The Battle And Legacy of Cable Street, No Pasaran! (They Shall Not Pass)

I have decided to post a brilliant animated video about “The Battle Of Cable Street” that has won many international awards but has largely been ignored by the anti-Fascist movements in the UK. And it really does need more publicity.

The video is followed by a short documentary called “the Legacy of Cable Street”.

But then I also realised that many people might know the history of the event.
The following item was originally posted on the BBC website in 2006 by Kate Reading,

Battle of Cable Street

By Kate Reading

Seventy years ago Londoners took the fight against fascism to the east end streets.

Cable Street is an unassuming, run of the mill street in the heart of Whitechapel.

Walking along it today it would be difficult to believe that anything extraordinary had ever happened there.
But On Oct 4th 1936, over 250,000 ordinary east enders, took to the streets to fight their own war against fascism. The ensuing clashes became known as "The Battle of Cable Street".
Europe was in the grip of Fascism. Both Germany and Italy were led by dictators and civil war had broken out in Spain, after a fascist uprising.

Refused
Britain had the British Union of Fascist (BUF) headed by the glamorous and charismatic Sir Oswald Mosley and his blackshirts.
The BUF had been terrorising Jews throughout the East End. On Oct 4th they planned to march through Stepney, an area with the largest Jewish population in England.
Despite petitions from local Jewish groups the Conservative government refused to ban the march.

The blackshirts assembled at Gardner’s Corner, a famous department store in Aldgate, known as the gateway to the east End.

Adopted
Their way was blocked by thousands of demonstrators, made up of communists, Jews, dockers and labourers from the local community.

They flooded the narrow streets, making them impassable. They carried banners and chanted "They Shall Not Pass" a slogan adopted from the Spanish Republicans.

A lone tram driver stopped his tram in the middle of a junction blocking the blackshirts way. The driver then got out and walked off.
Barricades had been erected in the side streets to stop the march getting past. Over 10,000 police officers had been drafted in and they mounted constant baton charges to try and clear the streets.

Barricade

Four thousand officers on horseback joined the charges, as the anti-fascists fought back with chair legs, marbles and stones.

In Cable Street a hasty barricade was erected, made of mattresses, furniture, planks of wood from a local builders yard and even a lorry.

Women in houses along the street contributed by hurling rotten vegetables, rubbish, bottles and the contents of chamber pots onto the police as they attempted to dismantle the barricade.
Finally, the police gave in and told Mosley to march back through the deserted City of London streets to The Embankment. There was jubilation and partying in the streets of the East End.

Remarkable
Once the dust had settled over 150 people had been arrested and some were sentenced to hard labour. There were reports of police brutality suffered while in custody and 100 people were injured including police officers, women and children.
In the following months the government passed The Public Order Act of 1936 forbidding the wearing of political uniforms in public. After the battle of Cable Street, BUF popularity of was never the same. A remarkable story from an unremarkable street.
Today, a red plaque and a mural on the Side of St George’s Hall are the only visible signs that anything momentous ever occurred here. But they stand as a quiet testament to the power of ordinary people.
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The following video is called the Battle of Cable Street and was made by yoyosegal
Winner of best HD film at DC shorts and official selection at Chicago Int, Palm Springs, Encounters, LA Shorts Fest and many more.



Yoyosegal also made the following short documetary.
Ubby Cowan helped orchestrate the Battle of Cable Street on October 4th 1936. The event was a mass demonstration to stop Mosley and his Black-shirt fascists from marching through Stepney, East London spreading their message of rascism and hate. This film is a short doc telling Ubby's story

