(Flemish Bloc). By Rod The week beginning 22 Marshall in November saw a one-day general strike which brought Antworp the whole country to a standstill, regional strikes and a THE STREETS of Ant- school students strike against werp in northern Belgium racism, which itself led to a erupted in passionate anger 10-000 strong demonstration on Sunday 28 in an energetic against racism. demonstration of 10,000 The Antwerp demonstraagainst racism and fascism. tion not only protested This demonstration capped a against the Vlaams Blok, week which saw the biggest which has been making elecwave of mass action since the toral gains with its calls for general strike of 1961. immigration controls and repatriations, but also against Combination the growing wave of attacks What is unique to the Bel- on Turkish and Moroccan gian movement is its combi- workers. nation of workers strikes The rise of racism has to be against the government's seen in the context of the coaaustchily 'crisis plan', and lition government of the youth mobilisations directed Christian Democrat and Soat the far right Vlaams Blok cial Democrat parties. This government has been tailing the Vlaams Block in restricting immigration and asylum This state racism has to be seen alongside government attacks such as cuts in unemployment pay, a pay freeze and higher taxes.
There is an obvious similarity to the situation in Britain, both in government attacks and the link between mass poverty, unemployment and the rise of racism.
A central call of the Antwerp demonstration was for full employment, showing a clear understanding between mass unemployment and the rise of the far right.
It is clear there is a tremendous growth in the confidence of people to protest in Belgium. The general strike was an awakening of union committee had leading role in demo