Darcus Howe at the Battle of Lewisham, August 1977
The Battle of Lewisham - Reunion - How we stopped the Nazi NF
Fb event: https://en-gb.facebook.com/events/133868593825540/
Saturday 12 August at 13:00–16:30 UTC+01
|
|
Clifton Rise, London, SE14 6, United Kingdom
|
Forty years ago this August, thousands of anti fascists and locals
from South East London stopped the fascists of the National Front from
marching. The National Front hoped that by demonstrating in Lewisham –
an area with a high proportion of Afro Caribbeans – they would further
intimidate minorities. The fascists, however, were to receive a rude
awakening. The victory was critical in beating back the rise in racism
and fascism. Saturday 13th August, 1977 helped set back the fascists for
a generation.
The far right had become, pre Lewisham, mainstream in the media, in
political life and often, in popular culture. In 1977, the National
Front received over 100,000 votes in London elections.
The historic day in Lewisham, itself, saw trades unionists,
socialists, Labour Party members, and crucially, many people from
Lewisham itself, come together to say enough is enough.
Up to 10,000 people joined in to oppose the NF. All the
fascists possible routes were continually blocked, NF banners were
burned, and Bob Marley was played. The counter demo became a great
example of black and white unity.
Nazi organizations such as the NF, believed that they could build a
mass movement based upon racial prejudices and racist violence. They
were wrong, and they were defeated.
Ted Parker who took part in the battle, mentions, “Thereafter the NF
never again posed a serious political threat. Lewisham led directly to
the formation of the Anti Nazi League (ANL) which, together with Rock
Against Racism (RAR), and nowadays Love Music Hate Racism mobilised
hundreds of thousands in collective expressions of solidarity between
those of differing cultures and ethnic backgrounds. Organised racism was
marginalised for the next quarter of a century”
Come and march and meet with some of the key
individuals, who alongside many others, helped beat back the rise in
racism and the fascists who fed off such poison.
People who played a
critical role at Lewisham and some who helped form the Anti Nazi
League (ANL), will recall the day the Nazis were stopped from marching
and why it matters today. We'll assemble at Clifton Rise, a key location
on the day.
The united front of
socialists, trades unionists, Labour members... anyone against the
Nazis, that was the ANL, was inspired from Lewisham. Alongside Rock
Against Racism, the ANL was crucial in undercutting the then growing NF.
The ANL combined physically confronting the Nazis wherever they
raised their ugly heads with powerful propaganda exposing the little
Hitlers. It was a mass movement, that faced with the challenges posed by
Le Pen, Golden Dawn and Jobbik, still reasonates. Please share this
event, invite your friends, let's celebrate the victory and ensure
today's fascists are defeated.
Hosted by Unite Against Fascism
http://uaf.org.uk/2017/07/the-battle-of-lewisham-1977-40-years-on-2/
See also the commemorations being organised by Goldsmiths College - here:
http://sites.gold.ac.uk/battle-of-lewisham/2017/01/04/remembering-the-battle-of-lewisham-40-years-on/
