Author Archives: CSSD editorial

The Far Right in The Light

The Light isn’t a simple far right publication – it’s not the case that every article is from the far right. Yet, the Light often provides space for, points to, and includes adverts from far right individuals or organisations. The paper effectively functions as public relations / advertising for the far right. It does this by concealing the far right nature of organisations and individuals, and mixing their content with other content. By reaching audiences that would normally reject the far right, it appears to be providing a useful recruitment tool.

We want to make sure people are aware of the background of the people and organisations being promoted. We want to stop them from being sucked into working with these groups.

Mama’s War – remembering victims of the war in Bosnia

On 6th April we remember the victims of the war in Bosnia which is generally acknowledged to have started on that day in 1992. Over the next three years, Bosnian Serbs forces led a war of ‘ethnic cleansing’ targeted at Bosnia Muslims and Croats. In the piece below local resident Damir describe’s his mum’s memories of the start of the war in Bosnia. She was 50 when the war broke out. A Croat married to a Bosnian in the secular and integrated county of Yugoslavia living in a small town in Bosnia similar to Stroud where she had worked as a primary school teacher most of her life. This is her account of her experience of being put under house arrest and eventually being made to made to leave her home.

Candlelit vigil in memory of Brianna Ghey, 26th Feb 2023

On Sunday 26th February 2023, Stroud Pride organised a moving candlelit vigil in memory of Brianna Ghey, the 16 year old trans girl from Warrington who was murdered on February 11th. On this page you can read a speech by one of the organisers, Jen Hoskins, and watch another speech by a local parent

Sandi Adams and antisemitism (why she should never have been invited to speak in Stroud)

Our origins as a group lie in a letter written asking the Stroud Freedom Group to withdraw an invitation to Sandi Adams to speak at a rally in November 2020. We were concerned about antisemitic content on her website, which we discuss below (featuring some screenshots as evidence at the end of the piece). PleaseContinue reading “Sandi Adams and antisemitism (why she should never have been invited to speak in Stroud)”

Marking Holocaust Memorial Day in Stroud, 29th January 2023

Community Solidarity Stroud District has organised a Holocaust Memorial Day (HMD) ceremony which will take place on Sunday 29th January from 2-3pm in Park Gardens (by the War Memorial). There will be music from The Stroud Red Band, and speakers from our group, from Stroud Against Racism, and from other members of the community.

Challenging denial, disinformation and stigma on World AIDS day

Today, December 1st, is World AIDS Day – held annually since 1988. This year, we want to draw attention to and express our solidarity with those who took part in a die-in protest held by ACT UP London today, echoing a protest conducted in 1989. Stav Bee, ACT UP activist, is quoted by ACT UPContinue reading “Challenging denial, disinformation and stigma on World AIDS day”

Transgender Day of Remembrance

Today (20th November) is Transgender Day of Remembrance, created as a memorial to those who have been murdered because of transphobia. We at CSSD stand in solidarity with all of those who have experienced and continue to experience violence and hatred inspired by transphobia. For more information on remembrance events in the South West: BristolContinue reading “Transgender Day of Remembrance”