NO MORE RACIST MURDERS The racist attacks, the fire-bombs and the harass ment of Asians in the East End of London still continues. #On Saturday 29 July a meeting in Southall attended by all the major Asian organisations in the country voted to endorse the sentiments expressed in the letter the Indian Workers Association and the Standing Conference of Pakistani Organisations convening the meeting. The letter stated: 'For the past decade the Asian Welfare Organisations have resisted pressures in encouraging their members to join self-defence groups in face of attacks and in spite of considerable apathy from the supposed forces of law and order. •'We now believe that the time has come when we must urge our people to look to their own defence. The leading ethnic minority groups in Britain should be supporting each other in a practical and effective sense, in the mounting of such measures as are needed for the physical defence of our various peoples. 'in addition we are urging all Asians to join the Anti Nazi League, which we regard as the best Anti-Nazi movement in Britain so far." • The meeting agreed to make 20 August a day of national | solidarity with Brick Lane and pledged contingents from all over the country to show the unity and solidarity of Asians with their brothers and sisters in Brick Lane. •The following Sunday 600 anti-fascists prevented the NF from taking over their pitch at the top of Brick Lane. This enraged the NF and they attacked a number of ANL activists who were painting out racist slogans. Five ANL supporters were accordingly arrested by the police.
The same day a gang of NF youths attacked Graham Turner, a white street trader, who other traders had issued a statement calling for an end to the violence. • Turner was badly beaten up, presumably a reason why he could not be arrested. His attackers escaped the attention of the guardians of law and order' •The top of Brick Lane has immense symbolic importance for the Nazis. It's at the centre of the area they regard as their stronghold; the area where Webster and Tyndall will be standing in the General Election. Their presence at the top of Brick Lane is a threat to the people who live and work in the area. The assault on Graham Turner is only the latest incident. •The Anti Nazi League is calling on every anti-racist to make this a priority. Brick Lane is our Lane. We want it back. If we want to enjoy the market, to shop, to eat, to live in peace, we must safeguard it against pollution. Sunday after Sunday we must be there to show our solidarity with all the people who are the victims of racist violence. On August we will have the support of people from throughout Britain. But WE must be there on 27 August as well and every Sunday until the elections are over.
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BRICK LANE DAY OF NATIONAL SOLIDARITY 20 AUGUST CARNIVAL - SEE PAGE 6