A FEVERISH search through the pages of Socialist Challenge (8 March) for information on NF's demonstration in support of Relf produced one small caption tucked neatly on the back page. informing us all where to meet and at what time.
It would seem that Socialist Challenge regards antifascist mobilisations as being so routine that a mere mention of an assembly point and time to meet will produce Socialist Challenge supporters in their hundreds. Unfortunately these hundreds apparently failed to materialise.
Large mobilisations by the NF in the coming months will be a major part of their build-up to the next election. Therefore it is necessary for anti-fascist forces to build the largest POSSIbIc counter-mobilisations, both to counter racist propaganda and, defend strategic areas (e.g- Brick Lane).
This is obvious. However, no rallying call appeared in the importance building the counter-demonstration was not stressed.
While the IMG consistently opposed state bans and a reliance on the state machine to destroy fascism, its failure to recognise the national importance Winchester seriously weakened our ability rectify the confused approach of the ANL, brought question ine credibility of the IMG in theeyes of many anti-fascist militants.
In failing to play a leading role, the IMG missed important opportunity to point out a way forward for the anti-fascist movement, including the need for a national ANL conference to CISCUSS strategy against the NF in the coming elections.
If similar mistakes are to be avoided in future, Socialist Challenge and the leadership must pump greater the counter the NF, both to help InTO resolve the crisis of leadership in the ANL and also to recover Militant entertainment tour MARCH Thur Sheffield Poly:
Barry Forde band. Leviton buzzards Piranas and locar Dano Poiv: barry rorge. Levion buzzards Piranas and Sheeny and the Goys Ser 21 Muzzlerbal Tered Poly and local band. Sun 25 Lancaster Uni:
Levion buzzaras barry roree Only Ones and Interference.
Edinburgh Clouds: Stiff Little Fingers Mekons 15.16.17 and Carol Wed 28 Stirling Grimes. Thur 29 Aberdeen Music Hall: ringers, Mekons Stiff Little Fingers, Mekons, 15.16.1.
and Carol Grimes, Fri 30 Bradfor Stiff Little Fingers, Mekons, hb 1 an0 0c8 08n APRIL Mon 2 Liverpool Uni: Angelic Upstarts.
The Only Ones 3 Manchester Poly AnGelic Socialist Challenge 22 March 1979 page 6 someof the IMG's credibility as force within SCrIOUs anti-fascist movement.
STEVE FERRIS (Southampton)
of has 'United action requires a political fight with left reformist leaders' off in the opposite direction to the the NF.
This has illustrated by the NF May Day march last year, Brick Lane in September, and chester.
Collaboration with the law has become the prime concern of ANL organisers, whilst the opinions of those effective action are not merely ignored but derided as being 'ultra-leftist', ACTOIES tive, although they are clearly none of these.
was illustrated than at Winchester, Consequently, clearly give our now Windelegate from OU!
ANL.
who seek active, "class-struggle against racism or generally disrupmatter of urgency.
this areas of tion will least Paul Wornen to make a Socialist earliest opportunity DAVE ROBERTS, COLIN CLEWS, PETE COPLEY [for Student Racism and Fascism] have decided that we can no longer support for those activities dominated by ANL and have cancelled our plans to affiliate to them and withdrawn However, whilst none of our members are members of either swr orimu, we reel tat mose who would support ANL as an campaigning body and fascism, first have made similar mistakes in LIC HOSL So if the tactics of the ANL a Winchester were basical correct, does this mean that all is well with the ANL? No.
These is more to anti-fascist activity than labelling the NF as Nazis and making that label stick. First, there is the need to begin to challenge the racist, and sexist dominant the labour movement by showing how the Nazis are the biggest champions of these ideas.
The ANL must turn itself towards anti-racist activity rather than just responding to the NF Another reason for prioritising activity against the fascists is to draw out the threat they represent to democratic rights means Di which democratic rights must be defended in general.
A campaign against the use of bans on demonstrations, is the task here. Equally the ANL should be participating in actions against the arbitrary search and arrest the "sus' laws, against the denial of democranic rights under the immigration laws.
SSUl UNIC biggest problem facing the AN is that united action being serious i hampered by the lack of democratic debate and decis ion-making nationally within The failure debate seriously seinesester with those opposed issues to the national ANL's tactics threatened the united action on Another more serious warning should be the absence of any national initiatives around which all ANL groups can Indeed the ANL has no plan of action for countering the NE very panese for which it was in the general election onginally set ul This is particularly distur when the lack democratic decision-making is justified by leading SWE members in the ANL At the ANL trade union conference усат Paul Holborow argued that reso lutions would not taken since the ANL was for 'united action'.
The turn to united action possible welcone winning united action requires a political fight with those lett reformist leaders who wish to limit the demands and objectives of that united action.
Without democratic debate and decision-making it is not possible to push that united action forward to its limits That is why the comrades from Southampton are correct to say that now is the time to fight for an ANL conference -and why the comrades from turn their backs on the ANI