> AFA Online: http://www.geocities.com/capitolhill/senate/5602/ > > > November 30 2000 > ============== > The NF picketed the Cock Tavern (near Euston station, north London) > on 28th November following a widely publicised Irish Republican > meeting a few days previously. In line with their current strategy > the ANL called a counter-demonstration. On the night itself 11 NF > were opposed by 70 anti-fascists and the whole event was controlled > by over 100 police. Predictably the ANL claimed it was > a "humiliation" for the nazis, while the NF, somewhat bizarrely, > reckoned they "still rule the streets". > > The one unusual factor was the appearance of a group of anti-fascists > (not ANL) who succeeded in attacking the NF. AFA's position on the NF > is well known, but if anti-fascists do mobilise against them clearly > this type of activity will create the NF more problems than the > lollipop brigade. A number of anti-fascists were arrested and AFA > will support these people; having said that there are still critical > points to be made. The arrests were largely due to tactical > inexperience, and the whole episode does seem to appear as an act of > desperation - a desire to be seen as more militant than the ANL, but > still within the wrong arena. In other words the cutting edge against > fascism today is the ability to confront the political progress of > the BNP in working class communities, rather than physically oppose > the NF. > > The fact that underlines this analysis is that only 11 NF were > present. Compare this to the 80,000 votes the BNP received in the GLA > election, or the 80% who resent the presence of refugees (in a recent > MORI poll), and you start to see the big picture. So while AFA can > identify with the actions of the militants at the Cock Tavern there > needs to be more, much more. > > One of the main problems for anti-fascists is the lack of opportunity > to discuss the different strategies on offer. AFA tried to initiate > discussion at this year's October Rally but the Left boycotted the > event. In contrast their has been some discussion on one of the left- > wing discussion sites on the internet (UK Left Network), even > involving members of the SWP/ANL. Although there has been > some 'silliness', others have suggested the need for unity among anti- > fascists and have voiced criticisms of the ANL's links with the pro- > State Searchlight operation. AFA would welcome a development of this > discussion because an understanding of the role of anti-fascism at > the present time gets to the very heart of the problem - the battle > for working class hearts and minds. > > > ========================================== November 27 2000 West Bromwich West by-election ======================= Although BNP leader Nick Griffin's vote (4.21%) in the West Bromwich West by-election would be disappointing for the BNP, the ANL's comparison with the 1997 General Election vote was misleading. The National Democrats got 11.39% because all the major parties (traditionally) didn't stand against the speaker of the House of Commons (the MP Betty Boothroyd). It appears that Griffin's recent problems with the Edwards' and other activists in the Black Country played a significant part in the low vote because the 'locals' were reluctant to canvass for Griffin. Despite the setback for the BNP, anti-fascists must not believe any simplistic propaganda that the Far Right can be dismissed. The political vacuum in working class areas still exists. AFA Online: http://www.geocities.com/capitolhill/senate/5602/
