THEY called it the Battle of George Square, or Bloody Friday, when a massive riot broke out in the city centre of Glasgow as police and striking workers clashed throughout the city centre.
The date was January 31, 1919, and this coming week will see a series of events which will mark the centenary of an event that could have made Scotland both socialist and independent as most of the Red Clydeside leaders favoured home rule.
On Thursday, CommonSpace is hosting its first forum of 2019 at its new home at Kinning Park Complex in Glasgow, next to Kinning Park Subway station.
The forum will look back at the story of Red Clydeside and discuss what can be learned from it, and will ask what would a 21st century version of Red Clydeside look like.
Also on Thursday, Glasgow City Archives at the Mitchell Library will host a talk by Dr Valerie Wright of Glasgow University, who will consider the role that women played in the grassroots and party political activism in Glasgow and the west of Scotland, collectively termed “Red Clydeside”.
It starts at 6pm in the Moir/Dyer Room, and its free but places are limited. Book in person at the Granville Street reception or phone 0141 287 2999.
Again on Thursday, the Socialist Workers Party will host an event in the Scottish Youth Theatre in Glasgow with the explanatory title Bloody Friday: was Britain on the brink of revolution? It starts at 7pm in the Old Sheriff Court building in Brunswick Street.
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