Ready, Welling and able: reflections on the events at Welling, 16.10.93 - Colin B West

The Author of this pamphlet was born in 1967 in Hackney where he has spent all of his life. Colin West is a pseudonym.

Acknowledgements

Usual thanks are due to the staff at Pentagon b. Special thanks to the M.B. Graphics Team and to Dr. B. Fry, the Executive Director of Senior Administrative Practice, for taking time out to brainstorm some ideas.

Reflections on Welling

Introduction

At Welling on the 16th October, 1993 a demonstration under the banner of ‘Unity’ took place against the general growth in racism and fascism in Europe and in particular against the wave of racist violence in Britain. About fifty thousand people marched towards the British National Party (BNP) headquarters (a book shop in Welling) where the front of the march met a large police and media presence. The resulting clash lead to much recrimination amongst the various groups taking part. On the other side there was only harmony, with the government giving a hearty ‘well done’ to its loyal forces.

I want to discuss the events at Welling in the light of what has happened since, identifying who the enemies of those fighting racism are, and to provide a framework which might prove to be more successful in future operations against the police, government and racists.

The Enemy: The Organised Racists

First it is recessary to identify who the enemy we face. Left wing party members and the media label all occurancies of violence, verbal abuse or graffiti (anything which contributes to the reduction of peoples quality of life on the grounds of colour, ethnicity, cultural background et.c.) as fascism. However to know our enemy we must look beyond the rather easy term ‘fascist’.

In Britain, the situation is different to that of the rest of Europe. A few suited businessmen spitting poison attempting to carry off an air of legality and responsibility do not constitute a fascist party on the European model. They are precisely what they seems; just a body of sad-arsed racists who command no respect and can hardly find a platform from which to regurgitate their filth. They have only as much authority as their front line thugs can provide.

On the Continent, conversely, they have parliamentary represented racist parties (Like France’s National front, Germany’s Republicans, Austria’s Freedom Party or Italy’s resurrected Fascist Party). These entities have a terrifying degree of respectability and influence, for instance in Italy they can forge powerful electoral pacts with many mainstream parties. In Britain, on the other hand, the racists are not interested in politics, only race-hatred, bi gotry and inequality. This is not to say that the BNP winning council representation does not act as a focus for racists and makes it possible for them to become a more legitimised party, only that the situation at present is of street gangs, not parliamentarianism. Consequently, to avoid making matters worse our enemy is in no way to be given any respectability or legality.

The attempts by the BNP to become a formal political party suits their leadership in their wet-dream fantasy of seizing greater political power. It also helps the mainstream media and government, which contains a fair number of overt bigots, and a larger number who do not mind being in their company. Any racist attack or growth in discriminatory sentiment, can be put down to the distinct racist political entity, rather than at their own door. It is after all the current government that put in place the discriminatory Immigration Acts and the life and- liberty threatening Asylum Bill, not some poxy fascist party. Yet this should not in any way excuse the activities of those indulging in racist attacks.

The role of the BNP as a political force is overplayed. The scum who support fascism on the Isle of Dogs and elsewhere do not do so because of the political programme of the BNP appeals to them. Few are influenced by such things as its energy policies, or the other strategies, which make up contemporary party politics. It is simply the appeal of race hatred. Unlike the SWP et. al., I don’t think we are winning, or that we can convert these people. They delight in kicking into unconsciousness young men and women, they petrol bomb buildings with no regard for life and encourage others to do likewise. They cannot be reasoned with or forced by the mere power of argument from committing such acts. We must meet such attacks in an identical manner and with the same degree of compassion. It is only through an absolute show of force that we can halt these people. Don’t give a fuck, just smite them down.

When talking to ex-Nationalists who have seen the error of their ways, and are now involved in anti-fascist activities about this, they have all been unanimous in one thing. They have each separately admitted that when they were involved in fascism, no reasoned argument ever influenced them, on the cofitrary they just thought those who tried the pacifist approach were pathetic and insincere. It was only when they were stood up to and beaten up bad, that their self-constructed myths of superiority were crushed. It was action, not discussion, that made them reconsider what they were doing.

