Originally posted by
[email protected] 31, 2006 02:42 pm
Hi im wondering if there is a welsh left or anti-fascist movement in Wales (Swansea).
It depends exactly what you mean by "anti-fascist movement", I suppose.
There's no active militant anti-fascist group in Swansea, a la antifa. You know, with the "no platform" philosophy ... and the numbers to make that philosophy work. (I say active, mainly because I wouldn't be surprised if, on paper, there was an antifa branch in Swansea; but an on paper presence and an actual presence, are rather different things.)
Indeed, as far as I know, and don't quote me on this, there isn't even an antifa branch in Cardiff. Though they do have, from what I hear, a pretty active "No Borders Network". Though the political work they do, is different from anti-fascist work -- even if the topics they deal with often overlap.
What Swansea does have is an anti-racist group, "Unite Against Fascism". They don't seem to have an internet site, but you can find information on them if you search on google. Like, for instance, this article (http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/article.php?article_id=5137) from the Socialist Worker.
And if you want an idea of the people involved, then you can find that information on Redwatch -- as bonkers as that sounds. If you look under the "Welsh Reds" section, you'll see pictures from an Anti-Nazi League meeting in July, 2003. (I'd link the page, but linking to any kind of fascist site should be avoided unless absolutely necessary.)
Anyway, I don't think the faces have changed, just the branding. So, basically, "Unite Against Fascism" is a grouping of Labour Party, Liberal Democrat, Green Party, Plaid and SWP members. (The SWP presence, is under the banner of the Welsh Socialist Alliance on Redwatch -- it's likely under the RESPECT banner now.)
Additionally, it's probably factually inaccurate to call the anti-fascist groups in Swansea, as Redwatch does, "[a] Marxist SWP front". With such a mainstream political orientation -- centre left, at best -- they're not really a "front" for anything on the far left.
Basically, they're vechicles through which the threat of the "fascist bogeyman" can be expressed at election time. Which is, of course, why the members of the Swansea Labour Party don't ignore them -- £15,000 and a Seat on the City Council is a lot to lose!
Hope that helps.