Beating the Fascists: The authorised history of Anti-Fascist Action

[framed]

I think what Mal might've been getting at are those who still want to chase after shadows... there was a similar attitude towards chasing the rolling bandwagon of pathetic 50-strong NF demos before the EDL appeared on the scene.

As Mr Joe comments in the Vice interview in relation to the dwindling numbers of NF at Remembrance Day due to the attentions of AFA...

VICE: By the end of the 80s the numbers going on the NF Remembrance Sunday parade had dropped to about a tenth of their peak – around 200 marchers. You then stopped opposing them. Why was that?

AFA: There was a strategic decision then to say, "Well, this will be the hardcore [members] – you won't be able to reduce them any more." So AFA redeployed to East London and got stuck into the BNP instead, and basically left the NF to it, saying its function as we saw it – an introduction to fascism – no longer served its purpose. We could deploy, but if the police had 500 coppers, there were two uniformed police officers for every fascist, and you could only do incremental damage after that. There was always going to be a hardcore that would continue, but the fellow travellers – the kind of people who would be the next generation – had been removed, so we moved on.

http://www.vice.com/.../afa-interview-nf-james-poulter-384

 

[Fedayn]

That report is a little bit curious though... If Sargent is a grass and an SB asset, as has been continually alleged, how come he's accepted back into the fold of this lot and what's the Searchlight 'bogeyman' Will Browning up to now? Plenty of mention of him by Lowles in the HnH blog, but nothing with regard to what he's up to politically, if anything... I tend not to keep that many tabs on these sad cases these days, so please forgive me if I've missed any news about Browning's activities.

Thank the Lord for Hope Not Hate 'researchers' - must be hard work trawling through the facebook pages of fash who do nothing to hide themselves from plain view.

Photo looks weird, like his head's been cut and pasted on...

C18 leader reborn as Steve Coogans character in Doctor Terrible's house of Horrible?

 

[Spanky Longhorn]

According to BTF, it was Phil Edwards, another knifeman, who dived into a cop car outside The Little Driver.

I understand some satisfaction taken from far-right groups collapsing, but in itself it's no victory for progressives or militants. The hundreds of thousands who voted for the BNP, the thousands who turned out for the EDL, they're still here, still disaffected, still more convinced by the ideas of the right than the ideas of the left. I don't think far-right administrative incompetence counts as 'beating the fash'.

I think AFA did the job they set out to do, and they did it pretty effectively. The left as a whole (including so far the IWCA, despite making the best effort) failed to provide the alternative people obviously wanted to mainstream politics.

 

[malatesta32]

ah thanks for the clarification. he also referred to himself as a 'knife merchant.' the resort of the coward who cant fight.
i dont think the BNP have any support at the hustings and the votes will go to ukip obviously.
the largest militant mobilisations ive been on of late have been MFE, andthea few others round the uk against the EDL demos have been opposed by smaller and smaller groups of antifascists. i certainly dont think we have beaten the fash but there is a wee bit of schadenfreude to see them implode (see NF recent travails). you're right, it convincing their sympathisers that are the problem.

 

[malatesta32]

as for alledged grasses being allowed back into the far right - stampton, williamson, tony white, eddie morrison, kevin-wat-nomoney, etc. quantity not quality!

 

[Joe Reilly]

Prison, coke & hate take a terrible toll on a man's face. He seemed capable of viciousness up close (even when armed with a sellotape dispenser). What was the event where he was spotted on the pavement from a bus? South London somewhere, near Woolwich, maybe? There was a scatter & he was chased into a kebab shop - the cops arrived before a kebab-knife sword-fight started.

In the early 80's RA supporters in Finchley would take time out to slap Charlie about whenever their paths crossed. Had a punch like a hamster apparently.
However when armed with a bit of steel he was indeed transformed into a warrior. The chase along the Old Kent Road with Charlie in full scuttle was entirely accidental. He looked doomed until he found sanctuary behind a kebab counter and then more pertinently behind a glistening kebab skewer. Even Mr 'Olearly' was hugely impressed by instant change in the body language, which says it all. Thus a standoff ensued.

