Chronological history of UK militant anti-fascism (1935-89)

[1968]

http://www.geocities.com/cordobakaf/AFA.html

It's obviously incomplete but whoever put it together should be congratulated. It comes from the AFA pamphlet 'Heroes or Villians?' published in 1989.

Some classics:

SUNDERLAND 1935
"In July 400 miners smashed a BUF meeting in Sunderland." (Fighting Talk, Issue 10)

LONDON 1963
"The editor of 'Action' - the organ of Sir Oswald Mosley's Union Movement - was made to kneel on the floor and tear up copies of the publication when members of an anti-fascist organisation raided the Movement's Vauxhall Bridge Road headquarters." (The Times - 5/6/63)

LONDON 1970
"Shortly after opening the office on 22 October, O'Brien (NF leader) was knocked to the floor by three unidentified men who took with them the subscription files on 6,000 members and other documents." (The National Front - Martin Walker)

EDINBURGH 1977
Michael Napier was fined £30 for punching John Tyndall in the face at a counter-demonstration against the NF in Edinburgh last year. His defence - "I was justified in hitting him six million times over. He has in the past committed himself to the extermination of thousands of Jews. My very mild blow cannot be compared with the gigantic crime he wishes to perpetrate." (CARF - the paper of the Anti-Racist, Anti-Fascist co-ordinating Committee, No.4, 1978)

LONDON 1983
"3 swaggering boneheads who demanded to know where the commies were, to their dismay actually found some in the shape of 4 Red Action supporters. After an intense discussion one of the skinheads lost all sympathy from the motorists of West Kensington by lying in the middle of the road, blocking all the traffic and generally making a perfect nuisance of himself." (Red Action. Issue 10)

[K.Bullstreet]

:)Very good read! Thanks 1968.

[Pogue]

lol cool, i suggest reading

No Retreat

[bellyscratch]

SUNDERLAND 1935
"In July 400 miners smashed a BUF meeting in Sunderland." (Fighting Talk, Issue 10)


Wasn't expecting to see anything from Sunderland... shows how much I know about the history of the place

[bellyscratch]

A couple from where I used to live on there too.


KIRKLEES 1978
"Tyndall, Webster and about 100 NF members (and friends from the BNP) were recently stranded in pouring rain for 45 minutes, after someone jammed the locks on a Kirklees council hall, where they were due to have a public meeting." (CARF, No.4, 1978)


BRADFORD 1984
"Members of the National Front in Bradford were driven from their newspaper pitch by members of Workers Against Racism. About 30 WAR supporters approached NF paper sellers on Broadway and told them to move on. When They refused, a brawl developed, during which NF papers were seized and destroyed. Local WAR organiser Eileen McEvoy said her group was prepared lo take the law into its own hands to keep the NF and the BNP off the city’s streets (Bradford Telegraph and Argus 26/7/84)

:D

[Batman]

lol cool, i suggest reading

No Retreat

I suggest waiting for the official RA/AFA book, when it is published.

[Pogue]

I suggest waiting for the official RA/AFA book, when it is published.

yeh it'll be cool but noretreat is quite good

[K.Bullstreet]

I suggest waiting for the official RA/AFA book, when it is published.

Is there actually one in the works?

[Pogue]

Is there actually one in the works?

People have said there could potentially be something being published as soon as its agreed if its appropritate, safe, etc.

[K.Bullstreet]

Ok that's quite interesting. I think that would be very good actually. I'm suprised that no official AFA/RA stuff has been published, but then again I guess a lot of people are still involved, and many things will be too recent history to start giving the state info on. If anybody hears anything though, let us know:).

[Batman]

Is there actually one in the works?

From what I'm told it's done and dusted and should be out shortly hopefully.

[Melbourne Lefty]

Its a fine history.


LEWISHAM 1977
"A carving knife, honed to razor sharpness. A metal pipe, with wickedly lacerating studs. These exhibits, held grimly aloft by a London bobby, come from the murderous weaponry deployed against the police on Bloody Saturday. Truly they are the regalia of hate. Hate for the police, for authority, for law and order and liberties enshrined within that order. Here was no honest, spontaneous anger by decent people against a racist parade. This was a contrived assault, with acid and knife and brick and bludgeon on the police: an evil and premeditated attempt to scar authority, slash liberty and engender panic and fear in an already troubled community. Gashed, bruised and bleeding. Britain's police held the front line for freedom. They have not seen rougher nor more ominous action since the Thirties. In defending the right of the repellant National Front to march through the racially sensitive areas of Lewisham and Deptford, they presented themselves as the prime target for the Red stormtroopers of the Left. But it wasn't bags of flour and placards and jeers they had to face this time. It was blinding ammonia and caustic soda." (Daily Mail, 15/8/77)

Good to see the Daily Hate Mail has not changed much!:laugh:

My parents were at Lewisham fighting the NF [or so they tell me].

