Workers defence only answer to Nazi
Socialist Press1978 1978-05-19Read it in the scan (PDF), scan page 12 →
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'Communists' Against Revolution addresses itself to the most important aspects of the development of Stalinism since 1945. How have the post-war workers' states been formed in Eastern Europe, China, IndoChina and Cuba? What is the political and social character of the modern Communist Parties? What lies behind the break-up of the Stalinist monolith?
This 166-page book will sell at £1.75 from its publication date in mid-June. But readers are offered d special pre-publication, cash-with-order offer of copies at £1.25 plus 20p p&p. This offer applies only Mass turn-out at the ANL carnival-deprived of key policy Published hu Folrose I to for the Workers Sorialist 1 panne 31 Martmnuth Park Hill Inndon NW5 1HR attack by fascist thugs provided tragic testimony to the ANL's complete portical inadequacy.
A ten year old Asian boy and a 25-year old Asian man were brutally stabbed and beaten to death in East London. And in Wolverhampton, two West Indian youth suffered shotgun wounds in a vicious Ku Klux Klan-style attack as they walked down the street.
Such victims cannot be saved by bombardments of leaflets and posters; they cannot be defended by courting the favours of bishops and academics.
The only answer to such attacks is the very policy shunned by the Anti Nazi League-the formation of workers' defence squads to unite black and white workers in the common struggle to stamp out fascist There is no doubt that a clear call for such a policy would find a massive response. Last Sunday 5,000 workers and youth marched through pouring rain from Whitechapel to Hyde Park in protest against the racist murders.
This huge turn-out came in spite of the short notice given tor the demonstration and the failure of trade union and Labour leaders to mobilise their members.
But having clearly shown their willingness to take action to defend workers and youth against fascist attacks, the demonstrators were met by platform speakers-including selt-styled rotskyist Tariq Ali-not one of whom offered a call to organise workers' defence.
Years of bitter experience has shown the immigrant community that they receive no protection, merely harassment, at the hands of the ine increasing use or une SIMA police for picket-busting duties wherever strikes erupt and as bodyguards to protect puny fascist marches and meetings from the legitimate anger of masses of trade unionists and youth has intensitied police sympatny : po 2 1. -. for the fascists, and their reluctance to act against them.
As the armed, licensed thugs used by the capitalist state in its efforts to contain and weaken the organised working class, the police instinetively recognise KniIetoting, anti-union racist heavies of the National Front as allies to be protected.
Any labour or trade union leader who peddles the illusion that the police can be 'pressured' into protecting the immigrant communities or the workers' movement from the tascists is paving the way for further brutal attacks.
Independent action by the whole working class movement in each area where attacks take place or are threatened is the only way to protect against attacks.
There is no doubt that in the wake of the National Front's sharp slump in electoral support, the frustration of its remaining layers of lumpen toughs will seek an outlet in Martin Webster's vaunted strategy of "kicking our way into the headlines"
Now is the time for trade union and Labour Party branches, immigrant organisations, tenants associations and trades councils to take urgent joint action for the formation of workers defence foward such a demand.
Nor does it carry forward the other vital aspect of the struggle against the National Front fascists-a fight for a clear socialist programme designed to stamp out the material conditions of declining living standards and mass unemployment on which fascist propaganda feeds.
Those conditions have been created consciously by the Lib-Lab coalition government in the interests of boosting capitalist profitability.
The fight for a socialist programme demands a fight to break that coalition and class collaboration at all levels in the labour and trade union movement, and the construc tion of a principled leadership to defend workers' independent interests.
The Workers Socialist League stands unreservedly in favour of the broadest possible united action against the fascists on every occasion.
If any of the ANL leaders were prepared to use their publicity machine to put out a call for the building of defence squads, we would fight alongside them on this Issue.
But we are completely opposed to any attempt.to peddle the illusion that the fascists can be 'peacefully' defeated through propaganda without the mobilisation of the working class.
So-called 'revolutionaries' in the Socialist Workers Party and the International Marxist Group will have to think seriously in weeks to come whether they should continue to boost reformist illusions through the medium of the ANL or whether they should be calling for practical action defend against fascist thugs.
The Workers Socialist League's position is clear:
*Build workers defence squads!
*Break the coalition! to orders received prior to June 3.
Orders should be sent to:
Folrose Books, 31, Dartmouth Park Hill, NW5 1HR Communists Two Essays on Post-war Com
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