As for the other incident it occurred when AFA slapped a flash picket on a shop (Badge Sales) in the west end selling far-right material and coincided with Charlie and a companion also visiting to pick up 80 c18 badges. When he saw who was responsible for the commotion at the door a near total loss of composure was imminent before alighting on a Stanley knife behind the counter. Another Kryptonite in reverse moment ensued. Actually it was me (if it is the same incident?) who picked up the extremely heavy (potentially lethal at close quarters too) sellotape dispenser in response. In truth it was not 'Stanley' but the happenstance of our spotting a discreet CCTV camera covering the area in question that saved him that time. Plod to the rescue again.

 

[Patteran]

In the early 80's RA supporters in Finchley would take time out to slap Charlie about whenever their paths crossed. Had punch like a hamster apparently.
However when armed with a bit of steel he was indeed transformed into a warrior. The chase along the Old Kent Road with Charlie in full scuttle was entirely accidental. He looked doomed until he found sanctuary behind a kebab counter and then more pertinently behind a glistening kebab skewer. Even Mr 'Olearly' was hugely impressed by instant change in the body language, which says it all. Thus a standoff ensued.

As for the other incident it occurred when AFA slapped a flash picket on a shop (Badge Sales) in the west end selling far-right material and coincided with Charlie and a companion also visiting to pick up 80 c18 badges. When he saw who was responsible for the commotion at the door a near total loss of composure was imminent before alighting on a Stanley knife behind the counter. Another Kryptonite in reverse moment ensued. Actually it was me (if it is the same incident?) who picked up the extremely heavy (potentially lethal at close quarters too) sellotape dispenser in response. In truth it was not 'Stanley' but the happenstance of our spotting a discreet CCTV camera covering the area in question that saved him that time. Plod to the rescue again.

I knew someone picked up a sellotape dispenser in Badge Sales - it's not often you two are mixed up, & I can only apologise. I still can't remember what event preceded the kebab shop stand-off. Was it the Rohit Duggal commemoration? I (vaguely) remember the 'Off the bus!' shout, a scatter & a chase. A second-row jostler among hard men & lost in my usual 'i am proper shit at fighting' panic, I missed everybody else diving into the kebab shop after Charlie, & kept running with G from Camden. At pretty much the same moment, us & the fash realised that two not especially impressive looking reds were somehow chasing half a dozen C18 across a road. Everybody stopped, took a breath, & turned around. Heavy traffic & a busy street prevented a complete reverse, and we slunk back to the others. I remember Olearys' reaction - which is why I mentioned it in the first place. CS was/is a fuckin rotter, but it would be unhistoric to characterise him as a shithouse.

 

[Joe Reilly]

I knew someone picked up a sellotape dispenser in Badge Sales - it's not often you two are mixed up, & I can only apologise. I still can't remember what event preceded the kebab shop stand-off. Was it the Rohit Duggal commemoration? I (vaguely) remember the 'Off the bus!' shout, a scatter & a chase. A second-row jostler among hard men & lost in my usual 'i am proper shit at fighting' panic, I missed everybody else diving into the kebab shop after Charlie, & kept running with G from Camden. At pretty much the same moment, us & the fash realised that two not especially impressive looking reds were somehow chasing half a dozen C18 across a road. Everybody stopped, took a breath, & turned around. Heavy traffic & a busy street prevented a complete reverse, and we slunk back to the others. I remember Olearys' reaction - which is why I mentioned it in the first place. CS was/is a fuckin rotter, but it would be unhistoric to characterise him as a shithouse.

Yes, it was after the Rohit Duggal commemoration where ironically C18 had put on a thoroughly dominating, if happily, not decisive display. When I got the full low down from JW afterwards I remember being delighted I had missed it!

