Leeds White Vigilantes
Socialist Press1976 1976-06-16Read it in the scan (PDF), scan page 4 →
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The leader, or 'fuehrer' as he used to like to be known, of the Leeds-based British National Party has announced the formation of White Vigilante' squads in a move calculated to stir up racial violence and to seek to intimidate immigrant workers.
The claimed object of these "vigilantes" is to "protect" local white people and property from "continued harassment" • Making this announcement a Mr. Eddie Morrison, national organiser of the BNP, refused to comment on whether his groups of "activists" would be armed.
Morrison, travel agency manager, was formerly leader of the National Democratic Freedom Movement, which during its short existence established a notorious reputation for violence.
The NDFM only established itself in Leeds with the aid of largescale publicity given to it by the Torkshire Evening Post. The latest moves setting up "White Vigilantes" has also been splashed across the front pages of the Yorkshire Post and Evening rost, while only the mudest moral attack is made on them in inside page editorials.
Mariann has alan announceo Burnwal in Yorkshire was only eight miles from Jordan's farm house. As well as encouragement from the press, the fascists clearly expect full cooperation from the police -and have announced their intention to "cooperate" with them in every way.
Given the history of the local police against immigrant workers this "cooperation" can only benefit the fascists. The Leeds ponce include not a single West Indian, and the main immigrant area of the city seems more and more like an occupied country. With this kind of force patrolling in Chapeltown, Leeds, and Manningham Bradford, the "White Vigilantes" have stated that they will not go into these areas. The "vigilantes" are already there - in blue uniforms!
The defence of immigrant workers against the groups of thugs being assembled by Morrison is a task for the labour movement as a whole. It must not be seen as a question simply of "black" vigilantes veIsuS "white" vigilantes. Racism is an attack on the strength and unity of the whole of the working class.
Trade unionists in Leeds and Bradford must face up to this responsibility, and build workers' defence squads. The question is no