IN OLDHAM last Saturday over two thousand people came out onto the streets National Front. majority of them workers, demonstrating militancy rarely before seen in the North-west.
The counter-demonstration to the National Front was called 10 days earlier by Oldham Campaign Against Racist Laws. Between Saturday there was a frenzy of activity in the area.
Thousands of leaflets circulated door-to-door, as well as to local trade union bodies. In Pakistani and Bengali areas, daily were held. Thẹ day demonstration the streets mobilising people.
In the lead un to the march. the fascists had made violent attacks on black people, so it was to be ordinary march.
Gangs fascists armed
bricks and iron DAIS ' Bengali area of Westwood; there were petrol bombings Pakistani area of Glodwick. The NF was ostensibly town's Labour MPs, was held to bolster the self-confidence of the racist thugs.
гоГ black people, mobilisation was an extension of the self defence which organising against these attacks.
More than that, angry at growing numbers of deportations and threats under the immigration laws, attitudes to the police WELC Specially assigned community police officers were given no joy in trying to get the march called off.
On the day, it was clear from early morning that the mobilisation would be big; textile mills in the area were either Closer or had departments missing as black workers opted for fighting racism.
People started hours before the rally. the Bengali area of Westwood 500 workers had assembled, of the police they began to march on the town centre. against the of Pakistanis The vast Glodwick. were Asian and shouting slogans, main street assembly point.
Within The whole then and youth.
The infuriated attack the were meetings the Asian youth toured fascists.
Escort no The attacked the hundreds of police the against the but in reality it people were arrested.
they demand WelC dropped.
people were hardening.
large greet the Asian whole Socialist those By 10.30am in * The and to the week's When they arrived the police the Bengalis were joined by hundreds and Bengalis Embracing one another they swept the police aside and marched onto the towards the NF minutes the main entrances to the town were occupied.
was led by the police began to demonstrators, pulling them across the road and grabbing the megaphones of the leaders. As news got through that the NF were in a nearby car park, many black youths broke through to stone the 60 scared fascists, with their pitiful demonstration overshadowed by the counter-mobilisation, were escorted the railway by - their own transport having been wrecked.
The fascists had clearly suffered a major defeat; they were only able to march because of the major effort bi the police to defend them. Over 3.
When the fascists had gone, over 200 people picketed the police station that the charges be Others marched back to Glodwick. On the street corners black discussing how to maintain the unity built on the day, and planarge defence me.
defence meeting has already called for a picket of Oldham court on 7 May, and plans are under way for a mass rally in Oldham to youth on the Black Contributions to the defence fund for those arrested, to OCARL, c/o Challenge. Witnesser arrested should contact OCARL at the same address.
article on Oldham in last Socialist Challenge was written by Pete Clifford, and not -as was stated — by Janet Gardner. • PICKET YOUR LOCAL POLICE STATION WED APRIL 23rdNATIONAL ANNIVERSARY OF SOUTHALL DEMONSTRATION Assemble Ipm Speakers Corner Marble Arch March via Scotland Yard to Rally in Trafalgar Square REMEMBER BLAIR PEACH ANNIVERSARY 7.30pm, University of London Union, SUN APRIL 27th,