As described to me it was one of those horrible situations where you have a gnawing sense of disaster looming, feel a responsibility to avert it, but are not formally in charge, or are out-gunned, so have to spend time advising, reassuring or arguing when you ought to be acting. Predictably, elements hostile to the whole militant ethos did the exact opposite to the offered advice and some suffered what are described these days as 'life-changing' injuries as a result.

 

[Citizen66]

Will there ever be a kindle version?

 

[DaveCinzano]

CS was/is a fuckin rotter, but it would be unhistoric to characterise him as a shithouse.

That'll end up on the cover of his book

 

[Patteran]

Yes, it was after the Rohit Duggal commemoration where ironically C18 had put on a thoroughly dominating, if happily, not decisive display. When I got the full low down from JW afterwards I remember being delighted I had missed it!

Sketchiest day out I experienced, & horrifying for Duggal's family as the cops marched us not once, but twice, through a venomous crowd of organised fascists & passing racists, at one point delaying us in the middle of a crossroads, exposed to four sides of hostility. When we arrived at the park there was maybe a dozen AFA stewards (including maybe 7 or 8 RA) facing a couple of hundred fascists. Cops arrived on horseback to separate the lines, which cheered up some of the lefties, but then they turned their horses towards us - the protectors now looking like cavalry reinforcements for the fascist infantry behind. It was vaguely medieval, & it looked like it was coming on top. But the fascists didn't take the opportunity. Sketchy for us, horrifying for the family of a 15 year old boy killed going to the chip shop, who had to face racist neighbours & fascist blow-ins celebrating their loss.

 

[Patteran]

a gnawing sense of disaster looming, feel a responsibility to avert it, but are not formally not in charge or are out-gunned, so have to spend time advising, reassuring or arguing when you ought to be acting.

(The modern human condition & its internal dialogue, summed up by Joe Reilly)

 

[malatesta32]

'gave him a right sellotaping' could be a new euphemism.

 

[malatesta32]

surely some stories for BTF extended remix?

 

[malatesta32]

heavy manners in spain:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30174067

 

[Sweet FA]

heavy manners in spain:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30174067

I'm probably missing something. Is there a political element to that?

 

[malatesta32]

I'm probably missing something. Is there a political element to that?

yes, he was apparently murdered by fascists from 'rival fans from radical groups' (now i cant find the original article).

 

[Sweet FA]

yes, he was murdered by fascists.

Thanks for the detail [emoji6]

 

[malatesta32]

 

[Fedayn]

yes, he was apparently murdered by fascists from 'rival fans from radical groups' (now i cant find the original article).

Jimmy was involved with Riazor Blues a fan group at Deportivo La Coruna, an ostensibly left-leaning anti fascist group who were in the city to watch their game v Athletico Madrid. They fought with Frente Atletico the main group at Atletico who are 'mainly' far-right/fascist leaning. The adopted the name Frente as a nod to Frente de Juventudes a Falangist/fash youth group during the Franco era. Jimmy was attacked, then whilst injured/unconscious (not confirmed either way), he was thrown into the river.

 

[Sweet FA]

Jimmy was involved with Riazor Blues a fan group at Deportivo La Coruna, an ostensibly left-leaning anti fascist group who were in the city to watch their game v Athletico Madrid. They fought with Frente Atletico the main group at Atletico who are 'mainly' far-right/fascist leaning. The adopted the name Frente as a nod to Frente de Juventudes a Falangist/fash youth group during the Franco era. Jimmy was attacked, then whilst injured/unconscious (not confirmed either way), he was thrown into the river.

Guardian link: Death of Jimmy Romero shows Spanish football still fighting to end fan violence.

Hints of police collusion.