Most racists would define themselves as having a grass roots hatred of everything that is not ‘British’. I would like to counter any such arguments which might be levelled as a defence. Of course shaven headed, tattooed zeig heiling louts are openly visible as the racist enemy, but what of the ‘family man’ in the Isle of Dogs, or the shop assistant that votes for the BNP? Those ‘we are not racist but..... morons who blame the shortage of housing or the shittiness of shit jobs, not on the rich tossers who profit from our discomfort but on some poor Bengali family down the block. We know these explanations are untrue. And what is more the racist knows they are inaccurate. (Only the media and some university students think the racists believe these pathetic rationalisations.) The BNP supporter is just trying to find a convenient excuse for their arrogance and hatred, an attempt to hide from responsibility for what they do. So don’t listen to them, give them the service they deserve, a funeral service.

Enemies: The State

Let us consider with reference to Welling the tools the state used to defend such icons of liberal democracy as the BNP. I mean here of course, the police and media. It is taken as read that the police are corrupt (just visit Stoke Newington cop-shop). The open racism of the bobbies has also been well covered elsewhere. We shall just mention the high proportion of accidents that seem to involve Black people, remember Colin Roach and Cherry Groce? Then there is the defence of the NF and BNP at demonstrations as well as at Welling. Don’t forget that when it comes to protecting Asians and others who are night after night victimised by White-Power scum, suddenly the Old Bill don’t have the resources, or they are overcome by an unusual reluctance to break the speed limit to reach the victims in time.

At Welling the police had several thousand officers, as well as Tactical Aid Groups from all over Britain. Complete the picture with a helicopter, numerous ‘insiders’ on the march, video cameras galore and the usual uncanny media work and it can be seen that they were ready for anything. Indeed they could not wait. Officers had visors down, numbers blanked out and scarves and tunics zipped up to their faces. They were not there to steward the march, but to confront it. Consider the number of horses used, or the great line of police, mounted and otherwise on the hills around Welling, even when, at the beginning, the march was peaceful. Couple this with the fact that they were defending something that is morally wrong and the true picture of the police’s position emerges. Namely that of a paramilitary force working solely as a governmental tool. There is no neutrality in the law. ‘Law enforcing’ is not a neutral activity. The law, as has been pointed elsewhere, principally defends those interests that make the law.

The police waited for their moment and then moved. Already many of us demonstrating had been photographed or videoed, and then at the crux march we endured both mounted and foot baton charges. They also attacked us first. It must have shocked quite a few of the law-and-order anti-racists that the peelers were willing to risk killing protesters, in fact appeared to relish the idea, in order to protect a racist book shop.

Note also the polices’s own use of language both before and after the march. They spoke of ‘agitators’, ‘troublemakers’, those who were ‘out to cause mayhem’. Anyone who was not going to walk dumbly away was in for some rough treatment.

It can only be respected that some fought back with everything they could. Yet such heroic efforts are of little use when those organising did not have a single idea other than that we should walk to Welling, then trot off home like good girls and boys and have a cup of tea. Everyone, the government, the organisers, the media would have been happy (as they were with the Trafalgar demonstration). Those organising the march would have gone back to their respective parties with their reputation enhanced. The only disappointed ones, might have been the police perhaps, who might have been sad to miss the chance of a clash, especially after so much money had been spent. Of course had it been wholly peaceful, it would have been as effective as the entirely respectable march against Pit Closures last year - and the Miners know to their cost how successful that was.

Tactics

However, the facts were that a furious battle was fought on the streets and in the cemetery park. In case anyone believes some of the romantic myths that have developed since, can I remind all that think otherwise that we were fucked on. Many people gave everything in a determined effort to break the police/racist lines, but through the leadership on charge on that day we had no chance. It is difficult to attack a static position, especially considering the police weight of numbers. Added to that our own ammunition consisted of fists, boots and a few sticks and the results were sadly inevitable. Thankfully a few quicker thinkers amongst us managed to tear away bricks, stones and in a few cases wood and iron. We can’t worry about a bit of ‘public cost’ or the old favourite ‘the tax payer’, the decent ones will understand that we have to protect ourselves. Those cunts at Welling who watched on from there windows, either cheering on the bobbies or raking in money from local photographers (press or coppers? It makes little difference), deserved having a few bits of rockery liberated. Although other members of the local populace were less supportive of the coppers and were rightly left alone, where possible, by the protesters.

