The spectre of racism that Enoch Powell bestowed on Wolverhampton is likely 1o suffer grievous harm this Saturday, when the town will witness its largest ever anti-racist demonstration, reports JEFNY ASHCROFT, secretary of Wolverhampton Anti-Racist Committee.
Mans Arian Dabs. shogs, and clubs in the Black Country mobilising poster produced by anti-racist commitee, which has called the national demonstration.
Bach Inciar. Workes ten ciations (GB and ML) expecans nandreas supporters fram across Britait, and West Indian organisations are mobilising well as locally.
SUPPORT Together witb the support of expecting a march of 5,000 to demonstale 1e wolverhambton that we will not put up with racisin, whetber it comes from shite thugs WEIO have responsible for knifings, and burnings, or police harassment.
INQUIRY A local labour TOTy on racist Molcoce and police harassment, held on 25 February, UNIT HOUSE GONE ded that there was a case to answer after hearing evidence trom leaders of organisations, victims attacks, and the anti-racist the committee.
inquiry panci included several Labour coun cillors and union officials, supported the committee's call are for an independent public inquiry into the situation recommendations COsiEs that it does not do a whitewash job, We hope thar all Socialist Challenge supporters will be in Wolverhampion to help confront berinage:
The inquiry, held at Wolver barton Po vecha the wrath which bested la the directorate.
been intimidation, movement black of wluch Photo:
to harassment. press statenient Itself and college staff from the inquiry. This was immediately rebutted by committee of the staff onion, Powell's NATFE the pois is organising a pention in support of boid Lic inquiry AROUSED on which it bas long been The Wolverhampton demonstration on 5 February dissociating SOCIALIST CHALLENGE rUDHC meeting in the branch 7.30pm The studer anion at Chatlengel for Socialism 10am Wolverhampton, Friday, 17 March, at Tariq All (Editor, Socialist and N.5. Noor 3pm (National President, IWAj on:
Black workers must struggle Street.
Road.
Students Union, large meeting that a sharp response to racist attacks and police NATIONAL DEMO Saturday, 11 March Assemble at 2.30pm for start, outside Fountain pub, Chappel off Dudieys Wolverhampton.
Rally at 4.15pm. the tradition.
Socialist Chullenge supporters will play anactive partin the which promises to be bott: lage and combative.
We will continue to argu the should oppose all Torms af repressiont, particularly immig ration controls, that it should affiliate to other anti-racist and anti-fascist organisations, pecially CARF; and that the ocal group should fight to change the structure abc policies of the ANI nationally.
..and Exeter, too NATIONAL FRONT activity in Devon and Excrer has brought a sharp response from local anti-fascists, The inaugurat meeting of the Exeter and District Anti Nazi League Tast monti was attended by over 7o people, representing Exeter Labour Party, the Socialist WorKers Party. Socialist Challenge supporters. Exeter Trades Council, local students union, together with several union branches and other local bodies Exeter ANL aims is be a broad based, campaigning organisation which will appose racism and fascism in the city and hopes to high unemploy NF potentia
IT IS unfortunate that when selling Socialist Challenge to most Scoti readers their first response to your call to boycott the World Cup was would they argue that if England had qualified'. Even more unforinate wits that most Socialist Challenge supporters could only answer no.
say building in Scotland will not campaign truth. It won't just not be easy, it will TE WISE argue for a boycott most people will see as at Now mildy eccentric al worst some extreme Calvinist killjoy LOC 2550M01 1s drawn 1a enthusiasm for Scotland's Cup soccess will equal whitewashing the Argentinian Junta. Scotland played there last summer taw wantine result. You quate Bruce Rioch on his views Argentina. Many other players were seathing in print about the of the troops and police. When the match was televised you couldn't see One Football match brought home the realities of Argentina far more than hundreds of articles in Socialist Challenge.
it would be toally assume Scottish fans and even players will just shrug their shoulders as what they see around them, Most players in conoure indeed. unionised as affiliates to the GMWL). When Scotland went te Chile several players were known to disapprove. Hibs are at present pilaving a CP member as sweeper. While Ally MacLeod, now advertisIng carpets, was a school election agent in his school's mock election for the CP (they won!).
