The SE far-right
Dec 15 2005 20:43
What are the far-right like in south east London? Is there much of a fascist presence in places like Lewisham, Greenwich etc.? Is so, how strong are they? What do they do there? 
Dec 16 2005 15:25
#2
But they aren't very strong round here, lots more lefties.
Dec 16 2005 15:41
#3
the NF stood in Lewisham east and got 625 votes. Bernard something is his name. They stood nowhere else in the borough though. Although it didn't say on the BBC site where Lewisham East covered.
Dec 16 2005 15:53
#4
The SP have got two councillers in Lewisham if we're judging things on votes.
Lewisham East is the whiter part of Lewisham, New Cross and Deptford have got a large West African/Carribean community.
Dec 20 2005 00:55
#5
Quote:
What are the far-right like in south east London? Is there much of a fascist presence in places like Lewisham, Greenwich etc.? Is so, how strong are they? What do they do there? Red'n'Black
The far right were spotted during the last election period in the Bexleyheath area by a friend of mine. They also tried to co-opt a procession for a local guy who was killed in Woolwich (last year or so I think?), but they were met with a strong anti-fash presence and sent packing.
I've always assumed they have a stronger base in the areas surrounding Welling/Eltham or Bexleyheath - though I've no no idea if this is true or not. These days their time here seems to be devoted to sticking leaflets on lamp-posts when no-one can stop them and sometimes coming out of hiding during election times.
Dec 20 2005 10:20
#6
spartafc wrote:
They also tried to co-opt a procession for a local guy who was killed in Woolwich (last year or so I think?), but they were met with a strong anti-fash presence and sent packing.
That was when Terry Gregory got killed, I'm pretty sure the NF organised the march themselves, and they did not get met by a strong anti-fascist presence, and they didn't get sent packing. When they walked out of the station there was a small crowd of trots chanting and waving placards, that was all.
Dec 20 2005 10:38
#7
This happened before the march:
http://libcom.org/news/article.php?story=05/01/15/9012545&query=boneheads
Quote:
After a lot of confusion and last minute date changing (no doubt to keep anti-fascists off the scent), the National Front (NF) finally decided to have their march in Woolwich on Saturday 15th January. The march was held to stir up racial tensions following the horrible murder of white teenager Terry Gregory last year. His family have repeatedly said they want nothing to do with the NF or their politics. This was the one-year anniversary of Terry’s death, with the NF also holding a march last year.One group of anti-fascists spotted two particularly ugly and badly dressed boneheads and followed them onto a train heading towards their meet up point. At the next stop, the boneheads were made to feel extremely ‘uncomfortable’ on the train and one fascist would later turn up to the march looking more than a little worse for wear. One anti-fascist sustained an injury, from the fascists attacking his fists with their faces!
The NF later held their march, bringing out thirty members (almost half last year’s total) and the Unite Against Fascism picket had around a hundred, with similar numbers of police. No arrests were made.
For more information about fighting fascism, contact Antifa www.antifa.org.uk
Dec 20 2005 10:43
#8
Have the NF done marches in Woolwich twice then? 
Dec 20 2005 11:11
#9
yeah one early 2004, right after the murder, and also a one year aniversery march.
Dec 20 2005 11:14
#10
Ahh, just PM'd you bout it, I was at the 2004 one... 
Dec 20 2005 20:26
#11
Quote:
That was when Terry Gregory got killed, I'm pretty sure the NF organised the march themselves, and they did not get met by a strong anti-fascist presence, and they didn't get sent packing. When they walked out of the station there was a small crowd of trots chanting and waving placards, that was all.
Interesting. I knew some people there who gave a different account, and I read some online accounts that suggested otherwise. Your input is most welcomed.
Dec 22 2005 11:39
#12
spartafc wrote:
Quote:
What are the far-right like in south east London? Is there much of a fascist presence in places like Lewisham, Greenwich etc.? Is so, how strong are they? What do they do there? Red'n'BlackThe far right were spotted during the last election period in the Bexleyheath area by a friend of mine. They also tried to co-opt a procession for a local guy who was killed in Woolwich (last year or so I think?), but they were met with a strong anti-fash presence and sent packing.
I've always assumed they have a stronger base in the areas surrounding Welling/Eltham or Bexleyheath - though I've no no idea if this is true or not. These days their time here seems to be devoted to sticking leaflets on lamp-posts when no-one can stop them and sometimes coming out of hiding during election times.
The fash, like the pool of racism they swim in, are gradually being pushed back by demographics. In Lewisham the NF or BNP usually stands in Lewisham East (which covers Blackheath, Lewisham proper east of the High St, Hither green, Lee, Grove park and Downham). For a period in the 80s this area had a Tory MP - the Miniature for Sport Colin Moynihan (amazing when you consider it only has 2 Tory councillors nowadays). They got a Tory MP because the Labour candidate was black in 83 or 87 and it didn't play well on the Downham estate (which is also where Tess Culnane the ex-BNP candidate who lost a libel action against the Lib Dems for substantial costs lives). They have no organised presence in the borough now.
Greenwich , Bromley and Bexley are a different matter and for the last 20 odd years have been the frontline between integration and "white" areas, which racists have attempted (and failed) to draw at the South Circular - one reason that Eltham features so much in news of racist attacks. Unsurprisingly, they've done best in areas where there is no left (like Slade Green) but there is plenty of misery. From what I hear Woolwich gets regularly stickered, though this could be people from the other side of the river, rather than a local phenomenon. I've seen NF stuff in Bexleyheath, though, and there is history going back to the late 70s of seriously large numbers in the area associated with the BM.
Martin
Dec 22 2005 11:44
#13
I've seen badge-wearing BNP'ers in the Greenwich Wetherspoons. And indeed outside the Greenwich Wetherspoons. 
Dec 30 2005 17:26
#14
I was teaching in Bexleyheath for the last 3 months and didn't see any visible presence of BNP there, although there was an undercurrent or racism in the school I was in I didn't see any obvious signs of facists organising in the area. Then again, I was only there 3 months
Dec 1 2006 00:30
#15
I did see a National Front sticker at North Greenwich station recently. Don't know how long it has been there, it was partially thrown off. Fuck the NF.
First of October.
Dec 1 2006 01:30
#16
jimmer wrote:
The SP have got two councillers in Lewisham if we're judging things on votes.
Plus, those SP councillors are not LP defectees. Which is pretty significant. Perhaps even unique on the contemporary far left...?
Dec 1 2006 08:33
#17
Yeah, Lewisham is one of the few places where Labour get challenged from the left (and I don't mean the LibDems, though locally they're to the left of Labour). The SP can't break out of the ward they have their base in, though, and half the surrounding wards are now Green (who are more attractive to the incoming white middle class as the locals get pushed out).
regards,
Martin
I think I'm right in saying the NF stood in Lewisham at the general election.