However, in such similar places, to avoid taking another tanning, we must use the resources there to better effect. Tear down trees, (ignore the scabby hippy who thinks its better for us to be clubbed than to build a barricade) bus shelters, anything and everything that it is available to block the coppers advance.

The only real surprise in policing policy on the day, was that the paramilitary approach was so overt. If, though, you had read the news or watched the television the next day what did you see? Beat bobbies assisting bystanders (not terrorists now), beat bobbies cut and bruised and, unbelievably, beat bobbies praised by members of the public for their great work, A sick caricature they were keen to promote with statements like; ‘we had to stop a few extremists from ruining the day’ and other such bollocks. Of course no pictures of coppers battening us to pieces, or of wounded demonstrators receiving medical aid from protesters, we were only trying to destroy racists, we don’t deserve sympathy.

Two points must be made. First, beat, mounted or tactical, all coppers are the same and all will fuck you up accordingly. Second, if anyone demonstrating that day was more concerned with the protection of private property and upset by a few sticks flying than with racism, then they have got some serious thinking to do. They must ask themselves, whether they were there through some egocentric, trendy ‘this will look good’ kick, or because they were so heartily fed up with meeting and dealing with everyday racist shit that they could no-longer stand it? If it was a matter of image, then for fuck’s sake wake up, because people around us in Stepney, Whitechappel and Tottenham are being maimed, even killed.

In some respects the real horrors of the day, were yet to come, for they were the arrests that followed, thanks not only to police surveillance equipment, but from the ‘evidence’ amassed by viewing press: photographs and video.

The Media

Perhaps you remember the ITN gantry on top of the house on the junction where the main confrontation occurred. Then there were the cameras at various points along the route. Couple this with the numerous shots by ‘amateur’ camera persons and a whole barrage of people are suddenly in line to have the police at their door. The media are not neutral. They work for right wing papers or huge multinational financially wealthy organisations whose owners recognise that their interests are hardly identical with ours. (News International, Mirror Group Newspapers, ITN, etc.) The relationship is simple, the police want photographs, the media in liberal mode say ‘oh no we can’t, we are neutral.’ Then the government reminds them: ‘but you must, it is the law.’ So they do. The paper’s reputation for decency and even-handedness is confirmed, the law is upheld and the coppers get their pictures. Everyone is happy (except the poor lefties who are locked up.) Of course some papers like The Sun, don’t wait to be asked. They'll not only hand over the pictures, but print them up, offering a reward for anyone who will grass up one of the anti-racists. £1000 to shop a mate who stood up for decency, what kind of scum would do that? Although, apparently, someone did.

Also there was that shit about the black policeman who was attacked. The press and the Police Public Relations had a field day - trying to suggest that it was the brave anti-fascists, who were really the racists. Can there be such an extreme example of doublethink? If a person sides with the bigots, be they black white, Jew, Muslim, Christian or Atheist, they deserve what they get. The black copper, if he was attacked (and video evidence was bizarrely lacking considering the masses of surveillance that was available), he was assaulted for being a copper, not for being black. A few years ago a Jewish business man teamed up with one of the Nazi groups in Britain. As a result of his treachery he received a severe roughing up (including death threats) from sections within the Jewish community. Weren’t these people in the Jewish community right to do so? Didn’t this piece of spittle deserve what he got?

We must learn the lessons. First, unless you fancy being a T.V. star followed bya rent-free spell at Her Majesty’s Pleasure, mask up! Second, hit all the television cameras, video cameras and photographers. Even if they have fucking Anti-Nazi League stickers on their lapels. Since Welling, there have been other marches and demonstrations, in each of these, for instance the M11 disturbances in Wanstead, people have been arrested, partly for what they did that day, but also charged for things that ‘look-a-likes’ did in Welling. This shit stays on the police records. Celluloid not longer fades away.

It is important that you are not scared off by this. Although that is clearly their intent. They want you to see all their electronic hardware so that you will be intimidated. Don’t be put off, but do try an take precautions.

