Press Gang

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Early this year the News of the World led its paper two weeks running with anti fascist stories.

One of them was of an interview with Klu Klux Klan leader Bill Wilkinson in America, and the paper reported him declaring that he would visit 'England' in the near future to see his supporters.

Last Sunday the News of the World became the latest in a long line of British newspapers to give the Klan the kind of introduction to British fascists that thousands a1 pounds and years of work could not have established.

Press Gang noted lastweek =ow the Press built up Klansman Duke into a rational figure.

This week Wilkinson arved to declare Duke a 'own" and a "joke" and to amand that the media turn :nes attention to him. They 3.050 O= Friday the Sun, from Fi me stable as the News • = World served up yet :.e. picture of a fascist -ism-Grand Wizard ..ree in his robes. The •ces the robes "his :::• . I: a pisture Just as last weeks reports had Duke outwitting immigration controls, so did The Sun emphasise Wilkinson's wizardry in beating the ban.

In fact despite Merlyn Rees' attempts to present the fascists with yet another propaganda point by banning them, the forces of state have clearly been unwilling to move against the preachers of white supremacy.

The Sun, of course is ever in the front line of racist reporting. But The News of the World set out to prove that bourgeois papers can be anti fascist. It was clearly the intention of reporter Ron Mount to present himself as an exposer of the Klan.

Zombies

His two page report refers to "pseudo religious claptrap" and says that Wilkinson's followers acted like Zombies.

But in fact Mount was far ruder about the Klan when he interviewed Wilkinson America in January-so Wilkinson must have known in advance that any article would contain insults.

Nevertheless he selected Mount to meet aar: *=*= about aim lonely wood. They obeyed an instruction not to photograph any uncovered faces.

They watched while a fiery cross was set up and while the timid British fascists put on their robes. And then they recorded the scene in Kent as the Klansmen set light to the cross and paraded in their uniforms.

'Grand Dragon'

They even witnessed and photographed Wilkinson promoting one of the British followers 'Grand Dragon of Great Britain' The paper did not even stop short at reproducing an entire handout by the Klan.

No doubt Mount and The News of the World consider that they have exposed Wilkinson. In fact he has exposed them.

It is little wonder that at the end of the News of the World story, the editor felt obliged to add an explanatory note.

"The News of the World has made no payment to Wilkinson nor afforded him any assistance. Full details of with him ::: .E31

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