Anti-Fascist Action: Difference between revisions

Browse history interactively ← Previous edit Next edit →Content deleted Content addedVisual WikitextInline

Revision as of 14:29, 22 May 2007 editJcarax68 (talk \| contribs)360 editsNo edit summary← Previous edit		Revision as of 14:36, 22 May 2007 edit undoJcarax68 (talk \| contribs)360 editsNo edit summaryNext edit →
Line 2:		Line 2:
	]]]		]]]
	:''This article refers to the UK organisation Anti-Fascist Action. For other organisations with the same name in other langueages, see ].		:''This article refers to the UK organisation Anti-Fascist Action. For other organisations with the same name in other langueages, see ].
	'''Anti-Fascist Action''' ('''AFA''') was a ] organisation that ~~started~~ in the ] in 1985.		'''Anti-Fascist Action''' ('''AFA''') was a ] organisation that was founded in the ] in 1985.

			==History==


	AFA was launched in ] in 1985 by members of ] and the ]. It was active in fighting organisations it claimed were ] or ], such as the ] and ]. AFA was partly a reaction to the perceived inadequacies of the original ] (ANL), which at the time had wound up its operations. AFA members accused ANL of failing to directly confront fascists, of allying with moderates who were complicit in racism, and of being a ] front for the ] (SWP).		AFA was launched in ] in 1985 by members of ] and the ]. It was active in fighting organisations it claimed were ] or ], such as the ] and ]. AFA was partly a reaction to the perceived inadequacies of the original ] (ANL), which at the time had wound up its operations. AFA members accused ANL of failing to directly confront fascists, of allying with moderates who were complicit in racism, and of being a ] front for the ] (SWP).
Line 10:		Line 13:
	AFA had what they called a "twin-track" strategy: physical confrontation of fascists on the streets and ideological struggle against fascism in ] communities. While mainstream ] ] groups often focus their attention on ] and other racial minorities as the victims of discrimination, AFA focused its efforts on the ] working class, which it saw as the fascist movement's main recruiting ground. AFA's physical confrontation approach was more visible than their ideological work, and their tactics were criticised for their ] and use of violence. Thousands of people took part in AFA mobilisations such as the ] demonstrations in 1986 and 1987, and a mobilisation against ] in May 1987.		AFA had what they called a "twin-track" strategy: physical confrontation of fascists on the streets and ideological struggle against fascism in ] communities. While mainstream ] ] groups often focus their attention on ] and other racial minorities as the victims of discrimination, AFA focused its efforts on the ] working class, which it saw as the fascist movement's main recruiting ground. AFA's physical confrontation approach was more visible than their ideological work, and their tactics were criticised for their ] and use of violence. Thousands of people took part in AFA mobilisations such as the ] demonstrations in 1986 and 1987, and a mobilisation against ] in May 1987.

	In 1988, AFA formed a musical arm, Cable Street Beat, on similar principles to the Anti-Nazi League’s ]. In 1989, there was a split in AFA between hardcore militant anti-fascists and members whose views were closer to ]. The militant groups relaunched AFA that year, with the affiliates Direct Action Movement and ], as well as several ]s. In 1990, three AFA members were jailed for attacking a fascist. In 1991, AFA held a Unity Carnival in ], with 10,000 participants, and a demonstration in ], with 4,000 participants (under the slogan “Beating the Fascists: An old ] tradition”). A long street battle between AFA and Blood and Honour supporters in October 1992 was dubbed the ''Battle of Waterloo''' because it was centred around ].<ref>http://www.redaction.org/anti-fascism/it_woz_afa.html</ref>		In 1988, AFA formed a musical arm, Cable Street Beat, on similar principles to the Anti-Nazi League’s ]. In 1989, there was a split in AFA between hardcore militant anti-fascists and members whose views were closer to ]. The militant groups relaunched AFA that year, with the affiliates Direct Action Movement and ], as well as several ]s.