 

[gawkrodger]

Novara article on it

http://wire.novaramedia.com/2014/12...ultras-are-getting-away-with-murder-actually/

 

[SpineyNorman]

Hoping someone on this thread can help out here ( love detective or Joe Reilly maybe?). I wanted to get a copy for my partner's daughter for xmas so went here and clicked on the uk delivery bit to buy it off the iwca. it took me to a secure payment page and i made the payment but it never redirected me anywhere to give the delivery address. will it just get sent to the billing address or do i need to do something else? i've got the payment reference and can pm to iwca people if needed. thanks

 

[Sue]

Hoping someone on this thread can help out here. I wanted to get a copy for my partner's daughter for xmas so went here and clicked on the uk delivery bit to buy it off the iwca. it took me to a secure payment page and i made the payment but it never redirected me anywhere to give the delivery address. will it just get sent to the billing address or do i need to do something else? i've got the payment reference and can pm to iwca people if needed. thanks

love detective's the person to speak to but he hasn't been on here for ages. If you pm me your details, I can email them onto him.

 

[framed]

Hoping someone on this thread can help out here ( love detective or Joe Reilly maybe?). I wanted to get a copy for my partner's daughter for xmas so went here and clicked on the uk delivery bit to buy it off the iwca. it took me to a secure payment page and i made the payment but it never redirected me anywhere to give the delivery address. will it just get sent to the billing address or do i need to do something else? i've got the payment reference and can pm to iwca people if needed. thanks

If it doesn't arrive in reasonable time, let us know, I'm sure we'll be able to get a book to you.

 

[SpineyNorman]

If it doesn't arrive in reasonable time, let us know, I'm sure we'll be able to get a book to you.

Cheers mate no need though, love detective sorted it for me and it arrived in the post yesterday

 

[krink]

New book on left wing groups in Britain since 1956. Against the Grain.

Here is a list of chapters and contributing authors:

Introduction: the far left in Britain from 1956

Evan Smith and Matthew Worley

Part I Movements

1 Engaging with Trotsky: the influence of Trotskyism in Britain

John Callaghan

2 The New Left: beyond Stalinism and social democracy?

Paul Blackledge

3 Narratives of radical lives: the roots of 1960s activism and the making of the British left

Celia Hughes

4 Marching separately, seldom together: the political history of two principal trends in British Trotskyism, 1945–2009

Phil Burton-Cartledge

5 Opposition in slow motion: the CPGB’s ‘anti-revisionists’ in the 1960s and 1970s

Lawrence Parker

6 Dissent from dissent: the ‘Smith/Party’ Group in the 1970s CPGB

Andrew Pearmain

7 British anarchism in the era of Thatcherism

Rich Cross

Part II Issues

8 Jam tomorrow? Socialist women and Women’s Liberation, 1968–82: an oral history approach

Sue Bruley

9 Something new under the sun: the revolutionary left and gay politics

Graham Willett

10 ‘Vicarious pleasure’? The British far left and the third world, 1956–79

Ian Birchall

11 Anti-racism and the socialist left, 1968–79

Satnam Virdee

12 Red Action – left-wing pariah: Some observations regarding ideological apostasy and the discourse of proletarian resistance

Mark Hayes

13 Anti-fascism in Britain, 1997–2012

David Renton

Just wait. I'll get it.

butchersapron any news on this mate or did i miss it?

 

[butchersapron]

Not yet - sure it won't be long.

 

[krink]

ok, cheers mate.

 

[DaveCinzano]

Firstly, anyone know what programme this is from, and do you have a copy of it? I'm sure I've previously seen a longer AFA reconnaissance sequence than this.





Secondly, anyone know who this is or what the story is here? It's someone that one copper has lunged at during a bit of a mêlée at the ‘Battle of Waterloo’ (a bunch of Met seem to be wading into some - presumably anti-fascist - lads at the train station), before copper number two pushes copper number one off, shouting what seems to be “He's a police officer!” The man in civvies appears to be trying to pull up his jacket at one point, perhaps to show a warrant card or some other piece of ID on or around his waistband or in a pocket?