FRANCE STATE RAILWAY SPARKS RACISM FURY WITH WARNING ON ROMANIANS

The French state railway network has been accused of racism after asking passengers to report Romanians to security staff following a spate of thefts. A safety information notice posted in SNCF trains in southwest France warned of “problems with Romanians” and said that “numerous thefts of luggage have been noticed”. In terms reminiscent of the Italian Government’s onslaught against alleged Romanian criminals, the message told passengers to be “doubly vigilant” and added that “all acts by Romanians must be reported”. The signs were denounced by the writer Mouloud Akkouche, who at first thought that they were a bad joke by a local prankster. He said he was stunned to discover that they were the work of the SNCF’s passengers safety unit. The revelation brought a furious reaction from Romanians living in France. Roumanophilie, a Franco-Romanian internet site, said that French railways were “turning to anti-Romanian racism”. As the controversy threatened to sour relations between Paris and Bucharest, the SNCF issued an apology, blaming the “unfortunate expression” on an individual guard and saying that the signs had been taken down as soon as executives in Paris had been alerted. “This should not have happened,” a statement said. “An internal inquiry is under way to determine how it occurred.” A spokesman said that no one had rung the security hotline to report Romanians after reading the notice.

The sign relit a debate that has never gone away in France over the wisdom of allowing Romania to enter the European Union — seen as an error by a substantial slice of French public opinion. It also unleashed a wave of anti-Romanian sentiment on French websites, with one user, for instance, saying: “Everyone knows that they send children to steal from tourists and travellers. “Police catch them every day but must release them because they are minors.” French newspapers regularly report alleged criminal acts by Romanian gangs. They said last month that eight Romanian children aged between 12 and 17 had been arrested for allegedly stealing a total of €20,000 (£18,000) from people withdrawing money from cash dispensers in the Paris region. Last year the media noted the arrest of a Romanian gang suspected of stealing from supermarkets on the French Riviera. In 2008 a French sports journalist was reprimanded by the Higher Audiovisual Council for describing Romanians as “chicken thieves” during a football match between France and Romania. Silvio Berlusconi, the Italian Prime Minister, has been accused of stigmatising Romanians in Italy after blaming them for the country’s crime wave.
The Times Online

REPORT ON POLICE RACISM 'SHOULD STAY INDEPENDENT' (uk)

London Mayor Boris Johnson has been urged to ensure a landmark report into racism in the police remains independent. Questions have been raised about the final draft of a long-overdue review of racial discrimination and equality at the Metropolitan Police. The report follows a series of public meetings where senior officers, experts and advisers were quizzed about cultural change, promotion and training. It has emerged that the final draft will be written up by officials at the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA), which is also under scrutiny. The MPA's Jenny Jones questioned the arrangement, which she suggests may have come about in order to keep costs down. "Bringing it in-house sends out a signal that the mayor is not taking the issues of racism and equality in the police seriously enough. Questions are being raised about the mayor's commitment to use his funds to promote equality, as Africa Day funding has reportedly been dropped and the funding for Black History month greatly reduced," she said. Her comments came after one of four panellists, Bob Purkiss, charged with compiling the work stood down and asked for his name to be removed from the report. Mr Purkiss said the decision to use MPA staff "infuriated" the panel and said he doubted the ability of the report to be self-critical. He also criticised delays in publishing the report and said he has completed inquiries into "whole countries" in less time. The review was ordered by Mr Johnson when he took control of the MPA and kicked out Sir Ian Blair in October 2008 - he has since stood down from his MPA role. It came amid a row about claims of racism among the highest ranks of London police. The £100,000 inquiry held a series of public meetings last year and heard evidence from current police chief Sir Paul Stephenson and his predecessor. But it has fallen behind schedule amid consistent rumours of backstage wrangling between the panel and senior City Hall figures.

press association

FOOTBALL FANS IN CZECH REP. TO FACE BAN FROM MATCHES FOR VIOLENCE, RACISM

The Czech Republic justice minister says football fans must behave or face being banned from attending matches for violent and race-related incidents. Speaking on Wednesday ahead of the resumption of the Czech's top league this weekend after a winter break, Daniela Kovarova said fans could be banned from stadiums for up to 10 years under a new penal code. Authorities said the measure, modeled on a similar one applied in Britain, was in place to curb violence and racism in Czech stadiums. Sparta Prague was forced to play a Champions League match against Arsenal in 2005 with a third of its stadium closed because of the racist behaviour of its fans. UEFA also fined Sparta on that occasion but Prague's Jewish representatives complained later that anti-Semitic chants had not stopped.

