THIS IS A crucial period for the anti-racist morement. Black communities face increased police harassment, the Asylum and Immigration Bill will intensify state racism, and the government is cutting Social Security benefit to asylum seckers.
As a general clection looms ever nearer, the Tories are more tempted to play the race card, and it seems likely that fascist organisations may well stand in a number of seats.
ane weescale oppositon to the Asylum and Immigration Bill must and to continue the struggle against all forms of racism. Anti- racists must mobilise for the ARA demo on March 23 and the Campaign Against the Asylam and Immigration Bill demo on April 20.
These can hels to develon a move ment that can either force a complete peal of these racist laws by the next Labour gorchinche Such an important victory for anti. racists could lay the basis for a movement that challenges all forms of racism. Racism (NAAR) has afiliations from a wide range of anu-racist and sabour movement organisations, and has been central to a number of national mobilisations. It could play a key role in uniting the movement.
It beld its second "conference" in Bethnal Green on Saturday March 9 attended by around 200 pcople--making it a somewhat smaller affair than last ycar.
The long list of speakers advertised in the literature may have contime in an event that allowed no decision making process and very little discussion. that MPs, trade union leaders and prepared to support anti-racist initiasus suene nos cost bined with a struggle to build unity in The vast majority of those who attended were already involved in one They were there because they had al. fight racism.
Sitting listening to bours of speakers from the platform added little to our understanding.
More positively, there were workshops in which activists were able to exchange ideas and experiences, and which many may have found useful.
These were immediately followed by another list of speakers from the platform, with no opportunity of the discussions in the workshops feeding back into the plenary The divisions within the anti-racist sioned and have convinced many activiste that there is no nossibility of building a united, auchoritative movement that can take on state racism and win.
The vast majority of anti-racists belong to no organisation, and generally confine themselves to local work. Crucial though thes is, s nas los limitations when the greatest perpeThe National Assembly could have a lot to contribute in overcom. ing this weakness. But an efective national anti-racist movement must be built on the solid foundations of mass ton • The Raghbir Singh Defence Camnaien can he contacted at 723 Pershore Road, Birmingham, B29 INY. el 0121 480 180%, Tax VIe 045 4424.