After Rostock - German government takes on racist mantle NO POKATAPA Racist deportation is not just a German phenomenon. Protestors picket Birtain's Harmonsworth Detention Centre Hundreds of anti-fascists last Saturday thwarted an attempt by the Blood and Honour music front of British fascism to hold a public event unchallenged and unscathed.
Anti-fascist campaigners, the largest contingent coming from Anti-Fascist Action, took over Waterloo station for more than 40 minutes, before police cleared them in an attempt to allow fascists access to their 'redirection point. The Nazis were headed for a racist gig in Gravesend.
Scuffles
Large-scale protests and scuffles continued outside the station as neo-Nazi thugs tried to 'sieg heil' themselves into a false sense of security.
One minibus fall of blackuniformed boneheads (the 'master race') went careering down the fast lane on the wrong side of a dual carriageway, rather than confront protesters.
The fact that such events will be challenged was established on Saturday. As the Sunday Independent noted: 'As protestors chanted "police protect Nazi scum", the neo-fascists were divided into groups of 20 and escorted out of the area!
Police protection
In other words, only by the rotection of the state can the Vazis hold an event like Saturday's.
However the need for discipline and organised self-defence at events such as this was shown by the fact that scattered anti-fascists were attacked by marauding thugs.
Given the short notice for the counter-mobilisation the attendance was good. Local South Bank spontaneously joined the protest.
The turnout from the Anti-Nazi League was disappointing. There were a few committed individuals present, while those who head the SWP's ANL work trailed round Under racist pressure: Helmut Kohl option -unity with the capitalist west.
The 'reward' of mass unwas always bound to lead to mass discontent; the question is, what political force can channel and organise it? On the streets, the left still can mobilise more than the Nazis, a lot more.
But the task is much deeper than that. The left has to combine anti-fascism with fighting for the rights of anti-immigrant workers. It has to raise and champion the fight against unemployment and the attack on welfare and other rights of the east German workers.
Anti-fascism in itself never defeated the fascists. That is a lesson which both the SPD and sections of the german far left have to re-learn. after camera crews hoping for an interview. Racist Alliance was hardly in evidence.
Counter-fascist mobilisations are a necessary part of the overall anti-racist/fascist struggle. But considerable thought needs to be given to their organisation and especially legal monitoring and cover.
Ruined
The Battle of Waterloo was a victory. One fascist was heard to scream that their day had been ruined, when they had people coming from all over Europe. So sad! The BP's attempt to capitalise on Rostock took a nosedive to the nearest gutter. • 28 anti-fascists and 5 nazis were arrested. Details of defence campaign for anti-fascists in the next issue.