The Associated Press

CHECK REVEALS CZECH SOLDIER WITH NAZI TATTOOS

A check focusing on extremism in the Czech military revealed a soldier who had tattoos of Nazi symbols on his body, the commercial Nova TV reported Wednesday, adding that the man has been accused. The military commanders have already recommended that the soldier be stripped of his rank and sacked from the army, Jana Ruzickova, spokeswoman for the General Staff, told Nova. The man had the motto of the SS units, Meine Ehre Heist Treue (My Honour is Loyalty), tattooed on his back. He also wore a necklace with a ring with engraved swastikas. The check focusing on extremism was ordered some two months ago after it was revealed that two Czech soldiers deployed within the Afghan mission wore helmets with Nazi symbols. Both soldiers were dismissed and their commander was punished. Last November, another Czech soldier co-founded and trained a neo-Nazi organisation that was preparing terrorist attacks on power plants and kidnappings of "Jews in high posts" and the police.

praguemonitor

ROMANIAN GYPSIES PROTEST FOREIGN MINISTER REMARKS

Some 200 Gypsies and others are protesting comments by Romania's foreign minister suggesting some Gypsies, or Roma, were born criminals. Protesters gathered Wednesday in front of the government offices in Bucharest held banners that read "If we are Roma, then we are criminals." They also chanted "Down with racism," and "Resignation." Foreign Minister Teodor Baconschi earlier this month suggested during a meeting with French state secretary Pierre Lellouche that criminality among Gypsies was a biological trait. He later acknowledged the comments "did not adequately convey the message the minister wanted." Romania has up to 2 million Gypsies, most of them living in poverty and facing deep discrimination.

The Associated Press

Peter Hain warns of "complacency" in face of far-right threat (UK)

Welsh Secretary Peter Hain has warned against "complacency" in the face of what he called "racist, fascist" organisations.

Mr Hain said all of Wales must stand together to resist the likes of the Welsh Defence League (WDL) and the British National Party (BNP).
During a Commons debate on Welsh affairs he praised communities which had opposed far-right demonstrations,
Both the BNP and the WDL have denied being racist organisations.
In October last year, about 200 people gathered to protest about a demonstration against Islamic extremism by the Welsh Defence League (WDL) in Swansea.
It led to the cancellation of another planned WDL protest in Newport later that month.
Mr Hain said: "The people of Wales have resolved that the rise of racist, fascist organisations must be stopped.
"These far-right groups first tried it on in Swansea, then abandoned their vile demonstration plans in Newport and Wrexham in the face of decent, concerted community action.
"But we must not be complacent. Whenever the so-called Welsh Defence League and the British National Party threaten our decent, tolerant communities in Wales we must all stand together to resist them."
A wide-ranging debate also found Mr Hain claiming government schemes had helped Wales weather a "very tough" recession.

He also accused the Conservatives of being "evasive and unfair" in relation to Wales and said if elected they would hold an emergency budget by which Wales would be the "biggest casualty" in terms of cuts.
Shadow Welsh Secretary Cheryl Gillan rejected that claim as "hypothetical rubbish", argued Labour had "let Wales down" by losing control of Wales' finances and claimed her party would tackle the deficit.
She said: "Labour's legacy is the loss of nearly 50,000 manufacturing jobs since 1998."
Ms Gillan said for devolution to work, politicians at Westminster and Cardiff must work together, so a Conservative Welsh Secretary and Prime Minister would make him or herself available to answer questions in the assembly on a regular basis.
Plaid Cymru MP Adam Price argued Wales needed to focus on developing manufacturing and science industries.
He added: "I'd like to see the World Expo, the World Fair come back to the UK some time soon. It hasn't been back in the UK since 1862... Why not bring it to Wales ? Why not have the Wales World Expo?"
According to Mr Price, a bid for the expo to come to Wales should be supported with central government expenditure.

