racist. This was the conclusion of the Oxford day school of Sunday November 13 held by the Campaign to Close Steve Cohen the main speaker and author of "workers control not immigration control" explained the importance of the issue for the labour movement. He showed how controls started in 1905 against Jewish immigrants and how even progressive leaders like Tom Mann supported them.
He dealt with the internment of Jews in the 1930's and how the first post war controls against black migrants were also supported by sections of the trade union movement - or example, it was TGWU policy.
It emerged from the discussions that in battling against present day immigration controls we are fighting 90 years of ingrained policy.
But there is a whole hidden history of opposition to be discovered lar those most effected. Steve Cohen argued that official Labour Party policy of opposing only "racist immigration controls" is totally misguided - it serves onty to demobilise resistance.
Junie James chair of the Afro Caribbean Association went through some of the experiences of Oxford people and argued that the immediacy of other issues such as housing made it difficult to get black people involved. This started a lively debate which concluded with an agreement to work more closely with the ACA.
Charles Kukwikila a spokesperson for a Zairian refugee association spoke on the history of Belgian colonialism in the Congo. stressed that economic migration was the result of imperialist distortion of the world economy and that people should have the right to move in order to survive. The discussion centred on the need for a far better appreciation of the politics of the countries of the refugees and migrants.
The final session of the day planned for events in the future in particular the picket of Harmonsworth detention centre, anniversary demonstration on Saturday November 26 and the march to London that starts on November 30. SUPPORT THE REFUGEES: SUPPORT THE IMMIGRATION Picket Harmondsworth detention centre Saturday December 3, He 12 noon - 1.30 pm Called by Ealing Trades Council and the Campaign to Close Campsfield the Full Employment Forum Congress House CDWS, PO Box 188, London SWA OSG Economic Policies for FULL EMPLOYMENT and Defence of the National Conference convened by the Campaign to Defend the Welfare State and the Saturday 3 December Great Russell St, WC1 Individuals £6/E3; Organisations g50 - E10 depending on size, Write for details to
SOCIALIST OUTLOOK No.72, November 19 1994, Page 4