I will be among the speakers at the memorial event for Altab Ali at 6pm this evening in Altab Ali Park,Whitechapel Road. Remembering too the key role of Bengali youth movements in united opposition to racists and fascists. For a world free from racism and bigotry.

'... it is clear tonight that the race is..' being spun or conjectured by people who I am playing stenographer for, as the actual counting of the votes later made it *clear* quite quickly that it was in no sense a close race, notwithstanding declining turnout in Labour areas.

Almost all the snap media comments are missing that you cannot compare the vote in Thursday's FPTP election and the first pref vote in the previous London mayor elections and then make simple extrapolations or inferences. You need at min a statistically plausible filter.

Really, really against suggesting that such a comparison is 'like for like'. It is totally unalike. The whole point of the AV was that it allowed a plurality of vote with a backstop in instant second round. I think nothing of value can be gained by this comparison.

The curtain of state authoritarianism is descending all across Europe. And don't look primarily to its east. This is Germany and France imposing what is almost certainly an illegal travel ban on a British citizen who worked as a doctor in Gaza and is chancellor of Glasgow Uni.

London Underground RMT staff at Oxford Street station on strike today with their RMT Bakerloo branch union banner demanding reinstatement of our member Gerald Njaka, who was unfairly dismissed. #ReinstateGeraldNjaka

#ToomajSalehi is a brilliant, brave, talented artist, sentenced to death by an Iranian court because his music challenges the regime & supports the #WomanLifeFreedom movement.

I am acting for #ToomajSalehi ’s family & Index on Censorship in this urgent,shocking case.

#FreeToomaj 1/

NAHT Birmingham member James Hawkins delivers a strong & passionate plea to NAHT members to support the emergency motion on inspection using all routes possible including industrial action #NAHTConf

A turnout of just 31.2% in the City and East 'constituency' covering Tower Hamlets, Newham and Barking and Dagenham in London spells potentially serious problems for Labour in coming elections, whatever the GLA and mayoral results. A lot of precarious councillors for a start.

Starmer’s determination to support Israel is costing him dear - as it should #gaza Anger over Gaza clouds Labour’s local election wins via Financial Times
on.ft.com/3QudFzs

Turning 90 years old, the legendary Lelia Doolan is raising funds around celebrating her birthday by jumping from a plane on Monday 6th of May. Funds will go to MSF International, performing life-saving work in #Gaza and around the world.

Give what you can here: idonate.ie/fundraiser/Lel…

FOR YOUR INFORMATION:

Israel just killed 3 Palestinians in Tulkarem, the West Bank not Gaza

and BURNED one of the bodies.

So incredibly dim. And at risible Israeli standards of propaganda.

Today is the anniversary of the murder of 24yr old Altab Ali, who was killed in a racist attack in 1978.

Altab’s murder marked a major turning point in the fight against racism in the east end & beyond.

We honour his memory by standing united against all forms of hatred.

In case anyone was in any doubt of the filthy reaction pumping out across Europe from the German state. Please share.

Unbelievable, but not…

Totally normal. A 50-year old Palestinian doctor dies after four months in Israeli detention. No cause of death given. bbc.co.uk/news/articles/…

The pro-Israel counter protestors at UCLA were organized by a group funded by billionaire Bill Ackman and friends, including Jessica Seinfeld (wife of the erstwhile comedian Jerry Seinfeld).
bit.ly/3y1dl51

It is a mistake to run off a list of the Heinz varieties, though I appreciate the rhetorical effect and that it is asking a question. The mistake is to pose that outwith the social struggles that are underpinning some electoral advances in some places. Those'r the focus of unity.