Asian TEACHERS and journalists were among those who picketed InC National Front's headquarters in Hackney as the NF held a press conference to grounds, launch pamphlet, Nazi League'. Pickets also grecica simmar press conel-ne meant ences in BLOCKDO L be a straight return to the or Jewish of British Jews (in fact, has ANL).
JUDGE MICHAEL ARGYLE on 19 July sentenced Joginder Singh Virk to seven years' imprisonment, Mohinder Singh Virk to three years, Balvinder Singh Virk to two years, and Sukhvinder Singh Virk to three months for allegedly causing serious bodily harm to Not only were the sentences savage, but the whole case rested on the police version of events, said A.
Steering Committee of Against held on There is the usual talk about Some *the sinister Russian-Jewish City bankers and offspring who own the assets of the emphasis *Jewish' or "Zionist" and finally Lifting the Lid off the Anti by people who don't have very deep roots in Britain'. Asked if Jewish people, NF Birmingham and leader Webster said he did.
Most or ine press cuner Lifting the Lid turns out to ignored these Nazi-style ravings theory, contempt they deserve. But not London claiming that the ANE was so The Times. Its correspon begun by the Board of Deputies dent Robert Parker seemingly London as we didn't notice the anti-semitism: detailed last week, the Board The Front booklet...
refused to support the about the league exactly what countries have got together to the league alleges of the Front.' The Virk brothers had in fact been the victims attacks and racial abuse. They had defended themselves under severe provocation.
The police arrested the Virk brothers while the real attackers went free.
Jugge Argyle accepted the police version of events Dul went on to concen as 'irrelevant' the introduction DV acence prejudice' as a motivation — and rebuked them for asking the white attackers they belonged to the National Front.
BIAS In ruling 'out of court' the whole "crime' the judge was in effect reflecting and reinforcing the racial bias of the police and _denying justice to the black defendants.
This case raises fundamental issues. brtain ine ponce and tne state afford no protection Tacar aouse ane radar wolence.
Judge Argyle's ruling is not an isolated instance. But it Is difficult to glean examples from press reports of similar court proceedings because the police, and, subsequently the magi strates or Juages, nave already defined for the reporters who is aggressor — thereby precluding vice deal mc arriculation or the black experience.
The Institute of Race however, reveal a disconcerting ICCCHIL opinions and decisions:
In December 18-year-old black youth who accidentally stabbed to death a white attacker was jailed for 18 months. He carried a knife for self-protection. youths who had been put off a bus for conductor attacked him and he defended himself.
The judge, Melford Stephenson, who whites had been responsible for the incident, went on to say:
*I have got to make it clear that people of any race and colour who carry the kind of horrible weapon that you used must learn that the quences must be grave.' (South London Press, 9.12.77).
In April, İssa Ahmodu, a Nigerian businessman "lived in fear of mugging', was pounced on by plain pulled a penknife in fear and ran to his hotel.
He was later charged and anythin geople will believe their EIGHT journalists on back- South Kent Gazelle went on the strike on Monday after the accusation that the AN is run editor decided apology to the NF for calling Nazis' without any reply by the journalists who wrote the original story.
the WOMEN and Ireland, North Women Racism and Fascism, Black Group, and women involved in alleges struggles in various third world organise two one-day women fined £40.
In a "Sus"
arrived and only The mind her own business."
Bracial *In no uncertain terms, The magistrate whether Community, October 78). cases social context of the For black people in actually charged.
student al because of their colour.
the USUCCES of the Relations, CONTRAST judicial 1977 an IWO WHILe grievous A gang of Upon. black accepted that the There is also Asian, LUIISC" before Old Street Nichols, who Lane.
clothes two Asians, indoors every 1317 Gazette, 27.6.78).
October and the Saturday 11 November. start OTTERE provided.
Against North and unlawtully Women's Great Eastern headquarters refused bail.
