the Labour MP for Edge HIll, Liverpool, is the Istest martyr lor the cause of Labour moderation. On Friday 20 May his constituency party voled by 37 to 3 to ask their MP to general election.
But it is not simply a case of personalities. Members Edge Hill Labour Party are correct to sack Irvine for his laziness. Hard work however is not the only criterion for a political representative.
class policies of the Labour SIR ARTHUR IRVINE QC, International Marxist Group and Big Flame have agreed that in the event of an Edge Hill by-clection they support revolutionary socialist or class struggie candidate. Tothisend they are approaching local campaign independent stand down at the next working class organisations and other organisations of the HE BEE in particular the Socialist Workers Party, to of discuss promoting such a joint candidate.
Such candidate would offer a fighting alternative to both Sir Arthur Irvine, the Labour 'moderates"
Much more important are witch-bent, and the Labour the current political issues, in "lefts" like Foot who follow the particular the anti-working political, cconomic and social policies of the moderates'
From the tone of all the papers a seems we are in for another run. н палец, тасіт геротиод. гли me in the form of an onslaught on the West indian community in the intentions of the police and ong trial. At the same time, the ons by the prosecution could ocabulary of the CHARGES The 18 defendants face about 20 all of them brought against young blacks nowadays. Like, for instance Between 20 August and 21 October last year in the Greater and with persons unknown to sa robbers or 00 a gas anknown in the monch of Ocroanknown of handbag and conThe kind of 'evidence" used to cook ub such charee is scurces what you'd call reliable — as was proved in one insance where a suspect was found to be out of the country at the time! "CARNIVAL an orgy of mugging and violence - QC'. That was how the press took up the trial of the 18 islington black youths which opened at the Old Balley last week.
Much of the prosecution's case ts based on accounts som the time of Notting Hill Carnival and satements that were extracted from the youths when they were TE PIckCu прVAGUE Given that the present "sus" aas vive the police powers to arrest on the vaguest of charges, they have for a long time exercised a blanket racism in picking up just any black youths and pinning charges on them.
It in no accident that the Islington 18 were arrested soon after last year's Notting Hill with unexpectedly strong resis smarting from such a defeat ever Since being picked up and detained, the youths have bee harassed and brutalised. All er Jons were mowe to act macm To admit to warned to pin on thems, A lot of whatever the time was spent before the trial stress. Now that the trial has started, they are sell uncer thai duress, but have all nevertheless pleaded nor guilty to the charges. As the trial drags on for another 3 months, that strain and pre sure will increase, as it will also on their families who have stood by them and defended them.
There is no doubt that die police and the courts are making this trial a test case — to prov that they have not been defeared by the resistance such as that shown at the Carnival, and that no matter how much young ment in jobs (or lack of them). in and so on, they are going to be FRAME-UPS We've had plenty of such trials before, from the Mangrove case youths, their parents and com have been youths will be used as examples young blacks and intimidate and CORDE BOG TOO OL SOC COCHETE ity; bur specifically the trial will certainly celle an armosphere of hostility towards this year's Carnival, and give the police and authorities plenty of excuses for interfering in and policing it on an even bareer sce man las But the second thing that the in this case thes involved know is and Islington 18 demonstration on 23 April.
youths, their parents and those just what 15 Tarilies are having to go through the courts. because of such a trial. If the roblems of joblessness, hom assment force black youths into the first place those problems remale for them and their fam lies all the time that they are suhsequeatly drageed through So, the Islingron 18 Defence Committee is trying to take up not neic sides to the tant All the support possible is needed for police harassment. The committee vegently needs money to assist the woaths and their Jamil ies, and to enable tben to orpinise more widely and er fectively. Its adress is 16l, Hornsey Rd, Islington.
SHEILA MALONE.