On May Day, International Workers Day, there was a major setback in the building of the anti-fascist, auti-racist struggle. One thousand fascists under marched from Portland Place in London's West End -10 Square, Hoxtoe in the East End with not a glimmer of opposition to them.
While bewildered ANL supporters who happened to be in the West Enc asked, "What's happening, where is the opposition?' the National Front martine The National Front na fascist front, joih the National Front, How did this take place given the recent increase in the growth of the anti-fascist anti-racist struggle? in led?
The fascists have never marched through East London since the war without a major opposion mobilising against them and yet, 24 hours after the biggest anti-fascist event seen in London since before the war; anti-fascist forces were unable to mobilise to oppose this march.
We first beard on Wednesday that the Socialist Challenge had received an anonymous telephone call saying that the National Front were trying to get police permission for a London march.
The London Co-ordinating Com mittee informed the SWP, the ANI. National Front planning a march on Hoxton.
that the waving. in London's West End.
Members tried to get participating the Carnival to xbo to the No mandi time demonstration effectively control. and Searchlight of the rumours and endeavoured to cross check informa tion. On Friday we became aware of rumours from other sources that the were definitely On Saturday night Searchlight informed one of us, the Communist Party, the Anti Nazi League, the SWP National Front over the country for a march starting of the Hackney Committee Against Racialism then the organisations in the Carnival to produce a leaflet calling for a mass organise m185s Ve met with a virtually blank wall politics? When we made approaches to the platform to get an announcement made from the platform at the Carnival the organisers refused to do so on the grounds that there wasn't organise counter that they could Since the growth of the ANL. there have been a number of mobilisations against fascist meetings purticularly in London where the apposition has heen passive and shrinking rapidly. Al the Elford by-election the picket was ahout 2,500; at Brixton the opposition was less than 1,000 On May Day the opposition was nil. Does this mean that we can n longer count on the motilising ability of the SWP and other militants within the ANL to go along with a militant opposition to openly fascist and racist organisations in this country All organisations concerned, including ourselves, should look at Was mobilisation possible? On Sunday 30 April in exoess of B0,000 people were mobilised in London. It we had tried to mobilise sections of this large coond for a demonstration the following day how many people degree could such an event as the Caroival have been used to increase the political awareness of people who do not normally take an active part in movement, , and not the NF. You can ber the NF feels the same, which is why there has been a spate of vicious racist assaults and even a murder. in Spitalfields since.
More disturbing though insinuations against the ANt and the organised far left. In particular, to suggest that the failure of the League and the left to mobilise on May Day indicates a decision to steer from open and militant opposition to We ure keen co see the ANL commilled from its conference to a policy ol mass accon to stop the fascists by any nicans necessary and to democratise its structure. Carnival is an Curious sore adite anti-faster indication movement bas, bor an example of POSITIVE diverting protests off the streets, into the parks and away from direct confrontations with racists LESLISES Existina anti-fascis: computees and ARAFCC have a posilive cole to such events as the Carnival but the orpanisational energy needed must not drain our bocomes impossible la scale immediate painst the National Front when it takes to the streets.
Lewishans may pot get the positive publicity that the received but thar in inseif is a good reason for asking who benefits iron diverting protest off the streets, into the parks and away from direct confrontation fascists?
We must not neglect toe political tasks needed if events such as the Carnival are to be used to increase awareness and specille local responses to anti-fascist, anti-racist campaigns. or a national anti-fascist body must cot become a ticket to inactivity that absolves tbe anti-fascist, anti-racis movement from the political and moral obligation to oppose racin and fascism wherever and whenever it appears.
Sunday's Carnival through the East End was a great national success. But on Monday we in the East End had the shame of watching the fascists POETES S0103.10 mount large Briun Smith, HOTE Carnival ha: Flume:
League, Alliance: racists and Mike Nicholson, generate Derek Membership Demonstration Lenton, Association CLP capacity. with a large black population and an arca of historic opposition to fascism.
Hackney Commice Racialism, Man Smith HCAR: Hackney Teachers AssociaJudith Himan, HCAR. Hackney Socialist Feminists; Kevin MeDonnell, HCAR, East London Big Pat Wooding Socialist Feminists; Richard KirkwINd, HCAR, Hackney Workers International Socialist Natasha Sivanandan HCAR, ANL: Ron Helsler, Hackney councillor: Sue Loewenstein, HCAR Ernie Greenwood, Communist Party;
Martin, HCAR; Brian Transport and General Workers Union; Peter Lewis, HCAR Kotz, National Union o School Students; Frunces Defence Unit: Bell Harris. Tower Hamlets Movement Against Racialism and Fasciam; Alan Dureen Hackney North and Stoke Newington CLP: Tim Hall, Hackbey Teacbers and IMG; Mark All signatures above are in u personal