Anti-Nazi League
Date
1977
History
Anti-Nazi League (ANL) was an organisation opposing the rise of far right groups, especially the National Front, in the UK during the 1970s. It was launched by the Socialist Workers Party, providing a more unifying and broad appeal platform against racism and fascism. It received sponsorship from trade unions, including the Hackney branch of NALGO.
The most notable event of the ANL was the Rock Against Racism carnival and concert in Victoria Park, April 1978.
At one point there were four branches of ANL within Hackney:
- North West Hackney, which met at Green Lanes Methodist Community Centre
- Hackney South and Shoreditch, linked to Oxford House, Derbyshire Street.
- North Hackney, beginning in Stamford Hill Library, and later moving to Centerprise.
- Central Hackney, based at 126 Amhurst Road.
By May 1980 there appears to be a single Hackney Anti Nazi League meeting twice a month at Labour Hall, Dalston Lane.
One of the actions taken by the South Hackney branch was organising ‘paint outs’ of racist slogans at Queensbridge, Haggerston and Broadway Market. An early meeting of the North West branch was disrupted by National Front sympathisers, as the church hall hosting the meeting received arson threats.
One of the most significant local ANL campaigns was organising opposition to the National Front establishing its headquarters in Excalibur House, Shoreditch. Resident league supporters collected 20,000 signatures to a petition opposing the presence of the National Front, many collected outside the building itself. About 250 ANL supporters demonstrated outside a council meeting in January 1979 seeking to present the petition.
During a ANL demonstration in Southall 23 April 1979 Blair Peach, a Hackney teacher and active league member, was killed after being struck by police. His death had a significant impact on police relations, and was cited in the Hackney NUT ban on letting police speak to Hackney schoolchildren.
The original Anti Nazi League wound down in 1981. However, it was relaunched between 1992-2004 in response to the growth of the British Nationalist Party (BNP).
The most notable event of the ANL was the Rock Against Racism carnival and concert in Victoria Park, April 1978.
At one point there were four branches of ANL within Hackney:
- North West Hackney, which met at Green Lanes Methodist Community Centre
- Hackney South and Shoreditch, linked to Oxford House, Derbyshire Street.
- North Hackney, beginning in Stamford Hill Library, and later moving to Centerprise.
- Central Hackney, based at 126 Amhurst Road.
By May 1980 there appears to be a single Hackney Anti Nazi League meeting twice a month at Labour Hall, Dalston Lane.
One of the actions taken by the South Hackney branch was organising ‘paint outs’ of racist slogans at Queensbridge, Haggerston and Broadway Market. An early meeting of the North West branch was disrupted by National Front sympathisers, as the church hall hosting the meeting received arson threats.
One of the most significant local ANL campaigns was organising opposition to the National Front establishing its headquarters in Excalibur House, Shoreditch. Resident league supporters collected 20,000 signatures to a petition opposing the presence of the National Front, many collected outside the building itself. About 250 ANL supporters demonstrated outside a council meeting in January 1979 seeking to present the petition.
During a ANL demonstration in Southall 23 April 1979 Blair Peach, a Hackney teacher and active league member, was killed after being struck by police. His death had a significant impact on police relations, and was cited in the Hackney NUT ban on letting police speak to Hackney schoolchildren.
The original Anti Nazi League wound down in 1981. However, it was relaunched between 1992-2004 in response to the growth of the British Nationalist Party (BNP).