The killings of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, and of Eric Gardner in New York have provoked outrage across the US and internationally. 
In both cases, the victims were black and unarmed while their killers were police officers who were subsequently acquitted.
They have thrown fresh light on the institutionalised racism in US society and inspired a new wave of protests to send a message to the establishment that ‘black lives matter’.
Saturday 21st February will mark the fiftieth anniversary of the assassination in Harlem of Malcolm X, radical fighter for black liberation.
In the US and internationally, it will be marked by vigils and demonstrations to remember his legacy and protest the ongoing oppression experienced by black people – particularly the working class and young – today.
To mark this event, African-American socialist L. Eljeer Hawkins will address a public meeting in Derry.
Eljeer is a writer on race, criminal justice and the historical black freedom movement. Born and raised in Harlem, New York, he is a community and anti-war activist and has been a member of Socialist Alternative (the Socialist Party’s US sister organisation) for 20 years.
He will explain why Malcolm X was correct to say, “You can’t have capitalism witthout racism.”
Eljeer will be in Ireland from Wednesday 18th February and will be available for interviews by telephone. To arranage an interview, contact Daniel on 07821058319.