The demand that Scors players they are in Argentina is winnable. IT encouragement to Argentinian workCaL Cemen ara bound campaign. It would also tackle head football world where plavers and supporters have no say, Is also doubiful that Argentinian junta will be delirious about the of several Scots fans reaching Argentina by hook or by crook or by canoe. After all they haven't got a good record as far as police states go. I'm sure they remember what Kangers Tans did to Franco's not police. Far from being simple minded chauvinists as your articie implies most will be trade union members,, shoulda't overlook the fact they be ageressively masculine. As has happened recently in Spain the World Cap games could casil Terence and to who the foots become fans will support should be obvious.
The demand that all restrictions on COLTy LO Argentina should be dropped would present a junta already CHILE 4 huge headache. Similarly why not call for an cod to all limits on where you can go and how FOu can aLeet in Arzenuna. We've the possibility of organising the biggest fact finding The boycott demand unpossible one but also one the junta will shrus off. Unlike Chile the Argentinian workers remain undefented. They recently won wage rises which should make British warkers wince. The jonta itscit is unsteady. You cannot equare Sularly why have no Argentinian union or apposition called for a boycott?
CHRIS BAMBERY (Glasgow], DAVEFOWLER [Falkirki reply to Chris (Socialist Chullenge 23 February)
First of all there is a Scortish Argentina Campaign, the visits of Richard Whitecross and Father Pat Kice, both of whom were imprisoned and tortured in Agentina.
Ar it happens, the polley of the campaign decided at its meetings, is to focus attention on пЕВЕ ПЕЛОЕ COE TOCA boscar: the policy of the Argentine Support Movement, of Amnesty NuTational, and also, I note, of the Icantacted members of the Fourth International in Scotland several times during the period when this campaign was being organized (December-January), without results. In this absence, the argument for a boycott went by default, If their continued absence reflects not lack of boycott BALLICE be decision, then 1 must say I think the GUEST IN CENTOSS Uniike Socialist Challenge, 1 find no evidence or logic lo connect the decision not to boycolt with the call TOr Damona Toady to socialsen is perhaps, an admission of palitical The fact ti Scotland, the campaign to stop the SEA from playing football in Chile When Stadium was a failure: not only did they play, but there was never the of popular movenient to boycott the game. All the campaien did was to succeed in convincing a number of trade unionists who were, large, already convinced, repression in Chile was barbaric This time round, the position is if anything a bit weaker, After all, Chile's Stadium was a the ghosts unionists. The stadien in Cordoba has not yet been used conceutration camp, and the one in Mendoza is brand new having been built, admittedly, on the site of a bulldozed squatter Furthermore the games in Argentina are the World Cup To call for circunstances, it seems to me. Is to admit that one cares about reaching only those who are convince in any case about the nature of repression in Argentina. The mas ol fans are more likely to be alienated by such a call than to understand it We prefer to accept the political not yer being in the vanguard of the THE WURGER CHE me which, hopefully, will draw buth on and tousl the the support of trade union activists who boycoll, and reach a large aumber of working class people who will not We say: Cio to Argentina. Expect them to have the place cleaned up for you (chough I think there is a good case for warping fans what to exper from the repression; the military have been engaged in a war with the populace at large in Argentina for ten years now, and I suspect that triggerbappy habits die hard) Look will signs of the repression more. Adopt one of the mising or political prisoners from Cordobu there it a tremendously long list, and about we are publishing some of it. Pres the Argentinian government to release the names and whereabouts 0l toe missing. government to admit. Argentinians on the same basis as Cordoba is a good place for Scotland to focus on, Ir has a long history of working class militancy. and has suffered bitterly under the present government as a result, l1 is a Eving lesson is an repression in Argentina repression which hits all social sectors (including Jewish busmessmen) but particularly union officials and union activists, and workers in famous. We will he publishing a JOULILLS concentration camps around Cor major doba, and the history or some of it jails.
