stadium.
wearing riot helmets and visors.
arrests, and frustration for the anti-lascists.
By Davy Jones.
actoria Park, where the fascists first assemble, is Ponce. fascists are divided. one corner of the park is the march, backed by Party and Workers Association. ged to peaceful nonpefrontation, thousand mople march off three miles away from Wyegeston school abere the NF are to hold their sectingIn another corner are a few mall leftist groups denouncing he ANL and everyone else for nation, match determined to confront the NF. hepherded by a large phalanx of police.
the Anti Nazi League Paul Holborow urges everyone to leave the park in mall groups and meet up in the city centre where the rest of the ANL forces have already been This is casier said than done as the cops have cordoned off ail he main roads leading to the centre.
Meanwhile the 500-strong NF emo sets off closely guarded the police. After 200 yards it harmer at stones, ks. and smoke bombs from large advertising hoarding.
That's the end of the demo for a few dozen NF and police. But the police military command immediately re-routes the NF march. Their ragged ranks arrive at the school after a paltry 10-minute demo.
The main forces from the ANE have blocked a main road on the original route of the NF march. There are a number of skirmishes with the police, as demonstrators try to break through the police lines to reach the NF Elsewhere another large group of ANI supporters, including hundreds of black and white youths, is trying to find the NF march or the other ANL supporters. At last a militant and muted demonstration formed. Bur the way is blocked by the police. They sit down in the road, moctings people seeking out every side strect, frustrated by the police grip on the demonstrators, Socialist Challenge 26 April 1979 page 4 in Leicester on Saturday was massive and smoothly co-ordinated. Five thousand cops from 21 forces converged on the city, to be briefed in a local sports Then out came the TV-equipped police helicopter, the riot shields, police dogs and horseback cops Ir was to be a day of heavy police violence, many started by a Special Branch provocateur? There are plenty around, and a few are beaten up before the afternoon is over.
The Out come the riot shields and the truncheons as the police ture the carefully laid ambush: In the the vicious fighting one youth is thrown head first through a window by the Special Branch.
The rest of the ANL forces arrive and after a police attacks march the campus. The police lines are ten thick between us and the NF hall nearby. A few speeches then a completely unprovoked off police attack. They invade the campus and are met by a hail of stones and sticks. Many people are wounded here — the police, protected by their riat sheids. coming off lightest.
Then came the worst police violence. Determined to clear the campus, the dogs are let loose the Daprepared, they panic and a number are mauled by the dogs, The TV cameras film it all, but nothing of this is shown on the news programmes.
In Victoria Park the ANL leadership claims the day was a victory. Very strators Throughout most of the day they had no idea what they were doing or of the ANL's plans.
Dispersed into small groups, they did not even have the soldarity of a big counter-demonstration Frustrated by the police and the lack ol leadership from the ANL, many were demoralised by the street battles they were doomed to lose.
The final toll was over 100 arrests, including at least one comrade sa Seamus initially Prevention of Terrorism Act, and nOW charged assuulting the police. A few dozen anti-fascists were hospitalised. The NF may be badly bruised and their dented, but the anti-fascists did not come our unscathed ciDer Leicester showed that there is still a very broad anti-fascist movement, particularly among and the youth who are prepared to helt heroically police.
But the scope of the police operation and kind Then a sudden clash. Was it | repressive Instruments Defend East London against the racists and fuscists!
March through the constituencies where Webster and Tyadall are standingDemo and rally, assemble Ipm, Sonday 29 April Shoreditch Park. New North Road, Hoston Supported by over 30 anti-racist, Asian, Westindian, and left organisations lew more used means that the left has to 4,000 people urgently reassess its tactics and university match the cops in numbers and co-ordination.
There is now a desperate need for a national ANL conference for fighting Tascism, To support the defence campaign for those arrested ut COMAL Polytechnic Student Union.
marchers.
CELLOR Midlands is being organised on Saturday, Sandwell Campaign Racism and Fascism. Assemble 4pm in Hardware Street, West Bromwich.
sceptical.
WANDSWORTH Wandsworth IMG April. Muny including and Against Rucism.
profecled the April, Against East London.
By Bernard Regan Stuart South OVER 500 people turned out to Maguire. picket the NF's first hig election After meeting in Wandsworth on 13 local people, groups of bluck supported it. youth, joined the picket, which was organised by the Anti Nasi Wandsworth Inside Battersen town hall, of HUTNES police, NF lenders Tyndall and Welster had an audience of less than a handred, half of them Imported from South-cast and On the picket were three candidates in the general clection. All Debbs Holland.
Tilley, who ignored a call from the Labour agent for Battersea Also present was the Socialist Unity candidate for Deptford, Janet the picket had dispersed the police harassed a group of black south who had evening they had arrested one International Marxist Group PUBLICMEETING *For aT abour government, but fight for a socialist alternative' Friday 27 April, 7.30pm Friends Meeting House, Euston Road, London NW1 black vouth and searched a group anti-fascists. The youth has since bece charged with threatening behaviour".
Activists in the area ure now building a big Rock Against Racism gig to be held on Friday 27 April, at the Cornet of Horse Pub, Lavender Gardens (off Lavender Hilli, Spar to midnight. *Crisis plas disco. Wageles 50p, others El.
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WEST BROM A MASS picket of a major NF