MUIRHOUSE Anti-Racist Campaign (MARC) formed a year ago on one of Edinburgh's largest council estates to kick out racists.
Muirhouse is one of five estates in Greater Pilton and has its fair share of problems with poverty, bad housing and unemployment at the top of the list. But when racism reared its ugly head this predominantly white community moved fast to stamp it out. 1991 after a small group of BP supporters became active on the estate. They started to terrorise a Glaswegian man, Chris Ve Cracken, and his Botswanan wife, Maria, who nad just moved in and were awaiting the birth of their first child.
They daubed racist slogans telling Maria to 'go home' outside their front door, jostled Maria in the street, shouted abuse and made phone calls in the carly hours of the morning.
Willie Adams of MARC said 'It was getting out of hand and people on the estate were embarrassed that it could happen on their own doorsteps.
We didn't want the racists here and weknew the police and council would only drag their feet, and that something serious would happen if we didn't move quick.
Willie called the first meeting of MARC and was astonished at Hundreds the response people turned up even une mother of some of the BP activists - and they immediately practical help to the Crackens.
Guarded
70 people marched on the house that the BP were operating from. About 20 fascists cowered penna tell willaows Then a guard was put around the Mccracken nouse for weeks until the council found them a Chris said 1 was amazed at the strength of feeling. People we didn't know stopped us in the street to say how sorry they were.
They couldn't do enough for us. The BNP became too afraid to harass us. Eventually they moved out of the house they were operating from because they got a taste of their own medicine.
Nobody on the estate, however, has any illusions that the BNP won't be back, even though they're not visible at the Prime ground Muirhouse has the sorts of problems that can make it prime recruiting ground for fascists.
MARC has been very successful in this one case, laurels. We have to keep vigilant and make links with other anti-fascist groups. sure we know where the BNP are operating so we can defend communities from them. Working together is the only way to defeat them.
MARC shows what a strong community can do. Muirhouse restaents are now looks dr d long term anti-racist campaign and they welcome anyone in Edinburgh who wants to join them.
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