THE CONSISTENTLY combative Steve Bell published one of his most savagely brilliant cartoons in the Guardian on 11 August. It showed 'Little Irma' being brought into an airport, passing by a gagged and manacled illegal immigrant being carried out.
The connection is very direct: Britain has allowed in a tiny number of Bosnian refugees, let alone severe medical cases, compared with any other major European state -an index not oniy of ruling class cynicism towards the fate of Bosnia, but of blanket racism over immigration and towards black people here.
Public inquiries over Joy Gardner's death are beside the point: Joy Gardner may not have been deliberately killed, but her death was a by-product of the casual brutality meted out by the police and immigration authorities to black people.
Barbarism
And in a sense, the medieval baroarism of the restraling belt, manacles and masking tape is not the key noint either. Liberal handforce is 'permissible' in dealing with 'illegal immigrants' evades the fact that Britain's immigration laws are an exercise in racist thuggery and legitimise numerous forms of harassment of the black community.
In June more than 50 tillegal immigrants' were rounded up on a fruit farm in Kent. Many were from ex-Yugoslavia. They lived in tents and were paid pitiful wages. Prey to ine mineraton soudos.
But harassment goes way beyond such desperate croups of people. immoration offences, particularly susIllegal immigration is the excuse for growing numbers of raids on sweatshops and violating the homes and com. munities of black people.
Racist state
Recently the anti-racist movement has been focussed on racist murders and the role of the fascists. However justified that is, Joy Gardner's murder is a reminder of the deeply ingrained racism of remains the key enemy of black people and a key ruling class weapon to divide the working class.
Media coverage has been grotesque, and not just the openly racist papers like the Sun and Standard. The liberal' Guardian published an odious piece which concentrated on atlackino the far left and apologising for the police. As Trotsky put it, when liberals talk about morality. hang on to your wallet.
To grasp the racist hypocrisy of British officialdom and the British media, compare the death of Joy Gardner with that of PC Blakelock. Official enquiries will bury this case, and the police who killed Joy Gardner will get off scot free; and the media will forget it.
The left and anti-racists must prepare a massive response. The Unity Demonstration on 16 October provides the opportunity for a huge display of protesi against racist murders and all forms of racist violence and harassmentby fascist thugs or the thugs in blue.
SOCIALIST OUTLOOK No. 48, September 1993, Page 4 THE BURNSALL'S strikers are appealing against the decision of GMB regional organiser, Geoff Wheatley, to call off their dispute.
To publicise their demands, the strikers decided to picket the GMB HQ last Monday afternoon along with London and birmingham supporters They hoped to get a better response from GMB General Secretary John Edmonds who was "indisposed" on a previous to say it was a shame that nothing could be done.
Edmonds praised the strikers' courage and determination and pledged support at the GMB'sconference. The strikers pledge and the GMB gives full support for the continuation of their struggle. dispute was closed and we could do noching...They then said if we attended our rally 3 July. criticised them or talked to the press they would stop our induscases We asked if we could discuss the issues democratically, and take a vote.
They refused...During the strike we had little contact sitt GMB members and did not even have union cards or know what branch we were in. We feelif we had been white we would not have been wearca in such a shabby way.
Certainly the role of the GMB hardly encourages low-paid, unorganised, women, young and grosssy cam ploited workers to take the labour movement seriously.
The strikers ask sympathisers to get resolutions through their organisations demanding the GMB reinstate the dispute and Send copies to Geoff Wheatley. West Midlands GMB, Wilthorn House, 2 Birmingham Road. Halesowen, B63 3HB, as well as to the strikers and John Edmonds at GMB HQ. Worple Road, Wimbledon, London SWI.
For further information Balvir Singh on 021 - 565 5416 or write 82 Rosefield Road, ALU Crucial struggle of Burnsall's workers was sold out Smethwick, B67 6BX. Donations to Bumsalls Strke fund: c/o 27 Thursvale Road, Lindale park, Wednesfield, Wolverhampton WVII 3CN.