Nazi League. TARIQ ALI was there.
letter sent out to a number of rganisations and left groups. It wa igned by Sighat Kadri, President o the Standing Conference of Pakistani Organisations (SCOPO), Vishnu Shar Association, Southall, and an unnamed -tendent Bangladeshi Organisations*.
All the signatories are well-known for their 'moderation"
long been opposed to the tactics of the more multant sections ot the asian youth. It was this that made contents of their letter For past decade the Asian Welfare Organisations have resisted to join self-defence vigilante groups in the face of such attacks und in spite of considerable apathy from the supposed •We now believe that the time has come when we musl utue our people lo look to ibeir own defence. The leading CHEI MIGUELT should be supporting each other in a practical and effective sense, in the mounting of such measures as needed for the physical defence of our various peoples.
'In addition we are urging all Asians to join the Anti-Nazi League, which we regard as the best anti-Nuzi movement in Britain so far.
*Just as the National Front is being privately supported by what we believe to be a large section of think that our own businessmen should support League and young thems to form self-defence groups.
At the meeting there were over a hundred representatives of different Asian and anti-racist organisations, Including the IWA (Southall), IWA(G) represented by its President, LASTSATURDAY a remarkable meeting took place in the offices of the Indian Workers Association in Southall, West London. It brought together a wide range of Asian organisations and the Anti The meeting was called through a | N.S. Noor), the National Association Asian Saad the Joint The Federation of Commissio within their and managus the dramatic:
Britain are so-called the Anti Nazi Asians to enable the of Indian Youth, the Bangladesh Youth Froat, the Asian Youth League, the SWP (Southall), the ANL, the LPYS, Committee Racism (represented by Joan Lestor Chairperson of the Labour Party)
ultra-reformist and for Racial Equality current was represented by Tassadaque ramca, i prominens restaurant oran editor of the liberal monthly The Asian. Alok Biswas and a number of activists from Brick Lane It was clear that a section of the executive of the WA (Southall) was opposed to any notion of self-defence.
SIGHAT KADRI of SCOPO speaks at a recent Brick Lane demonstration. But finally a resolution in three parts was moved by Tarig Ali and seconded by Paul Holborrow from the ANL and Alok Biswas from the Tower Hamlets and Hackney Defence Committee. The resolution stated:
That this mocting of Asian organisations:
(a) Endorses the sentiments expressed in the Kadri/Sharma letter sent out to convene this meeting.
1b) Pledges to mobilise support for Brick Lane and to make 20 August a day of national solidarity of all Asians with their Bengali brothers and sisters in the East End of London.
"(e) Pledges to ensure that there are ANE carinal on 24 Seember meet march Hyde Park Brockwell Park in Brixton.* After some discussion the resolution passed by overwhelming majority. Sighat Kadri then moved an additional resolution Scotland Yard to establish a special "anti-racist squa!"
This was backed by Joan Lestor and Vishnu Sharma, but opposed by the LPYS, SWP, and IMG. It was passed by a small majority of five voles.
A bumber of speakers stressed that the fight against racism would be a long-term one. N.S, Noor, President of the IWA (GB), described events in Wolverhampton over the last lew years.
He argued that the problem was not just that of racist pobeemen, but racist maghtrates were bot the only anti-fascists were also hated hy the pobce.
Noor described the arrest of David Stevens. well-kiwn Wolverhampton, and called for him to CYNICAL The meeting marks the first rea against racist attacks. Whether it will unity remains to be seen.
Many of Clearly cynical. They saw the meetug as an attempt by the Asian establishment to contain their revolt.
That may well be true, but we have to utilise the resolutions passed to make sure that the opposite is the case: that the organisations is involved in all mass EVENTS:
20 August: Brick Lane demo.
Brick ane and Belhnal Green Road Nearest tube OLTELL.
Seplember: Local Brick
Caroival against the Nazis: 10am 10pmx, rally against racism organised by JCAR at Trafalgar 24 September: Carnival Against the Nazis organised by the AN and Roc Against Racism. Assemble Hyde Park Ham, March to Brockwell Brixton.
This was addressed by Marcia Singh,! Tarlo Chan, Cata Aura, and a speaker from the kashnur Society.
The need for an ongoing campaign against stressed, and Armley Prison in Leeds was picketed last Saturday as a tirs stepInside the prison were 21 Asians held under the Pickets heard speeches from leaders of the A YM and relatives of Use prisobers. They stressed the had conditions inside the jail, including racist abuse. from prison warders.
This is the first step taken in this country on a practical basis to wage a fight against all immigration controls The AND should carpign, and it was beartening to see Leeds.
and Barley ANLe present at the picket STEELIN I this campaign is to be at all successful there must be a national campaign organised on this question. calling on Brick Lane last Sunday: market vende