80 guests thronged London's newly-opened Palestine House on Saturday 3 August to celebrate Keith Bennett's 66th birthday, including representatives of socialist countries and of progressive organisations and other comrades and friends.

Photos: 

General photos of the event and the location

Participants in the celebration

There are more photos as well — this page is still in preparation…

Celebrating Keith Bennett’s birthday has grown from being a small gathering of comrades and friends into becoming a major date on the anti-imperialist and progressive calendar.

Since the beginning of his political activities over half a century ago, Keith has steadily become increasingly recognised and respected for the practical steps he has been taking to build links between progressive forces in this country and the international forces for progress headed by the socialist and independent-minded countries.

This year’s holding of the event in the newly-opened Palestine House signalised the fact that solidarity with Palestine is at the centre of the tasks of progressive people in this country, all the more urgent at this particular time when the hundreds of thousands who, month after month, have been marching in solidarity with Palestine constitute a foremost element of our line of defence against the increasing threat of racism and fascism in this country.

Concluding his speech welcoming his guests, Keith quoted the words of Che Guevara: “If you tremble with indignation at every injustice then you are a comrade of mine.” The event did indeed unite every one of his 80 guests in this spirit of comradeship and determination to face the challenges that lie ahead.

Text of Keith Bennett’s speech