Anti-fascists hold the line in Westminster

by New Worker correspondent

HUNDREDS of anti-fascists from Unite Against Fascism (UAF) and Antifa gathered between the corner of Trafalgar Square and the top end of Northumberland Avenue last Saturday to block the route of two separate demonstrations organised by racist organisations: Britain First (BF) and the English Defence League (EDL).

These two organisations had planned to march down Whitehall to Parliament to hold Islamophobic rants on the spot where Khalid Masood, a British-born extreme right-wing Muslim, had driven his car into a crowd of people on Westminster Bridge, killing two and injuring many, before fatally stabbing a police officer on guard outside the Houses of Parliament, where he was shot dead by other police.

But last Saturday both the racists and the anti-fascists were dwarfed by a massive turnout by the Metropolitan Police — their biggest deployment for a few years.

The Met gave notice on line that it had diverted the route the racists planned to take to a spot on the Victoria Embankment, via Northumberland Avenue, and issued a ‘section 12’ and a ‘section 14’ — which imposed strict conditions on all the planned protests, including assembly point, route and time limits, and gave police very wide powers of arrest.

The UAF and Antifa ignored the Met’s designation that they should assemble at a spot to the south of the Victoria Embankment, in view of the pens designated for the two racist groups but about 50 yards away and completely sealed off.

Instead they assembled at the top of Northumberland Avenue to block the fascist route but were forcibly pushed out of the way into Whitehall by hundreds of police, a process that involved a number of seemingly random arrests. Police later said there had been a total of 14 arrests.

On the way they had to pass the heavily kettled Lord Moon pub where various racists and fascists had been drinking before, during and after the ‘marches’.

The anti-fascists were pushed down Whitehall as far as Horse Guards Parade and then left on to the Embankment into the area the police had prepared for them, where they held a rally and chanted: “We are black, white, Asian and we’re Jews, and there are many, many more of us than you!”

Sabby Dhalu, UAF joint secretary, said: “The respectful and compassionate nature towards those killed and their loved ones that is reflected in the majority of British people is in stark contrast to the far right. Fascists such as BF and the EDL have no concern for the victims of this attack. While the turnout by fascists today was pathetic, we must remember the threat they currently pose in Britain is not in numbers, but in their attempt to whip up fear, hatred, division and violence.”

Fellow UAF Joint Secretary, Weyman Bennett, said: “The murder of Jo Cox, the shocking rise in hate crime and the rise of the far right in Europe show that it is critical we unite against fascism, racism, Islamophobia and anti-Semitism at this time. Neither BF nor the EDL have significant forces, but their efforts to inflame Islamophobia need opposing. The vast majority of society opposes fascism, and we stand firm in our resolve not allow the far-right to grow in Britain as they have in other parts of Europe.”

The EDL was given its own separate pen next to Britain First, which only served to highlight how small its turnout was — about 40 at most.

At one point former EDL leader Tommy Robinson was seen wandering about with a megaphone between the EDL and Britain first pens and being ignored by both.

The Britain First crowd appeared bigger from a distance because of dozens of Union Jacks and St George flags being carried. But on closer inspection it was apparent that most marchers were brandishing two or three flags apiece on lightweight bamboo sticks. They numbered about 150 altogether.

Police marched both racist groups away on the dot of 3pm and the anti-fascists left an hour later.

None of the Islamophobes got anywhere near the crowds of tourists thronging around Parliament as usual.

Muslim women demonstrate solidarity with terror victims

AROUND 100 Muslim women formed a human chain across Westminster Bridge on Sunday evening in a show of solidarity with the victims of the terror attack on the bridge last Wednesday that claimed four lives.

The quiet protest on Sunday 26th March, which was organised by the Women’s March, saw around 100 women hold hands and bow their heads in silence at 4pm for a five-minute silence.

On Wednesday, Khalid Masood drove his SUV along the same pavement where the women stood, killing three pedestrians before stabbing a policeman to death.

Dr Sarah Waseem, a clinical psychologist from Surrey, told Middle Eastern Eye that she attended the silent protest: "To show that Muslim women care about what's happening in the world. Too often people think that our men speak for us."

It was an emotional experience for her, she said, due to: "Reflecting on the enormity of what had happened on 22^nd March and also on what it meant for others watching us – this line of Muslim women standing there in silence."

And while taking part in the act, and holding hands with other women, made her feel strong, Waseem said she was also apprehensive about any negative comments from passers-by.

"We felt strong but also [we] realised what our presence might evoke in others watching." But in the end, she said that there were no derogatory comments.

"It was really great. Some people were watching and taking photos." Malik, from Surrey, told Metro newspaper that: “As a visible Muslim I think it was important to show solidarity with the principles that we all hold dear, the principles of plurality, diversity and so on.”

Fariha Khan said: “The feeling of what happened here on Wednesday was really strong. We thought of the ordinary people who were here and were mown down, standing here like this, it was very overwhelming.”

