 200 Duke Street, Sheffield S2 5QQ
Trade union members who are not delegates are welcome to attend as visitors but may not vote.
Saturday 15th June Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign Annual Rally
SAVE THE DATE! MINERS’ STRIKE 40th ANNIVERSARY ORGREAVE ANNUAL MARCH AND RALLY, Saturday 15th June 2024 SHEFFIELD
SUPPORT US IN OUR CAMPAIGN FOR TRUTH AND JUSTICE
Please come along and support the Annual Orgreave Rally organised by the Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign. Bring your banners, comrades and friends and march in solidarity with us through Sheffield City Centre to support our call for an inquiry for truth and justice for the miners brutalised by the state and police at the Orgreave Coking plant in June 1984.
More information about arrangements and speakers will be made available soon.
SUPPORT OUR CALL FOR AN ORGREAVE INQUIRY
https://www.facebook.com/events/304833248944985?acontext=%7B%22event_action_history%22%3A [] %7D
Saturday Sunday 22nd 23rd June Small Park Big Run
Friday 19th – 22st July 2024 Sheffield Transformed Weekend Festival SADACCA (Sheffield and District African Caribbean Community Association), 48 Wicker, S3 8JB.
Sheffield Transformed is a group of socialists who run events where people can come together to discuss radical political ideas, enjoy arts and culture, and build a movement in a safe environment. We have been organising events since 2019, most recently on the Socialist Republic of South Yorkshire, a Radical History Walk and on Police suppression of protest.
Inspired by The World Transformed we organise and host a wide range of events and activities on topics including housing, welfare, education, the environment and the many other issues facing our city.
Saturday 20th July. The next Free Radicals gig will be at Theatre Deli
Thanks very much to everyone who came to the Free Radicals/Sosa-Sa gig a couple of weeks ago. It was very busy and we had to turn away some people. Very sorry if you were one of those. The evening raised over £5,600 which went straight into the Sheffield Emergency Relief Fund and then straight to Gaza. This fund has now transferred over £130,000 to Gaza, which has been providing support food parcels, blankets, baby milk, clothes, nappies and cash to 3931 families in Khan Younis and Rafah. [Fuller reports can be found at: https://www.sheffieldpsc.org.uk/?page_id=3286]
Sunday 18th August South Yorkshire Festival
We are marking the 40th anniversary of the 1984 Miners Strike at the SYF and are pleased to announce the guest speakers so far are Colin Kirkham, a former miner, will be speaking to his experiences at that time and Jean Miller from Women Against Pit Closures we will be announcing further speakers in due course. Brian Clarke will also be speaking prior to the afternoon talk in the Unison Room on the history of Wortley Hall from the 50’s onwards. We are also hoping to get a speaker on the history of the Hall and Barnsley Area.
Rotherham’s “South Yorkshire Transport Museum” will be bringing some vintage vehicles for us to see, we will have our usual stalls, stands and bouncy castles for a fun family day out, again we hope to make all the rides and face painting free.
We again are looking for volunteers for the event. Please email politicalsecretary@wortleyhall.org.uk should you wish to help on the day. Massive thank you to all who kindly helped out with last year’s event.
We need help on:
- Traffic Management
- Staffing the Wortley Hall Stand
- General Setting Up.
We have started collecting donations and pledges for this great event, if you can support this day, please contact info@wortleyhall.org.uk – or, by contacting the hall on 0114 288 2100. You can also send a cheque to Wortley Hall, Wortley Village, Sheffield, S35 7DB, cheque payable to Wortley Hall Ltd. Please ensure to mark your letter for South Yorkshire Festival.
SYF Committee