			==1990s==

			In 1990, three AFA members were jailed for attacking a fascist. In 1991, AFA held a Unity Carnival in ], with 10,000 participants, and a demonstration in ], with 4,000 participants (under the slogan “Beating the Fascists: An old ] tradition”). A long street battle between AFA and Blood and Honour supporters in October 1992 was dubbed the ''Battle of Waterloo''' because it was centred around ].<ref>http://www.redaction.org/anti-fascism/it_woz_afa.html</ref>
	<ref>http://www.skrewdriver.net/diamond.html</ref>		<ref>http://www.skrewdriver.net/diamond.html</ref>

	In 1993, ], a candidate from the British National Party (BNP), won a council seat on the ] in ], East London; under the slogan of "Rights for Whites." This signalled a turn in the BNP's policy from confrontation on the streets to a bid for electoral respectability. AFA responded with its ''Filling the Vacuum'' strategy, which involved offering a positive political alternative in these communities instead of concentrating on challenging the fascist presence on the streets.		In 1993, ], a candidate from the British National Party (BNP), won a council seat on the ] in ], East London; under the slogan of "Rights for Whites." This signalled a turn in the BNP's policy from confrontation on the streets to a bid for electoral respectability. AFA responded with its ''Filling the Vacuum'' strategy, which involved offering a positive political alternative in these communities instead of concentrating on challenging the fascist presence on the streets.

			==Decline==

	After 1995, some anti-fascist mobilisations did still occur e.g. against the ] in ] in 1997 and 1998. Internally, a new AFA National Coordinating Committee was set up. In 1997 an AFA statement officially banned members from associating with Searchlight - and in 1998, ] and Huddersfield AFA were expelled by the new Committee, officially for ignoring this policy. Expulsions didn't stop the decline. There were some local re-launches – e.g. ] in 2000. But by 2001 - though probably a long time before - AFA as a national organisation hardly existed.		After 1995, some anti-fascist mobilisations did still occur e.g. against the ] in ] in 1997 and 1998. Internally, a new AFA National Coordinating Committee was set up. In 1997 an AFA statement officially banned members from associating with Searchlight - and in 1998, ] and Huddersfield AFA were expelled by the new Committee, officially for ignoring this policy. Expulsions didn't stop the decline. There were some local re-launches – e.g. ] in 2000. But by 2001 - though probably a long time before - AFA as a national organisation hardly existed.
Line 19:		Line 28:
	Most AFA and Red Action activists have consequently devoted their energies to the ].<ref>http://libcom.org/history/1985-2001-anti-fascist-action-afa</ref>		Most AFA and Red Action activists have consequently devoted their energies to the ].<ref>http://libcom.org/history/1985-2001-anti-fascist-action-afa</ref>
	<ref>http://www.stagebottles.de/blaggers.html</ref>		<ref>http://www.stagebottles.de/blaggers.html</ref>

			==Militant anti-fascism in the UK since 2001==

			Some former elements from AFA regrouped to form a militant anti-fascist group called No Platform in 2002 but this group disbanded shortly.

			In 2004, members from the ], ], and No Platform founded a new organisation - ]. This largely dominated anarchist group has imitated AFA's stance of physical and ideological confrontation with fascists and has a policy of non-co-operation with ] or any other state-linked agencies.

			*On the 23rd of September 2004, Antifa was involved in a confrontation with David King, a former ] treasurer and his BNP security entourage in ], ]. <ref>http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/09/298235.html?c=on</ref>

			*On the 15th January 2005, Antifa was involved in a confrontation with ] ] Skinheads in ]. <ref>http://www.ainfos.ca/05/jan/ainfos00250.html</ref>

			*On the 27th of March 2005, thirty anti-fascists attacked a ] meeting in ]. The anti - fascists threw half bricks and rocks at the BNP security and BNP member's cars were smashed. <ref>http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/regions/london/2005/03/307957.html?c=on</ref>





			==Ireland==

	]'s Anti-Fascist Action appears to be modelled on the British group, but its website implies that it has a greater emphasis on ].<ref>http://www.geocities.com/irishafa/</ref>		]'s Anti-Fascist Action appears to be modelled on the British group, but its website implies that it has a greater emphasis on ].<ref>http://www.geocities.com/irishafa/</ref>

Revision as of 14:36, 22 May 2007

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
Find sources: "Anti-Fascist Action" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (May 2007) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

File:Antifa.jpg

AFA logo featuring an anti-fascist armed with a Molotov Cocktail

This article refers to the UK organisation Anti-Fascist Action. For other organisations with the same name in other langueages, see Anti-Fascist Action (disambiguation).

Anti-Fascist Action (AFA) was a militant anti-fascist organisation that was founded in the United Kingdom in 1985.

