Poetry Corner: Rafah’s Children by Samih al-Qasim

Rafah’s Children by Samih al-Qasim, 1971
Bobby Sands: 40 years on

Sands belonged to a particular generation of republicans. Not only was he an astute solider – he and his comrades read the works of Connolly, Ho Chi Minh and Liam Mellows. They debated these texts in the revered ‘University of Freedom’ in the Long Kesh.
Man United fans disrupt Liverpool match in protest against US owners

Manchester United’s derby game with Liverpool was postponed yesterday (3 May 2021) following direct action by an organised group of United fans. The fans, upset at the direction American owners The Glazers had taken their beloved club, stormed the stadium and managed to get onto the playing field.
‘Until Victory’ – the YCL London May Day address

On May Day, YCL Southern branches celebrated in London – here is a transcript of the speech.
Are Instagram censoring the YCL?

Amethyst Reardon writes on Silicon Valley’s attempts to censor leftists.
Poetry Corner: Victory at Guernica by Paul Éluard

Victory at Guernica by Paul Éluard, 1937
Paul Éluard is well known as one of the founders of the Surrealist movement and he was also politically and artistically dedicated to the French Communist Party.
The poem La Victoire de Guernica, was written in condemnation of the infamous fascist bombing of the Basque town during the Spanish Civil War, immortalised in the Picasso painting of the same name.
Communist Party to hold online May Day Rally – 1 May 2021

With COVID-19 restrictions still in place across Britain, the Communist Party is organising an all Britain online rally at 6pm to mark International Worker’s Day 2021. The celebration of May Day will also be the biggest online meeting of the Party’s 2021 election campaigns. This will have been the Party’s largest electoral contest since the 1980s and the rally is being held under the slogan ‘Vote Communist, join the struggle, build the party!’
The Easter Rising

On this day 105 years ago, the Easter Rising began.
Poetry Corner: The Long March by Mao Tse Tung

The Long March by Mao Tse Tung, October 1935
Chairman Mao Tse Tung is well known as the leader of the Communist revolution in China and as a founder of the People’s Republic of China. Mao is less well known as an accomplished and prodigious poet.
Here we feature The Long March, written towards the end of the Long March itself, noting some of the locations passed by the Red Army.
Breakaway ‘Super League’ announced with JP Morgan backing

12 football clubs announced late on Sunday night (18 April 2021) that they plan to start a breakaway “Super League” starting in August 2021. 6 English clubs including Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal, and 3 from Italy and Spain have signed up to the league, which FIFA UEFA and national football associations have since condemned.