For updates and developments a year on, in 2021, see here.
I attended the London Tate workers' demonstration against job cuts on 12 September, and was subjected to vicious and politically shameful abuse by a Stalinist, Dominic Cerasoli (not a Tate worker or PCS member). I have waited a while to publish what happened for various reasons.
On the demo as it marched away from Tate Modern along the South Bank, just after midday, I was accosted by someone I didn't recognise at the time who repeatedly called me a “nonce”. He made unambiguous references to children being nearby and me supposedly being a threat to them. I responded briefly by saying that this was utterly outrageous, and then moved away. Then, thinking I shouldn't let this kind of behaviour go unchallenged, I found him and took a picture (included above - he's on the right). I then quickly moved away again.
After a while the person found me again and repeated his verbal assault, including again using the word “nonce” several times. I moved away again. Shortly after that he and another person in the small group he was with found me again and made threatening gestures, clearly intended to suggest they wanted a physical fight and would assault me. Although I didn't think this would happen on the demonstration, I needed to leave not long after and was concerned they might try something when I did. However, I managed to leave without incident.
I showed the photograph to a few comrades and learned the individual in question was Cerasoli, a well-known supporter of the Stalinist-nationalist group Red London, which has a record of promoting this kind of behaviour against political opponents. For an explanation of what Red London is and its record, see here. For more on Cerasoli, see the Bob from Brockley blog here. I encountered Cerasoli when I lived in Lewisham and the people trying to take over Lewisham Momentum in 2018 stood him to be the group's political education officer.
If this incident had taken place just in the street, rather than on a labour movement demonstration, I might have gone to the police. Instead I am seeking redress in the labour movement. Cerasoli seems to be a member of the trade union Prospect and of the Young Communist League (see here for an article on the YCL site saying he is a YCL member, including a photo). I have made formal complaints to both; and to the Communist Party of Britain, to which the YCL is linked. The CPB says Cerasoli is a YCL but not a CPB member.
The following should not really need spelling out, but to spell it out: it is unacceptable to harass and throw abuse at people at labour movement, etc, demonstrations and activities (unless they are right-wing interlopers there to undermine the event or similar). It is doubly unacceptable to treat child abuse as a nasty joke in order to facilitate such toxic behaviour.
On one level Dominic Cerasoli's antics on the Tate workers' demo were pathetic and laughable, but on another level they were indicative of a poisonous and destructive politics and culture which has got a small foothold on the left. The labour movement should crack down on this kind of behaviour, and root out the politics and culture Red London promotes.
An update and developments, a year on
See here.