As you will be aware, the evidence ahaut what the Arpenting want is pretty ambiguous. is calling for a boycott; Communists, as you point not. I take it the PST is calling for a boycott, The Montoneros other hand are not — though I rake your pott that where the boycort is concerned, they have quite sensibly decided to support the boycott formed after whole, they biggest if not most correct group first and with the pressure against every Fourth international mn Brita political tish Argentina Lauriston Pluce, 9HX Tha!
Dy aBu that this week Socialist Challenge political Christopher Roper'.
of murdered trade Jeller.
My main
bur to denounce the seltlement).
Meteyard lines
boycott in these campaign to isolate Britain a campaign contributed articles deplorable.
Yestern Europe boycolt question, but but do one in Argentina Communist championship to go ahead and per tis this statement is. What is true is that Chileans. поле Dr Те nature of desirable because unpopular in Argentina. This Jine is shared by the whole Argentine left, as far as i know.
the cost of the championships people out, that the junta is now nervous The ERP the whole affair. They are the ones who poople On the Rioch's description of his bus ride is either In fact. I felt that much of Meleyard's article tended to argue movement where it is strong. On the probably represent the ideologically the But more important: the point of this exercise is not to decide whether So come Par Is Do SavEd by standing against the Communists 5149)
and with the PST, or against the ERF Monteneros. The Interest of all these groups is best served by a campaign which brings the maximum pressure to bear on the Junta, and relieves sometbing of the popular it, Is why the Monteneros support the bovcolt compain in France l none t would also be the view taken by the don't seed to divide our forces.
JACKIE RODDICK, Secretay ScotCampaign, appalling lack of Edinburgh EH3 MUCICE!
SON TALE THESI of the debate IT FELT sLightly strange opening the and reading: SWP. replies It would have anti-fascist comradely and more consistent with your alleged aim of unity on the left to have warned me of the coming blast by telephone or 04715 W CELLE raise cash concerned with the boycott question.
dictatorship's anti-racists campaign to use the World Cup as propaganda. By implication, Martin me up with the Argentine Communial Party, offer. ing critical support lo the Videla My first reaction to the experience building local is to feel burned, I actually believed Anti-Racist and Kind of left paper, when actually you are still more interested in scoring meant splitting cheap points off the Communist Campaign to blate tie, mta I am not a member of the the British Commuust Pany, bur I would say that the Morning Star never behaved Tike Socialist Challenge when I have The Argentine Communis Party is an casy target Its record is well known and Is suppor for the Junta bas not prevented Communist Parties Is (notably in Italy, intolerson Britain and Spain) from giving soctariana.
consistent, zeberous and comradel upport to the popular istance in I am not against a debate on the must be undertaken in a principled fashion it it s not to divide and weaken the it was solidarity movement. Marlin Mete yard comes to the conclusion that no points Party CIRC the was I don't know what his evidence for politica] parties or organisations engaged in the popular resistance have called for a bosoot.
The Montoneros position has not changed, it bas aiways heen that if European or other competing nacions championships, that was fine. It would be a clear gesture of repudiation of the unta. But they would not call fer a boycott, nor did they think it was it would be General Merle's attitude in the press conference in Paris last October and Alemann's complaiots against demonstrate, as you correctly point want a coscott, not the Argentine I canner Imagine that Bruce against his conclusion. -The tone of the need to be fighting the CP outweighted other political consideralibis Thope Tam wrong CHRISTOPHER ROPER (London UPON READING your appeal for unity in the last issue of Socialist Challenge (No. 34), rbere appeared un pre-thought and (twice) to the anti-racist/fascist With the emergence of broad throughout the winter of last year there has grown up a debate amid the welter of activity, around the notion of democratic unity. The importance has been vastis increased by the sudden plosive emergence late last year le Anti-Nazi League, created, an to a large extent, controlled hy thi Although it confined itself t an extremely narrow sphere of politics opening Racist statements of intent indicated that it could fit in very well and be of great service to the rapidly emerging anti-racist movement. By gathering a wide variety of sponsors, it hoped to misch would be shame o le make propaganda working at the grass roots, predominantly the already existing anti-racist/fascist oommitThe last three months, however. have indicated an extremely different: course, in thar the ANt. is now branches, often in opposition to the already existing Anti-Fascist committees. Inevitably this has not only extremely valuable and ideas but has nsc created a great deal of confusion The end product of all this typifie the now well established tradition of left that of sectacianism. At procisely the time that large nombers of people are hecoming politically aware and active around the questions of racism and fascism, genuine debates which are beginning to emerge within the novement are being suffocated and often totally destroyed by their British lar lett Amongst those involved in the day to day running of the anti-racist/ 1ascisE movement there is appearing an increasingly visible divide between those in the ANI. (particularly those in the SWP) and those who are not.
