{{short description|British, left-wing, political activist (born 1968)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}} {{Use British English|date=May 2013}} {{Infobox person | name = Kevin Ovenden | birth_date = {{birth year and age|1968}} | occupation = Political activist | political_party = Respect Party }}
'''Kevin Ovenden''' (born 1968) is a British, left-wing, political activist who was a member of the Respect Party's leadership.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://liammacuaid.wordpress.com/2008/07/02/how-do-we-take-respect-forward-kevin-ovenden/ |title=How do we take Respect forward? Kevin Ovenden « Mac Uaid |access-date=10 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100614065955/http://liammacuaid.wordpress.com/2008/07/02/how-do-we-take-respect-forward-kevin-ovenden/ |archive-date=14 June 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He is an organiser of Viva Palestina.{{Citation needed|date=December 2018}}
==Biography== Ovenden was for many years a leading member of the Socialist Workers Party.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.davidosler.com/2007/10/swp-central-committee-justifies-expulsions |title=SWP: central committee justifies expulsions |publisher=David Osler |date=2007-11-17 |url-status=usurped|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130404032112/http://www.davidosler.com/2007/10/swp-central-committee-justifies-expulsions/ |archivedate= 4 April 2013 }}</ref>
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. It was arranged for him to speak at Socialism 2010, Chicago, 17 June 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://justicewithpeace.org/node/1480 |title=Breaking the Siege of Gaza! Featuring: Flotilla Massacre Eyewitness Kevin Ovenden {{!}} United for Justice with Peace |website=justicewithpeace.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100614071505/http://www.justicewithpeace.org/node/1480 |archive-date=2010-06-14}}</ref> He lives in Newham.
===Gaza flotilla=== Ovenden was on board the ''MV Mavi Marmara'', part of the 2010 Gaza Freedom Flotilla which was raided by Israel.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.vivapalestinaarabia.org/en/news/88-kevin-ovendon-reports-live-from-the-gaza-flotilla |title=Kevin Ovenden Report's Live from the Gaza Flotilla! |access-date=10 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100605010733/http://www.vivapalestinaarabia.org/en/news/88-kevin-ovendon-reports-live-from-the-gaza-flotilla |archive-date=5 June 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ramallahonline.com/?p=3558|title=Home | Ramallah Online}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.vivapalestina.org/alerts/flotilla_030610_ovenden.htm |title=Eyewitness Kevin Ovenden from the Freedom Flotilla: 'I saw people shot' |access-date=10 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100608095105/http://www.vivapalestina.org/alerts/flotilla_030610_ovenden.htm |archive-date=8 June 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He was detained by Israeli forces and subsequently deported to Istanbul.<ref>[http://www.eastlondonadvertiser.co.uk/content/towerhamlets/advertiser/news/story.aspx?brand=elaonline&category=news&tBrand=northlondon24&tCategory=newsela&itemid=WeED03%20Jun%202010%2012%3A07%3A30%3A600 "Gaza activist Kevin Ovenden safe in Istanbul"], ''East London Advertiser'', 3 June 2010</ref>
==Works== *''Malcolm X: Socialism and Black Nationalism'' (Bookmarks, London, 1992) *''Education: Why our children deserve better than New Labour'' (with Chanie Rosenberg) (1999) *[http://www.countercurrents.org/sustar070610.htm "An Act Of State Terrorism"], ''Counter Currents'', Lee Sustar & Kevin Ovenden, 7 June 2010 *''Syriza: Inside the Labyrinth'' (with Paul Mason) (September 2015)
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wghx7Ytf1pc&feature=youtube_gdata "Kevin Ovenden Viva Palestina National Demonstration for Gaza Peace Flotilla End the Siege of Gaza"], 05 06 10 *[https://web.archive.org/web/20100218092835/http://vodpod.com/watch/2652086-rr-interviews-viva-palestinas-kevin-ovenden-breaking-the-gaza-siege R&R Interviews Viva Palestina's Kevin Ovenden – Breaking the Gaza Siege] *[http://www.itnsource.com/shotlist//ITN/2010/06/05/T05061001/ ISRAEL: Gaza aid ship attack: interview with flotilla organiser Kevin Ovenden / London protests]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ovenden, Kevin}} Category:1968 births Category:Living people Category:British activists Category:Respect Party officials Category:British activists for Palestinian solidarity