Anti Nazi League Follow

Thirty years ago this April 80,000 people marched to Victoria Park, east London, for a carnival against fascism organised by the Anti Nazi League and Rock Against Racism, headlined by The Clash and The Tom Robinson Band.

This year sees the 30th anniversary of the legendary Anti Nazi League/Rock Against Racism carnival at Victoria Park that drew some 80,000 to performances from The Clash, The Tom Robinson Band, Steel Pulse and X‑Ray Spex.

On Saturday 13 August 1977 the apparently unstoppable rise of the Nazi National Front (NF) met a serious challenge. A Nazi march through Lewisham in south London faced a counter demonstration by thousands of anti-fascists. The fascists’ march was stopped.

There is new evidence that a Tory government suppressed documents showing the coroner in the inquest into the death of Blair Peach on a 1979 Anti Nazi League demonstration was biased.

Who Shot the Sheriff? — Alan Miles’s excellent new film charting the history of the Rock Against Racism and Anti Nazi League movements of the 1970s — is set to go on tour in January, sponsored by the Amicus union.

ONE OF the proudest moments of my life was compering the 200,000-strong Anti Nazi League carnival in south London in 1994. It was the perfect combination of politics and music. And, oh boy, did we need it!

"THERE IS a mood among millions of people who understand that racism is on the increase fuelled by the attacks on asylum seekers," says Lee Billingham of the Anti Nazi League (ANL). "The majority of people are against the Nazis in huge numbers but it's a question of galvanising them."

DEMONSTRATORS protested against Nazi BNP councillors in Burnley on Thursday of last week. Around 80 Anti Nazi League members picketed Burnley council's first meeting since eight BNP members were elected. The Nazis turned up in two chauffeur-driven limousines to celebrate their election win.

TRADE UNIONISTS and campaigners were set to march through central Manchester on Saturday in a united protest against racism. The demonstration and rally was called by the TUC and the Unison union, and backed by the Anti Nazi League. It is a recognition of the danger posed by the British National Party (BNP), which has been targeting the north west of England.

ANTI-NAZI activists canvassed homes in Beeston in Leeds following the firebombing of an Anti Nazi League member's car last week. The Nazi BNP thinks it can win a council seat in Beeston. Most people were disgusted with the actions of the Nazis and very happy to sign our petition. Mick Dear

THE BRITISH National Party wants to try to appear respectable in the run-up to the council elections this May. The Anti Nazi League is urging people to get active against the BNP Nazis and help expose their true Nazi face.

AROUND 30 people joined the Anti Nazi League leafleting campaign in the Mixenden ward in Halifax last Sunday and they received a good response. The BNP Nazis are standing a candidate in a council by-election on Thursday 23 January. Some residents said our leaflets were "brilliant" and offered to get some copied for friends and colleagues. Some said they were shocked and frightened when BNP materials came through their doors.