therefore CATCHILI unfortunate to see a lot of the good made in the joint apeal for Eeft Unity mastod when reference and made to the anti-racist/ WE ARF AMAZED that Sociatist Challenge supporiers had problems in answering those who anked whether we would have called for a boycoft lf England hud qualified for the World Cup. We would have campaigned extremely vigorously for one. C Socialist Challenge took a postion of sopporting the boscott in response to the entire revolutionar press in Western Europe us well as an appeal from Argentinian organisations including the section of the Fourth International|: A meeting of boycoti committees has called for an international day of solidarite on 28 April.
The Fourth International has pledged is full support to such a campaign, A further meeting to coordinate, scon en Europe will take piace in Amsjerdam on 6 May, The preseace of Scotlis Supporters would be greatly apprecinted.
The notion that Scottish fans should be reparaged to battle it out with fidela's murder squds is an uhira left fantasy, which provides a convenient cover for no waging 3 boycoit campaign, because N wond h unpopulacto do so. A sense of proportion is seeded comrades! Editorial Board. SOCIALIST CHALLENGE 9 March 1978 page 7 1a9. movement To sav as th appeal did, that the CANI, must be democratsed and have a steering competice cat is accountahle to it's base toy cmphasis can mean only one thing; that the ANL's policy or building branches is correct.
then happens the anti-racist: losest committees, some Co-ordinating Committee? Are we publicity freaks of the ANL go on a rampige to familiar to TECTERCIT that of the SWP?
How can all the important debates around inubigration controls, cism, Tascism and sexuality ete, be raken up in an organisation built from the top downwards on a programme which merels seeks to prove that the Nationa. Front are a programune that is also dependent on assumprion that the NE will continue WHERE TO CHEESOS URBESI Given the politics of cbe AN bow can it possialy accept the reality that fascist as opposed to German Nazisen Is the extreme organised expression of the racism and sexism embedded in contemporary bou geois society?
And above all bow can the anti-racist movement be built in the contramity instead of the board rooms of the SWP and IMG centres? For example some ARE committee affiliated to All London AutiAnti-Fascist Co-ordinaring Commitice are now creating sireet sub committees. The AN in any Form other than as a national fund raising propaganda organisation, no internally (and if it is democratic why doesn't support ARE committees?) will always act as a bull in a china shop.
These are just some of the many points which those of us involved in the anti-racist movement are being confronted with particularly, as the strugele grows both in numbers and DOINGAL A WOUCECIS The need for left unity is obvious and decades overdue. At worst we can sir back and hope that the raw power of the anti-racist novement will break through the shackles of sectarianism of It's own accord. But Tar better we can acronily get up and consciously challenge chis sectarianism which maker political work so very difficult and ailise the enormous opportunities open to us.
The launching Socialist Chullenge represents one such step toward unity but it is no 8000 Корошдос L0Ok) 88 801 00506 in itself can load to mistakes which bare alarming implications as in your references, comrades, to the anti racist/fascist movement This letler is long but it may help to introduce our readers to the debate which is going on inside the movement.
TIM BROWN CLAIRE HAM BURGER, MICK KEALES, SEMON WHITE (Secretariat of Anti-Racist Anti-Fascist Co-ordinating Committees!
----- pull-quotes -----
VER AIN
FIGHT RACISM STOP POLICE VIOLENCE