Anger grows at Cross massacre

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white people from the New (in the form of . ( Cross meeting, it was necessary postal orders) to the to fight for a united struggle Fire Fund, Bank Ac against racism and involve black 91340565, Barclays and white youth in that Marylebone High struggle. London W1.

Fascists of the British Movement have recently been convicted on charges of murder, arson, and illegal possession of arms. BM member Michael Clifford was given a life sentence in Leeds for the murder of a 17-year old youth. And in the Midlands Roderick Roberts was given 7 years for an arson attack on a Jobcentre and, together with two other BM members was also sentenced for possessing the above cache There has been a swift reaction by the black community to the murder of twelve young people in the fire-bombing of a house in of Sunday January 18.

The very same day a meeting was held to discuss the massacre and a committee was set up to raise money for the burial of the dead and for the woman whose home was gutted in the blaze.

The following Sunday a neeting of 1500 people from the black community in London, Derby, Birmingham ind other cities took place in Vew Cross, followed by a march o the house where the massacre ook place.

The size of this meeting ndicates ciearly enough the eeling of outrage that has swept hrough the black community n response to the massacre.

School students

The police and the mass nedia have each in their way ried to suggest that the deaths vere caused by members of the lack community. So what is nown about the incident?

rust of all, the party, for 'vonne Ruddock, a school girl and the 11th person to die days fter the fire) was the first ever eld by her mother. About 60 • 100 young people, aged 14 • 19, attended, most of them hool students.

Although some young eopie tried to gatecrash the arty they were turned away rithout any problems. There The end of the show trial were one or two complaints about noise and the police paid a couple of visits to the house but again no particular problems arose from this.

In the early hours of the morning the party began to die down as the partygoers began to leave.

Gatecrashers

Carl Wright; one of those who had been at the party, told the police that he saw someone throw an object into the house and then drive away in a white Austin Princess. He told the police and the press that he did not know if that person was black or white.

However, immediately the police suggested that the fire might have been caused by frustrated black gatecrashers who had failed to gain admittance to the party and even suggested subsequently that the ire had been started inside the building using paint thinners.

The press have also played their role, suggesting that there were fights at the party and that there were 200 in the house causing excessive noise. They extensively reported the suggestion that the fire was started by blacks.

Fund set up

Since the massacre some of the bereaved families have received poisoned pen letters and racist phone calls. One letter read:

"What a great day it was last Sunday when I heard about the fire and all those niggers going up, in flames. I hope the black bastard who mugged me was there."

Police now admit that it is possible that the author of this letter may have caused the fire -in other words that it was what the black community knew all along-a racist massacre.

The West Indian World has offered a reward of £5,000 for information leading to the arrest of the mass murderer and along with the Lewisham Community Relations Council has set up telephone lines that people with information can phone if they don't wish to go directly to the A fund has also been set up to raise money for Mrs Ruddock and for the families who have lost sons and daughters, many of whom are unable to afford the cost of the burial.

Meanwhile the New Cross Massacre Action Committee is organising a demonstration along Fleet Street to Scotland Yard in order to keep the issue in the public eye.

A representative of the committee said that even if the murderer was not caught and the police were able to secure a verdict such as death by misadventure at a coroners court it was necessary to alert the black community to the need to organise against racist attacks.

Young people, he argued, would have to be prepared to defend their parties against similar attacks. And while antiwhite feeling was not surprising amongst young blacks who had, for example, wanted to exclude Donations to assist the families involved should be sent of arms. heques or New Cross count No. Bank, SA Street, With a concerted media whitewashing to contend with, mobilising opposition to the military dictatorship in Turkey is not easy.

Nevertheless, a userul ster towaras exposing the regime's reactionary nature was taken at last week's Rally in central London organised by the Turkey Solidarity Campaign.

Speakers from the National Union of Journalists Executive, the Association of Kurdish Students Abroad and the Committee for the Defence of Democratic Rights in Turkey were able to address a meeting of over one hundred about the systematic attacks on basic rights which have typified the Generals' rule since they took power last September.

Particularly stressed were the unprecedented moves by the junta to put on trial 2,000 leaders and organisers of DISK, the outlawed independent trade union confederation.

An indication of the collaboration that exists between the state security forces in Turkey and this country was brought out by a CDDRT speaker.

He referred to a report in the Turkish newspaper 'Son Havadis. It quotes a British police report on a march the CDDRT are organising month which is to be kept under surveillance for alleged "terrorists' Trades unionists and Labour Party members should protest at this attack on civil liberties. Moves are being made to raise the question in Parliament and

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New Cross, South East London in the early hours

at urkey rally