Thousands Rally Against Racialisim

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More than 12,000 workers and youth, the majority of them Asian, demonstrated through central London on two consecutive Sundays to protest against racialist and fascist attacks on the immigrant community.

At the first demonstration on July 4th, about 5,000 people marched, led by a contingent of Asian youth.

The slogans reflected the policies of the various organisations: the Communist Party's "One Race, the Human Race" ; the InternationSocialists' "Enoch Powell Murderer", the IMG's "Labour Movement Must Support Black Self Defence"

Only the Workers Socialist League contingent rooted the growth of racialism in the economic crisis and demanded "Work Sharing - Full Pay" , "Public Works" and "Reactionary • Import • Controls -Out" as well as the demand for Workers Defence Squads.

This caused bitter tows with the ICL who claimed that all workers are racialist so black self defence was the only answer, and that it was wrong to put forward demands on this demonstration which were not connected with racialism! • A larger crowd of about 7,000 took part in last Sunday's march. This demonstration was organised in opposition to the previous one and while the banners of the various left groups were more noticeable, there was an absence of trade union banners.

When the march reached Picadilly Circus three Asian youths in the Southall Youth Movement contingent were arrested by police and demonstrators refused to proceed until the three had been released. The police agreed to release the three but picked them up again later when a number of other arrests were also made.

The most serious incident, however, took place in Whitehall when a petition was being taken to Downing Street.

Police "hijacked" the Indian Workers Association van at the head of the demonstration, replacing it with their own vehicle. As Asian workers attempted to stop the van from being removed two were run over by the police. One youth, had his leg broken and another received a back injury. • Open provocations of this nature by the police are only to be expected in the present period and can only be defeated by the organised strength of the working class. The Workers Socialist League contingent's slogan of 'Down with polic harrassment - Workers Defenc Squads - In' was taken up at thi point in the march by whoi sections of workers.

Efforts to build workers seli defence must be redoubled in orde to combat not only the attacks o fascists but also harrassment anı provocation by the police..