(South Kensington case where two vouths were found guiltv. the woman from whom they were ALCECULO Have aCHE DECE LU steal told police that she had noticed nothing of the sort.
magistrate told the London. police in court: 1 hope you told her to get out of the way and The police officer replied:
Sir'. And now added. 'Ouite right, I don't approve of that kind of person. (Wandsworth July, where Judges do accept a racial motivation for a Asian crime (unlike Judge Argyle), the sentence on whites and the entire family, apprehension of whites is quite house out of line with those relating to telephone.
murderers of Gurdip Singh Chagger had the murder Front; one man slaughter and got a sentence of four years. Of the 150 white racists who rampaged through hospital. Brick Lane on 11 June, 20 were arrested and only three were two Norwich men invoived in repeated assaults on black BASI AnOR University convinced the judge were chosen But the judge did not want to "deprive them of their liberty" and affect their employment' so he fined them £100 each. (Eastern Daily Press, Compare the sentences on the Virk brothers with those of • TaCISES a wover hampton who pleaded guilty to wounding with intent to cause bodily harm and possessing an offensive wea One was jailed for 2½ years for a deliberate and unprovoked' racial attack on a West malan, ine orner nad a six suspended sentence. (Belfast Telegraph, 9.8.78).
La remarkable being handed out to blacks and white) magistrate charged with USERS threatening behaviour in Brick All were given bail, bat the Rahman and Haque, were ordered to stay Sunday 7pm. (Hackney only educationals on imperial- TWO The first is on Sunday the second Both 10.30am the Methodist Church Hall, Lancaster Road, WII. Cost: both days t1.50 (unemployed 75p), one day fl (unemployed 50p).
Hon-DavmentCost includes papers. Creche E17.
FOUR NF members have been charged with making an affray THE fighting Street after sponsors of a ineidents outside the NF's nev Thursday night. James O'Keefe (39] was Contrast this with the fact that the accused murderers of Ishaq Ali were allowed bail on 7 July on the condition inat tne live in Manchester, Birmingham and Liverpool for thei own safety. At their second apocal alt September, this condition was revoked and they returned to them Also on 7 July, at the same court, three Nigerians who had 'overstayed' their visa conditions were remanded in custody.
for the police offensive — which the judiciary tends to underpin:
At 12.15 on the morning of 3 seven plainclothes men broke into the home of family in Longsight, Manchester. They terrified the broke up the and pulled OUL the All the family thought they were mempers or une wanona Munir, had even tried to call the police for help! Nazir, the father, was beaten up and had to go to THE ILLUSTRATIONS on this page are from Divide and Rule -Never!', a superb new film featuring and aimed at young people. White and black young women and men talk about racism, the fascists, their experience of diserimination, and their views on its causes. It's direct, engaging.
ANL activists In Waltham Forest, one unemployed and the other on f41 a CRE, 247 Mare Street, E8 [tel week, have been fined E140 and 986 4121]. ordered to pay compensation of t250 for painting anti-NF slogans on a subway. tions are urgently needed if they are to avoid going to jail for six previous convictions, was • picase sena to jailed Walthamstow ANL, c/o CRC 25 Church Hill, Walthamstow Hackney Council out by Racial Equality is among the conference on *The Law and Race Relations in about you, with your record of Hackney on 4 November from violence, 10.30am to 3.30pm at the John cerned abour other people's Scott Health Centre, WoodBoth Nazir and Munir Ahmed have now been arrestect and charged with wounding with intent' - a charge which carries a life sentence. (Ahmed Defence Committee).
January plainclothes men harassed a 19-yearold black youin in Daistor who, having been attacked three weeks earlier by National Front members, and suspecting members, produced a penknife from his pocket He states that he verbally abused and punched by the police - sustaining a hand injury. He was charged with possessing an offensive weapon (Islington Gazette, 6.12.78).
In May 1976, white youths attacked Bengalis outsielte Daneford School. The Bengalis were arrested.
The same month, Shamsu Uddin was seen by witnesses to have been assaulted by three wirie Doys He was arrested and charged possessing onensive weapons Hammer found in histome by broom and a police. (Race Today, June 76).
from the Newsreel collective berry Down, Green Lanes, N4.
details contact Hackne Dona- NF ACTIVIST Keith Squire, a self-employed scrap dealer with -tor six monins Monday for putting up a poster with intent to stir racial hatred against black people.
The poster claimed that mos mugging incidents were carried black people against whites. Commented the judge: *There seems something ironic being socially con Socialist Challenge 26 October 1978 page 11
SOUTH African military occupation of Namibia will continue after the major imperialist powers caved in
----- pull-quotes -----
three white youths. SIVANANDAN, director of the Institute of Race Relations, at a meeting of the
Organisations Saturday. ( Here we publish the dossier on the pathology of victimisation presented by Sivanandan.