[Pogue]

Its a fine history.



Good to see the Daily Hate Mail has not changed much!:laugh:

My parents were at Lewisham fighting the NF [or so they tell me].

good on them, i have similar heritage.

[1968]

Someone should start compiling a list from 1989 - now.

[1968]

Someone should start compiling a list from 1989 - now.

Here's a little bit from wikipedia:

On September 23, 2004, Antifa was involved in a confrontation with David King, a former British National Party (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_National_Party) treasurer, and his security entourage in Basildon (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basildon), Essex (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essex).

On January 15, 2005, Antifa was involved in a confrontation with National Front white power skinheads (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_power_skinhead) in Woolwich (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woolwich).

On March 27, 2005, 30 anti-fascists from a Yorkshire-based Antifa group attacked a British National Party meeting in Halifax (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halifax,_West_Yorkshire). The anti-fascists threw half-bricks and rocks at the BNP security, and BNP members' cars were smashed.

On May 30 May 2006 militant anti-fascists attacked a BNP meeting in Starbeck (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starbeck), North Yorkshire throwing half bricks through the windows showering the speakers who included Nick Griffin, with glass and debris.

On March 13, 2008, Yorkshire (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yorkshire) anti-fascists attacked several Leeds venues that had been recently used for BNP meetings.

On April 19, 2008, London (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London) anti-fascists attacked a British Peoples Party (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Peoples_Party_%282005%29) meeting in Victoria, London. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victoria,_London)

In August 2008, Antifa England mobilised, but failed to shut down the BNP’s annual Red, White & Blue festival
On October 5, 2008, six anti-fascists were arrested in a street fight against BNP activists in Bethnal Green (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bethnal_Green), East London.

[Batman]

A chronology of Irish anti-fascism would be interesting. From the Blueshirts, Aiseirgi, INSWP, National Movement up till the mid nineties....

[Melbourne Lefty]

On October 5, 2008, six anti-fascists were arrested in a street fight against BNP activists in Bethnal Green (http://www.anonym.to/?http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bethnal_Green), East London.


Wasnt that the BPP? or do I have it mixed up?:confused:

[Batman]

Wasnt that the BPP? or do I have it mixed up?:confused:

Was that not the one where the vicar was informed of the BNP using their facilities? :rolleyes:

[nuisance]

Wasnt that the BPP? or do I have it mixed up?:confused:
No, that was on another occasion.

http://www.antifa.org.uk/nucleus3.32/nucleus332/index.php?itemid=20

http://www.antifa.org.uk/nucleus3.32/nucleus332/index.php?itemid=96

[K.Bullstreet]

Here's a little bit from wikipedia:

On September 23, 2004, Antifa was involved in a confrontation with David King, a former British National Party (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_National_Party) treasurer, and his security entourage in Basildon (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basildon), Essex (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essex).

On January 15, 2005, Antifa was involved in a confrontation with National Front white power skinheads (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_power_skinhead) in Woolwich (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woolwich).

On March 27, 2005, 30 anti-fascists from a Yorkshire-based Antifa group attacked a British National Party meeting in Halifax (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halifax,_West_Yorkshire). The anti-fascists threw half-bricks and rocks at the BNP security, and BNP members' cars were smashed.

On May 30 May 2006 militant anti-fascists attacked a BNP meeting in Starbeck (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starbeck), North Yorkshire throwing half bricks through the windows showering the speakers who included Nick Griffin, with glass and debris.

On March 13, 2008, Yorkshire (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yorkshire) anti-fascists attacked several Leeds venues that had been recently used for BNP meetings.

On April 19, 2008, London (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London) anti-fascists attacked a British Peoples Party (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Peoples_Party_%282005%29) meeting in Victoria, London. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victoria,_London)

In August 2008, Antifa England mobilised, but failed to shut down the BNP’s annual Red, White & Blue festival
On October 5, 2008, six anti-fascists were arrested in a street fight against BNP activists in Bethnal Green (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bethnal_Green), East London.

Very incomplete, it must be said. It's a start though. Don't forget some of these things are a lot more recent to start giving details of...:).

[1968]

Damn. Geocities is now gone, meaning that the above article 'AFA - Heroes or Villians' is not accessible anymore.

Was anyone smart enough to save the text or does anyone know if you can read it online anywhere eslse?