History

AFA was launched in London in 1985 by members of Red Action and the Direct Action Movement. It was active in fighting organisations it claimed were fascist or racist, such as the National Front and British National Party. AFA was partly a reaction to the perceived inadequacies of the original Anti-Nazi League (ANL), which at the time had wound up its operations. AFA members accused ANL of failing to directly confront fascists, of allying with moderates who were complicit in racism, and of being a vanguardist front for the Socialist Workers Party (SWP).

Although many Trotskyist groups, independent socialists, anarchists and members of the Labour Party were active in AFA in the 1980s, the main members were always from Red Action, a group founded by disillusioned miltant anti-fascist SWP members who had criticised perceived populist or popular front politics of the ANL. Affiliated organisations in the early history of AFA included Newham Monitoring Project and Searchlight magazine.

AFA had what they called a "twin-track" strategy: physical confrontation of fascists on the streets and ideological struggle against fascism in working class communities. While mainstream liberal anti-racist groups often focus their attention on black people and other racial minorities as the victims of discrimination, AFA focused its efforts on the white working class, which it saw as the fascist movement's main recruiting ground. AFA's physical confrontation approach was more visible than their ideological work, and their tactics were criticised for their squadism and use of violence. Thousands of people took part in AFA mobilisations such as the Remembrance Day demonstrations in 1986 and 1987, and a mobilisation against Blood and Honour in May 1987.

In 1988, AFA formed a musical arm, Cable Street Beat, on similar principles to the Anti-Nazi League’s Rock Against Racism. In 1989, there was a split in AFA between hardcore militant anti-fascists and members whose views were closer to liberal anti-fascism. The militant groups relaunched AFA that year, with the affiliates Direct Action Movement and Workers Power, as well as several trade unions.

1990s

In 1990, three AFA members were jailed for attacking a fascist. In 1991, AFA held a Unity Carnival in East London, with 10,000 participants, and a demonstration in Bethnal Green, with 4,000 participants (under the slogan “Beating the Fascists: An old East End tradition”). A long street battle between AFA and Blood and Honour supporters in October 1992 was dubbed the Battle of Waterloo' because it was centred around Waterloo Station.

In 1993, Derek Beackon, a candidate from the British National Party (BNP), won a council seat on the Isle of Dogs in Tower Hamlets, East London; under the slogan of "Rights for Whites." This signalled a turn in the BNP's policy from confrontation on the streets to a bid for electoral respectability. AFA responded with its Filling the Vacuum strategy, which involved offering a positive political alternative in these communities instead of concentrating on challenging the fascist presence on the streets.

Decline

After 1995, some anti-fascist mobilisations did still occur e.g. against the National Front in Dover in 1997 and 1998. Internally, a new AFA National Coordinating Committee was set up. In 1997 an AFA statement officially banned members from associating with Searchlight - and in 1998, Leeds and Huddersfield AFA were expelled by the new Committee, officially for ignoring this policy. Expulsions didn't stop the decline. There were some local re-launches – e.g. Liverpool in 2000. But by 2001 - though probably a long time before - AFA as a national organisation hardly existed.

Most AFA and Red Action activists have consequently devoted their energies to the Independent Working Class Association.

Militant anti-fascism in the UK since 2001

Some former elements from AFA regrouped to form a militant anti-fascist group called No Platform in 2002 but this group disbanded shortly.

In 2004, members from the Anarchist Federation, Class War, and No Platform founded a new organisation - Antifa. This largely dominated anarchist group has imitated AFA's stance of physical and ideological confrontation with fascists and has a policy of non-co-operation with Searchlight or any other state-linked agencies.

On the 23rd of September 2004, Antifa was involved in a confrontation with David King, a former British National Party treasurer and his BNP security entourage in Basildon, Essex.

On the 15th January 2005, Antifa was involved in a confrontation with National Front Neo Nazi Skinheads in Woolwich.

On the 27th of March 2005, thirty anti-fascists attacked a British National Party meeting in Halifax. The anti - fascists threw half bricks and rocks at the BNP security and BNP member's cars were smashed.

Ireland

Ireland's Anti-Fascist Action appears to be modelled on the British group, but its website implies that it has a greater emphasis on Irish Republicanism.

Footnotes

Bibliograpy

Bullstreet, K. Bash the Fash: Anti-Fascist Recollections 1984-1993. ISBN 1-873605-87-0.
No Retreat by Dave Hann and Steve Tilsey

External links

Categories:

Misplaced Pages