Kevin Ovenden (born 1968) is a British, left-wing, political activist who was a member of the
Respect Party
The Respect Party was a left-wing to far-left, socialist political party active in the United Kingdom between 2004 and 2016. At the height of its success in 2007, the party had one Member of Parliament (MP) in the House of Commons and nineteen ...
's leadership. He is an organiser of
Viva Palestina
Viva may refer to:
Companies and organisations
* Viva (network operator), a Dominican mobile network operator
* Viva Air, a Spanish airline taken over by flag carrier Iberia
* Viva Air Dominicana
* VIVA Bahrain, a telecommunication company
* V ...
.
Biography
Ovenden was for many years a leading member of the
Socialist Workers Party.
He was expelled during the split between the leadership of the SWP and the activists organized around George Galloway.
He worked in the Westminster and Bethnal Green offices of then MP,
George Galloway
George Galloway (born 16 August 1954) is a British politician, broadcaster, and writer who is currently leader of the Workers Party of Britain, serving since 2019. Between 1987 and 2010, and then between 2012 and 2015, Galloway was a Member o ...
. It was arranged for him to speak at Socialism 2010,
Chicago
(''City in a Garden''); I Will
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, 17 June 2010. He lives in
Newham
The London Borough of Newham is a London borough created in 1965 by the London Government Act 1963. It covers an area previously administered by the Essex county boroughs of West Ham and East Ham, authorities that were both abolished by the s ...
.
Gaza flotilla
Ovenden was on board the ''
MV Mavi Marmara
MV ''Mavi Marmara'' is a Comoros-flagged passenger ship, which was formerly owned and operated by İDO Istanbul Fast Ferries Co. Inc. on the line Sarayburnu, Istanbul-Marmara Island- Avşa Island in the Sea of Marmara. Built at the Golden G ...
'', part of the
2010 Gaza flotilla.
He was detained by Israeli forces and subsequently deported to
Istanbul
Istanbul ( , ; tr, İstanbul ), formerly known as Constantinople ( grc-gre, Κωνσταντινούπολις; la, Constantinopolis), is the List of largest cities and towns in Turkey, largest city in Turkey, serving as the country's economic, ...
.
"Gaza activist Kevin Ovenden safe in Istanbul"
''East London Advertiser'', 3 June 2010
Works
*''Malcolm X: Socialism and Black Nationalism'' (Bookmarks, London, 1992)
*''Education: Why our children deserve better than New Labour'' (with Chanie Rosenberg
Chanie Rosenberg (20 April 1922 – June 2021) was a South African-born artist, former teacher and socialist. She was the sister of Michael Kidron, the partner of Tony Cliff, and a founder member of the Socialist Workers Party in Britain.
Life
...
) (1999)
"An Act Of State Terrorism"
''Counter Currents'', Lee Sustar & Kevin Ovenden, 7 June 2010
*''Syriza: Inside the Labyrinth'' (with Paul Mason) (September 2015)
References
External links
"Kevin Ovenden Viva Palestina National Demonstration for Gaza Peace Flotilla End the Siege of Gaza"
05 06 10
R&R Interviews Viva Palestina's Kevin Ovenden - Breaking the Gaza Siege
ISRAEL: Gaza aid ship attack: interview with flotilla organiser Kevin Ovenden / London protests
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ovenden, Kevin
1968 births
Living people
British activists
Respect Party officials