alan woods

https://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/jamie-graham-why-i-left-fightback

In one of many discussions I had with leading comrades about the issues described in this statement, I expressed that I felt survivors of sexual violence were treated with hostility and suspicion by the organization’s leadership. To my surprise, the member I was speaking with did not disagree. Instead, I was told that it was actually necessary to treat any allegations as a political attack against the organization until proven otherwise, because “even Alan Woods” has been accused of misconduct. I have been assured that these allegations were false and that the woman behind them was “crazy” and “actually coming on to Alan” (no explanation was given as to why a young woman would be “coming on” to a man in his 70s, or why the IMT seems to cross paths with “crazy” victims everywhere it goes). After looking into these claims myself, I uncovered a statement that describes the mishandling of these allegations and others in the British section of the IMT. I cannot substantiate these claims further, but I can say that their description of facing a “wall of silence” after coming forward, being written off by leadership, and leaving just to do so on their own terms, is incredibly familiar to me.

I’ll let Alan Woods, the primary “theoretician” and international figurehead of the organization, speak for himself:

“A representative of the American SWP was in London and asked to meet us. [...] I had my notebook and pen ready to take notes, but after a while I let my pen drop and just sat there aghast. He was a student and was supposed to be one of their “cadres”. But all he talked about was Black Nationalism, Women’s Lib, Gay Lib, Vietnam and Cuba. I thought to myself: all that is missing is Flower Power and the joys of marijuana and the picture would be complete. Once again, not a single word about the working class or the class struggle.” (From Chapter 7 of his hagiography of Ted Grant, written in 2016)

This kind of chauvinism is far more divisive to the working class than “identity politics” will ever be. It is utterly meaningless to repeat empty platitudes about how prejudice of all kinds will disappear in a socialist society when you oppose any efforts to keep those prejudices from tearing our movement apart from within. Leadership that cannot admit to its own profound political mistakes in the past is ill-equipped to truly criticize and correct its dangerous flaws in the present.