WORKERS rallied by the Glasgow La Pasionaria statue on the banks of the Clyde on Saturday to remember the International Brigaders who fought to stop fascism in Spain.

Before wreaths were laid by trade unions and trades councils, the rally heard from speakers keen to draw on brigaders’ example as they take on fascism today.

Nathan Hennebry, a young trade unionist and Young Communist League member, told the rally: “We’ve already got fascists organising across Scotland, across England, across Wales, across the whole of Europe, and as capitalism continues to spiral into crisis, these forces begin to rise out from the dark.

“So today, let’s remember the International Brigaders, let’s carry the fire that they took to Spain to fight Franco’s forces and let’s beat the fascists at home.”

Glasgow Trades Union Council’s Jennifer McCarey spoke of how the International Brigaders inspired her father’s generation to fight fascism in Chile with support and solidarity.

She said: “We pass the baton on to each generation to fight for the internationalist cause.

“The war on Gaza requires the same unequivocal condemnation, it requires governments to act, it requires solidarity and material assistance.

“We require our whole movement to champion humanity and internationalism more than.”

Communist Party of Spain member Africa Moreno told the rally: “We will be forever grateful to the brave men and women of Scotland that didn’t hesitate to risk their lives and fight side by side with the Republicans against fascism.”

Addressing today’s challenges, she said: “To those who bomb children and hospitals, to those who rule to cover women’s bodies and bind their voices from public spaces, those who spread hate, and terror in our neighbourhoods, I say: ‘we are the people.’

“We are the many, and you shall not pass. No pasaran!”