challenge racism. It is impossible to treat anachronistic frame of reference on the immigration controls in isolation from issue. The task now is not to try and the overall issues of state racism, with reverse history, but to outline principles which immigration controls are in fact
The article goes on to say, 'some trade unions, notably NALGO, have organised demonstrations to resist the deportation of their members. What is particularly about these is the support they have won from white people. This has been done by focussing on the impact of racist laws on individual human beings ….. By sticking to their own terms, by keeping the issue prominent, these campaigners have sometimes gathered broad support and won some remarkable victories'
These statements appear to suggest that the agenda of resistance to this and other (racist) immigration rules, be set by the white community in order attract the support of the political right and centre. We cannot go along with this.
There is no doubt that some trade unions have clearly demonstrated an ability to campaign against cases of threatened deportation. But it is important to recognise that this has much to do with the level of organisation of, and pressure exerted by, their black membership.
The success or failure of any trade union campaign to defeat this bill will rest on its ability to overcome divisions caused by racism. Above all, this means responding effectively to the demands of black members.
The support of white members and the wider white community is of course crucial, and this bill should also be of concern to civil and human rights groups, welfare rights pressure groups, anti-racist campaigns, police monitoring groups and so forth.
However, the principled basis of all support must be a desire to confront the racism and imperialism entrenched within all immigration legislation. The united front against the bill can then be assured of a good start o
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