Socialist Outlook

Socialist Viewpoint, International, Socialist Outlook and their supplements, 1984–2002

RACISM

Socialist Outlook no. 79, March 11 1995 · 254 words

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Racism and anti-fascism

tacked at two o'clock in the morning. If we can't respond to the needs of that family, we can never build a movement from above.

We must talk about police racism, and the National Assembly has got to address that issue because it's not just a question of fighting fascism but challenging police and state racism. That's something which is lacking.

In Britain we must recognise the failure of the system to defend isolated black families against racist attacks and harassment, the failure of the criminal justice system in dealing with racism. We must also address the futile attempts to make racism a criminal offence. Would attacks by mixed race or black people on white people be included in this legislation?

Huge administrative powers have been given to faceless bureaucrats. An asylum seeker who isn't charged with any offence can be held far longer in a police station than can someone accused of murder.

Impoverished

We must recognise that the slogan of 'rights for whites' has some appeal to impoverished white working class communities, precisely because the 'traditional' parties have failed them.

The overwhelming majority of the people who vote BNP are not fascists; for them the BNP simply represents an outlet of frustration. Rather than attempting a legalistic censorship we must win these people back to our movement.

We must fight fascism physicallv, politically and ideologically, and we must educate working class communities. But when you talk about banning groups, where do you draw the line?

The Kurdish PKK is banned

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