"When an attack happens in London, it is an attack on me. It is an attack on all of us," Sarah Waseem, who attended the vigil, told the Huffington Post. "Islam totally condemns violence of any sort. This is abhorrent to us."

The event came after a photo of a woman wearing a hijab on Westminster Bridge went viral on social media. The unnamed woman was pictured passing a victim in the aftermath of Wednesday's attack. Some people criticised what they perceived as her indifferent attitude to what was happening around her.

But others, including the man who took the photo, said she looked very distressed; many commentators also noted that the attempt to analyse the woman in the photo was motivated by xenophobia.

"Not only have I been devastated by witnessing the aftermath of a shocking and numbing terror attack, I've also had to deal with the shock of finding my picture plastered all over social media by those who could not look beyond my attire, who draw conclusions based on hate and xenophobia," the woman involved told Tell MAMA, an organisation that monitors anti-Muslim attacks, after she made headlines around the world.

"My thoughts at that moment were of sadness, fear, and concern."

Standing up to racism in London, Cardiff and Glasgow

Socialist Fight's Gerry Downing on the march

by New Worker correspondent

UNITED Nations Anti-Racism Day traditionally marks the anniversary of the Sharpeville massacre in South Africa on 21st March 1960. And on Saturday 18th March it was marked by tens of thousands of people in Britain in marches in London, Cardiff and Glasgow — as well as by millions of others around the world.

In London around 30,000 people gathered around the BBC headquarters in Portland Place — even so the BBC failed to register the event as a news item. At 1pm they began to march down Regent Street towards Parliament Square.

The event, organised by Stand Up To Racism (SUTR), attracted hundreds of banners, several bands and contingents from all the major unions, dozens of trades councils, community and faith groups. and progressive political groups.

The crowd was noisy, colourful and good humoured, but with a very serious message about rising levels of racism in Europe and in the United States. In particular, many placards were directed against President Donald Trump for encouraging racism and sexism. and against those who used Brexit as an excuse to go on a racist rampage.

There were also many messages directed at the Government for its refusal to allow refugees from the wars in the Middle East and Africa into Britain, especially because British Imperialist manipulation is behind many of those wars.

As the marchers passed Piccadilly Circus they noticed the usual gang of neo-Nazi counter-protesters from Britain First — but not in their usual place draped around the plinth of the Eros statue.

Before the march a large group of young anarchists from Antifa had driven them away from that spot and by the time the main march arrived the remaining 11 ‘Aryan warriors’ were looking battered and dishevelled, tucked away in a corner behind a huge protective police barrier. Their leader, Paul Golding, was looking particularly battered and in a foul temper.

In Parliament Square one of the main speakers was Moazzam Begg, the former Guantanamo Bay prisoner who was held captive by the United States authorities for 11 years without charge or trial. He told the crowd: “The rise of the far-right and the Nazis and fascists has seen a new wave with the election of Donald Trump, who said when he came to power: ‘I’m going to load up Guantanamo with some bad dudes.’ So my response is: ‘When are you going, dude?’”

On the same day hundreds of people marched through Cardiff to protest against racism. Stand Up To Racism organised the march, which ended with speeches by the Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood and Swansea teacher Juhel Miah, who was denied entry into the United States.

A Stand Up To Racism Wales spokesperson said: “We see the great march today as just the first step in the creation of a mass movement against racism in Wales. But what we really want is an organisation, in every town and city, that will react quickly to knock down any attempt to scapegoat refugees as ‘foreigners’, people from diverse backgrounds, minority religions or simply people with a different coloured skin.

“We are going to create a movement that celebrates our diversity. We will have music, art and drama. We will hound any politician who plays the racist card. We will not let politicians or the mainstream media, apparently nowadays the same thing, return us to the 1930s.”

And in Glasgow 3,000 protesters gathered to take part in a massive demonstration in the centre of the city to Holland Street and George Square, to stand up against the growing culture of racism.

Stand up to Racism Scotland said: “In a situation where migrants, Muslim women and anyone considered to be ‘foreign’ are being attacked on a daily basis — and refugees are being abandoned by Britain and Europe to destitution, drowning and exploitation — there has never been a more important time in recent history to stand up to racism.”

Barking vigil for victim of racist acid attack

Imran Khan shakes hands with Cllr Rodwell

 by New Worker correspondent

ANTI-RACISTS gathered outside Barking Town Hall in east London on Tuesday evening (29th November) in freezing weather to show solidarity with Imran Khan, a local father of five who was sprayed with acid by Islamophobic thugs when trying to deliver a pizza.

Khan, who is still in pain, says the assault on 15th November came after he was intimidated by a gang of teens as he delivered a pizza to Academy Way. “There were a group of 13 or 14 of them, they surrounded me,” he explained.

“They started swearing at me, I didn’t know what to do. They took the food off me and threw it at my face.”

 After a passer-by called the police, the gang fled but Imran was forced to return to the road to deliver the order once again from his takeaway business in Porters Avenue, Dagenham.

