My decision to join the Socialist Party started in May 2014. I was watching Joe Hockey read out one of the cruellest budgets I could remember in his expensive suit with that horrible smirk across his face telling the nation that Australia’s most vulnerable were all a bunch of ‘leaners’ and that ‘the age of entitlement’ was over.
By Sue M, Melbourne
I went on to Facebook, read a few articles and read the comments. I was pleased to see that people were as outraged as I was and I made a few friends along the way. One invited me to an anti-Abbott rally. Once there I felt pride at least knowing I was trying to make a difference.
After that I attended a few more rallies and joined the collective Anonymous, around this time I noticed Reclaim Australia and the Great Ausssie Patriot. I listened to them spew their hatred of Muslims and refugees and felt sick. I commented on their pages and the hate then aimed at me was extreme
I went on to the first No Room for Racism rally and found it extraordinary that there were so many good, kind people that said no to racism and that we were able to chase away the haters.
A few months after that I found out there was a No Room for Racism forum being held. A few friends and I decided to attend and found it fantastic. I decided to join the planning committee which met every Sunday for a few months to discuss and plan how to tackle Reclaim, the new splinter group – the UPF and racism in general.
During this time I got a chance to talk to Stephen Jolly, Mel Gregson, Chris Dite, Anthony Main and other Socialist Party members. They were fantastic, always willing to answer questions and putting up with the people who to this day I believe were only there to cause problems.
From the time of Joe Hockey’s budget until I joined the Socialist Party I looked into socialist ideas in general and found that I agreed with them in principle. I looked into other socialist groups too but found I didn’t really fit with any of these groups. From the time I met the Socialist Party onwards I feel like I have a second family. They take the time to listen and teach as well as having regular meetings, rallies and educational sessions. I know I will be a member of the Socialist Party for a very long time.
