Beating the Fascists: The authorised history of Anti-Fascist Action
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Fedayn
Well-Known Member
Be interesting to see what the SP (CWI) say given they had their own wee criticism of some of their alleged squaddists a few years back.
love detective
there's no love too small
i got a second hand copy about a year ago on amazon for £6
Nigel Irritable
Five, Ten, Fifteen Years
The SWP and Militant did not have the same political position on beating fascism, so this last bit is a little strange.
To be honest, my impression is that the book hasn't been all that widely publicised, so I suspect that most Socialist Party members, unless they happen to frequent the same internet places as people sympathetic to the RA/AFA/IWCA milieu probably aren't aware of its existence. Freedom publishing it did at least ensure that it's existence was known on the anarchist scene. There would be a reasonable chance of a review in Socialism Today if someone sent them a review copy.
love detective
there's no love too small
will be getting round to sending out review copies at some point - although the lefty press wasn't intended to be targeted
The book pretty much publicised itself on the anarchist scene purely as a result of Freedom deciding to publish it - there was little else needed, or indeed, done. And to be honest at some points during the process we kind of got the impression that, due to the 'controversial' nature of the decision, they would have preferred less, not more, publicity within anarchist circles
The book pretty much publicised itself on the anarchist scene purely as a result of Freedom deciding to publish it - there was little else needed, or indeed, done. And to be honest at some points during the process we kind of got the impression that, due to the 'controversial' nature of the decision, they would have preferred less, not more, publicity within anarchist circles
Nigel Irritable
Five, Ten, Fifteen Years
Get your finger out! Seriously, the longer the book has been out, the less likely most places are to review it.
I was going to say: you've missed your chance. Certainly with any mainstream publication, for which you need to announce a publication date, and then get review copies out two months before that, if you want to stand a chance of reviews in monthly publications.
Casually Red
tomorrow belongs to me
Im half way thought it or more so far and its an excellent read . The political rationale , political discussion and political opposition they got from the left is juxtaposed perfectly with the physical force stuff . Its pretty rivetting and strong on logic.
The39thStep
Urban critical thinker
What in your opinion was the difference? Fed's remarks on the Away Team bring back some memories of a discussion I recall on here many moons ago
It sounds like you liberal leftists have been beating yourselves for too long about the bnp.
why don't you grow up you sickening freaks.
why don't you grow up you sickening freaks.
Divisive Cotton
Now I just have my toy soldiers
DrRingDing
'anti-human wanker'
We have a live one.
I had a quick look at this knob's extensive posting history, all six posts. All abusive, nearly all using the word 'freak'.
Jog on, there's a good boy. I hope you find no 'biters' here
mystic pyjamas
Don't call us,we'll call you.
We'll have no biters here , this is a local forum for local people.
Context, context, context. Sadly lacking in your post. Prime position in mine.
Given the recent publication of this book and the consistent, hysterical nature of the campaign run against the book, it's authors and it's publishers... you will forgive us if we are a little circumspect at provocative posts from a new poster who has bounced in fists swinging.
love detective
there's no love too small
first review here - bit sniffy like (to be expected) but reasonably positive
http://london.indymedia.org.uk/articles/5845
The39thStep
Urban critical thinker
Reasonable review but what on earth would be an anarchist version ? DAM do get a mention in the book and are credited with some actions but DAM ( to their credit) were hardly representitive of the anarchist scene.
Joe Reilly
Well-Known Member
Found the reference to Graham Atkinson a bit odd. The review claims that he was tasked with winding up the squads by the SWP, as if quoting from the book, when that is not in the book. Also what makes it even more curious is that Graham Atkinson was not even in the SWP so he couldn't be tasked by them with anything. He was however in Searchlight. And the fallout between the Manchester Squad and Searchlight is gone into in some detail. But that is something the reviewer, for some reason, chooses to ignore?.
Casually Red
tomorrow belongs to me
deliberate confusion ?
love detective
there's no love too small
the attributing of the VNN quote to stormfront shows a lack of attention to detail as well
i wonder if the reviewer will take his own advice and write their own version?
I thought it rang bells earlier to that link you provided as well.
Exactly, if you want an "anarchist" version write one, if you want a Newcastle version, write that.
The39thStep
Urban critical thinker
Wasn't Strouthous involved in both North West London and Manchester in ensuring that members towed the line on squaddism. I can remember Andy 'the animal' Zabrowski's conversion and promotion to district full timer but I seem to recall that the poisoned dwarf played a witchunters role in the SWP.
The39thStep
Urban critical thinker
Still waiting for the definitive version from Workers Power
Nah. It's 'The Leninist' one that will be definitive - what a bunch of knobs.
"I have to warn you.... I'm a black belt" .... slap... well now you've got a black eye to go with it.
The39thStep
Urban critical thinker
Just read the Workers power /re launch of the ANL part 2 bit. Was in Manchester at the time and working for the Council. there were two Workers power members that we knew who having been extremely marginal and unconfident suddenly perked up when they were allowed to hang around Manchester AFA. I remember after a union meeting speaking to Tilzey and these two WP members standing next to him . Normally WP would have argued their point and then when told to F-Off would promptly if reluctantly F-Offed but now they thought they were equals. Over the months they started buying more fashionable clothing and began to develop fake manc accents, one became a Man Utd supporter.
There came a point when they were handing out leaflets to SWP members which i am sure was an AFA leaflet asking SWP and others to join AFA. Manchester AFA held a meeting at the Town Hall attended by I would think about 300-350 with Ray Hill speaking and Jim from London AFA. I was still in the SWP and we had seriously underestimated what we assumed to be our natural periphery's concern about the fash and were surprised at the turn out. A number of speakers from the floor called for a new Anti Nazi league ( two of them ex SWP members) . Workers power made a contribution from the floor ( after making out that they had been involved in some mysterious business which now gave them the authority to speak as experienced antifascist) along the lines that revolutionary socialists were the best anti fascists . To which both Ray hill and Jim replied from the platform that this wasn't necessarily the case and Jim said that the best anti fascist were the one who put their own politics second and smashing the fash first. Workers Power were suitably chastened and not invited to the post meeting drink in the pub by AFA.
To weeks later and the ANL mark 2 was launched and the SWP went on a recruitment drive , about sis weeks later Workers power were now in the ANL arguing that revolutionary socialists were the best anti fascists.
There came a point when they were handing out leaflets to SWP members which i am sure was an AFA leaflet asking SWP and others to join AFA. Manchester AFA held a meeting at the Town Hall attended by I would think about 300-350 with Ray Hill speaking and Jim from London AFA. I was still in the SWP and we had seriously underestimated what we assumed to be our natural periphery's concern about the fash and were surprised at the turn out. A number of speakers from the floor called for a new Anti Nazi league ( two of them ex SWP members) . Workers power made a contribution from the floor ( after making out that they had been involved in some mysterious business which now gave them the authority to speak as experienced antifascist) along the lines that revolutionary socialists were the best anti fascists . To which both Ray hill and Jim replied from the platform that this wasn't necessarily the case and Jim said that the best anti fascist were the one who put their own politics second and smashing the fash first. Workers Power were suitably chastened and not invited to the post meeting drink in the pub by AFA.
To weeks later and the ANL mark 2 was launched and the SWP went on a recruitment drive , about sis weeks later Workers power were now in the ANL arguing that revolutionary socialists were the best anti fascists.
I remember that, not their finest hour but what was? When they split?
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