He then drove to Longbridge Road to pick up his wife Farina Bibi from her sister’s house. Before he could get out of his car he was targeted by two teenage boys, one of whom fired the liquid at his face and ran off.

“My face was burning, I was in a lot of pain and couldn’t open my eyes,” said Imran. He then shouted for help from a neighbouring shopkeeper who poured a big bottle of water on his face at about 6pm.

“I think that’s what saved me, the burns didn’t go too deep,” said Imran, who spent a night in Queen’s Hospital, Romford, following the attack. He has been referred to a scar specialist at Whipps Cross University Hospital.

He added: “It was shocking, I’m still in shock. I’m more angry than anything; they should get punished for what they’ve done. If they did this to me, what could they do to more vulnerable people?”

The campaign group Stand up to Racism organised the vigil at Barking Town Hall and Khan was one of the speakers at the rally.

Leading organiser Miriam Scharf said: “It looks like racism is raising its head again. We want to show that people in Barking and Dagenham are not going to go back to being divided by racism and fear.”

Khan is now back at work but still in pain following the attack. He says the effects are more than just skin deep: “I’ve lost confidence in everything. I’m scared of going out of my house. “By joining the protest I want to show that at least I’m trying to do something.”

Council leader Cllr Darren Rodwell (Labour) lent his support and spoke at the vigil.

The London Recruits at Marx House

Ronnie Kasrils sets the scene

 by Neil Harris

Last Saturday comrades and friends returned to the historic Marx Memorial Library in London to raise funds for a special film about a very special group of people.

I suppose one of the great struggles of my life was the struggle against Apartheid in South Africa – preserving minority white rule by using great violence over the majority of people in the country.

In 1962 the leadership of the African National Congress (ANC), including Nelson Mandela, were imprisoned at the Rivonia trial for life. The underground was effectively broken up and many ANC activists were forced into exile.

Oliver Tambo, Joe Slovo and Yousef Dadoo tasked Ronnie Kasrils to organise underground operations from London to restart the struggle back in South Africa.

To that end, young idealistic white people were recruited from left-wing organisations and trades unions to go to South Africa. There they did some extraordinary things; they posted out letters to thousands of people, distributed leaflets they had smuggled in, set off explosive devises that scattered leaflets over crowds of people in public places, left hidden tape recorders to relay speeches and anti-apartheid messages to the people.

These may have been stunts but they were very dangerous and were widely reported at the time. They kept the flame alive until the underground could reorganise.

And now there has been a book written about The London Recruits, as well as a website and even exhibitions. The recruits have got together (they never knew each other at the time) and there may even be a film.

The evening started with a brief scene-setter from Ronnie Kasrils, who organised everything from a dusty office above Goodge Street in London, and went on to become Deputy Defence Minister and later Minister for Intelligence in the new non-racial South African government.

We also heard from various “London Recruits” in the audience, who described what they did and the effect this had on them. One of them described how he set up tape recorders and amplifiers in South Africa. Another, Ken Keable, recruited from the Young Communist League (YCL), went to Johannesburg to send out 1200 letters and was responsible for putting the book together.

Mary Chamberlain, travelled with her partner as an emigrating, newly married couple, who brought with them 22 tea chests of belongings to set up their new home. Only the chests had false bottoms containing 7000 anti-apartheid pamphlets to be posted out a few at a time.

 Kathreen Solahi (formerly Levine) was a young student studying anthropology who had previously made trips to Tanzania. She was sent to Zambia from where she made numerous trips across the border to South Africa, smuggling people and leaflets.

Quietly and without fuss she described making regular trips with cargoes of weapons hidden in a false fuel tank, to be buried or hidden for collection later. These were trips made cross country, where there were no roads in an age before satnavs. They crossed the Zambesi river where on one side was South West Africa, a South African colony, and on the other the white settler state of Rhodesia, which was just as hostile.

She told us how they camped out on the 200 mile journey, in constant fear of breaking down or being discovered.

Because this was serious, “London Recruits” were captured, tortured and imprisoned, even though the majority made it through and back safely.

There were also tales (well known) of exploits carried out by people who weren't in the audience; the setting up of the notorious travel company "Africa Hinterland", which operated safari tours into South Africa for tourists. They were unaware that the specially adapted vehicles contained caches of weapons and ammunition under the floorboards beneath their feet.

There were tales of two volunteers who were captured and imprisoned by the South African authorities and managed to escape by carving out replica keys made of wood in the prison workshop. They just walked out!

It was an incredible evening, a privilege to spend it in the company of a special group of people who made a difference, however small or big.

But this was serious; South Africa was a country divided by race to the extent that on one occasion when an abandoned child was found, it couldn't be admitted to hospital for four days while investigations took place to work out what race it was.

Where a workman was sent to prison for five years for writing “Free Mandela” on his mug at work.

And I suppose the most important weapon that the “London Recruits” were able to use against Apartheid was that they were all white – they were able to turn the authorities prejudices against them.