Liberal Democrat MP Roger Williams (Brecon and Radnorshire) called on the UK government to set a date for a referendum on further powers for the Welsh assembly before a general election.
He said: "I'm not clear... whether, if this was postponed and there was a Conservative government, whether that necessary procedure would be put in place."
Meanwhile, the Conservative MP for Preseli Pembrokeshire attacked the assembly government for failing to upgrade the main road through his constituency.
Stephen Crabb MP insisted the A40 is "woefully inadequate", especially considering that Wales needs to attract private investment.
The Welsh Assembly Government is responsible for motorways and trunk roads.
BBC News

Neo-Nazis Buy Palace In Eastern Europe to create a Nazi College?

Two prominent neo-Nazis have bought a crumbling 18th century palace in an eastern German village. The locals don't seem bothered about the prospect of far-right neighbors, but regional authorities are worried that the property will be turned into a neo-Nazi training center.

Trebnitz palace, an austere-looking manor built at the start of the 18th century, has seen better days. Weeds grow out of its gray stone facade, many of its windows are broken and the stone staircase to the main entrance is crumbling.
The former seat of the aristocratic Rauchhaupt family stands empty in the village of Trebnitz, some 20 miles southwest of the eastern German city of Leipzig. At one point it was a retirement home. Soon, young neo-Nazis might be moving in, after two leading figures in Germany's far-right scene purchased the property for just €80,000 ($108,000) at an auction a few days ago.
The new owners are Thomas Wulff and Axel Schunk. Wulff has been convicted several times for incitement to racial hatred and displaying banned Nazi symbols. He calls himself "Steiner," in honor of a former officer of Hitler's murderous Waffen SS unit, and is a member of the executive of the far-right National Democratic Party. He was a close friend of Jurgen Rieger, the prominent neo-Nazi who died last year.
Schunk was a leading member of the far-right "Wiking" youth organization, which has since been banned. Asked by Spiegel Online what they plan to do with the property, both declined to comment.

Nazi College?

There's talk that Wulff and Schunk plan to use Trebnitz Palace as some sort of far-right training center. Authorities and local political parties are worried. The interior ministry of the state of Saxony-Anhalt suspects they want to Trebnitz into a place of "national importance for right-wing extremists," not least because of its favorable location close to the A14 autobahn. The region seems to be a focal point for neo-Nazis. The NPD youth organization "Junge Nationale" recently moved its headquarters to the nearby town of Bernburg, and some leading eastern German extremists live in the area.
Neo-Nazis have tried to purchase properties in other towns around Germany in recent years, but their attempts were usually thwarted by local resistance.
The people of Trebnitz, though, don't seem overly concerned about their new neighbors. Many refused to talk to journalists. One man walking his young daughter down a street pointed out that right-wing extremists had owned the building once before.

Red Tape, Watchful Authorities Could Thwart Plans
Steffen Hupka, a local neo-Nazi, wanted to convert the palace into a far-right center in 2001 and tried to make friends with the villagers by throwing a large party. But nothing came of the plan and the building has fallen into disrepair in the last few years. Locals believe it would take hundreds of thousands of euros to make the palace usable.
Even if the new owners have the cash, Wulff and Schunk face some tough administrative hurdles before they can realize their plans, whatever those may be. The palace is under monument protection, and they will have to submit a detailed concept for its use if they are to have any hope of getting planning permission. That can take a very long time in Germany, especially if the owners are frowned upon. The Interior Ministry and Germany's domestic intelligence service have pledged to keep a very close eye on who goes in and out of the building.
Intellpuke: You can read this article by Spiegel Online staff writer Florian Gathmann, reporting from Trebnitz, Germany, spiegel online