Ban weakens anti-Nazi
Socialist Organiser1981 1981-09-03Read it in the scan (PDF), scan page 3 →
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The National Left Wing A RATHER poorly organised and small group of Anti Nazi League supporters opposed the fascists in Fulham last Sunday when the National Front held a rally there. (It was a rally rather than a march because of the 28 day Home Office ban on marches).
Prior to the controntation, about 200 of us gathered in Eel Brool Common for the ANL rally to begin. After 90 minutes it was announced that the Front had been sighted and several brief speeches were then made calling for an end to racist legislation and support of those arrested in the riots. Socialist Organiser supporter Richard Faria called for the rebuilding of the AN! to its previous strength.
Following stowards. We then spat up into groups in search of the front. threading our way through residenevery corner while a police helicopter circled overhead.
We tinally came upon them herded into Jerdan Place, behind two rows of police with only their banner 'Free Speec!: for White Racists' showing. The ANL crowded onio the pavement opposite and hurled a continual barrage of anti-front slogans at the fascists for well over an hour until the Nazi meeting broke up and both groups dispersed.
Police
It was clear that massive police presence - it was claimed they outnumbered demonstrators by three to one - and the banning of the march itself made the whole event relatively low key.
However. blanket bans on marches backed up by armies of police are obviously not solution to the problem fascism or the shaping of ANL strates: :
defence groups, it the oneisation is to be effective = credible.
At the end of the dethe police, in the! "" infamous 'cleaning up i:: ations arrested demonstrators, incl three Socialist Organi: -* porters who told us:
"We were told ins fascists were come decided to get vu: way.
"A minute tat.. :. arrested with othe ing some fascists. ..: in custody overn!:. next morning 4: -appear in cour: =*3 charged with ..:: behaviour.
The A.VL. money for the : 13arrested. Donti sent to: AAL. PY!
London Si
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Socialist Organiser, Thursday 3 September 1981 Page 4
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