The State of the Parties

Having so far discussed the enemy, and the linked roles of the police and the media in relation to Welling, I would like briefly to consider the other major factor as to why we received a beating that day. That is the role of the organisers and the multiparty factionalism therein. I must admit that I don’t belong to any political grouping, but I have had great experience of most of them, regarding demonstrations, meetings and the like and as such have gained some insights into the way they work.

In general members of parties such as Militant Labour, SWP, Revolutionary Communist Party are to a great extent (although by no means exclusively) gleaned from college life. At Welling this was made more apparent by the volumes of good minded students who took part. They all believe in their own particular brand of socialism and do not respect, listen to, or acknowledge the views of other parties. Indeed on occasion laughing/sneering matches have occurred and even fights have broken out apparently between like minded people. Only those who take a delight in the eradication of egalitarianism, can enjoy such scenes. It is not my purpose here to consider the relative merits of the 1001 parties, but I do want to make two points.

First, most members of the parties, are one of the following, genuine believers, fancy-clothed trendies and social-club followers. Most of these latter two types are the sorts of egocentrics which make the ‘unity’ of the Unity demonstration a dubious proposition. Indeed, the fact that an alternative demonstration took place on the day confirmed this. Even in such cases as obvious as anti-racism where clear cut methods should have been arranged, there is confusion and inaction. Do we attack, going in tooled up or do we go in peacefully and legally? The result was that we were lead by the Unity Committee into a valley at the end of which was an armed wall of police and we were smashed. Some said arm up, some said not. So the usual recriminations followed about who the trouble makers were (Black Power activists, Red Action, Class War, the usual suspects), although unaligned people were in the vast majority in protecting themselves.

In a riot, it does not matter which party they are a member of, we were there to do just one thing, and we should have put everything into doing it, not trying to outdo the party with the different coloured banner saying exactly the same thing. When it comes down to it, anyone who is willing to have a go at the racists, whether they be in organised fascist bands, in the police or in the government, they are our friend, and don’t let some mouthy hack with a bundle of unsold papers under their arm tell you otherwise.

Second, while it might be argued that all those who marched had their hearts and minds in the right place, the organisation did not. It was concerned with the battle, which surely they must have known would happen, as they were at the right place near the cameras with their lollipop placards and banners. While this, I guess, must have its place, individuals vying with each other to sell papers does not. Especially those ghouls who took no part in the march, but walked and waited at the end to sell, and abuse those who did not buy, their party papers. Forget your party line and screw your radical chic image. To fight racism we have all to unite. Drop your glossy magazines and get stuck in. Don’t live off the reputation of those that did tangle with racists and the old bill. If you cannot do that; then fuck off and join the media or the police. You deserve each other.

These observations are mainly made in relation to Welling. respect is¢due to those local party members who while fly posting attack a gang of racists or risk their lives in confronting BNP scum. Those who act, do so at that point, as individuals on the street regardless of what leftist faction got them there, and the same Is true at bigger demonstrations. We will not achieve any goals if, when marching and when organising, we do not think beyond small party factionalism. Racism is the enemy so let’s march knowing that. Spending four hours taking the piss out of the RCP or SWP on some petty doctrinal point scares nobody. However we are feared when we unite as one and fight.

What then might be some possible ways of surmounting the problems recognised after Welling.

A Few Tips

1. Individually we must be more aware when marching, make sure you know the people around you. If there is an unknown photographer or video-camera operator, find out what they are up to (though they might lie) and if necessary lead them down a nice alleyway...

2. If you are feeling a bit nervous, look around you, your bound see a mate who can pep up your spirits.

3. Remember the simple rules of clothes. Wear nothing which makes you stand out, simple easy to move in stuff.

4. Scarf, hat, things to cover your face with. Also swap with friends, so that its difficult to trace various individuals on the video.

5. Make sure you can trust our friends. That geezer, who you met in the pub before you set off, will he grass you up for a grand?

6. Don't worry about smashing property, especially if its the council, or a rich tosser. Obviously, if its some poor persons place and there is an easy to get to rich persons gaff that can provide the right resources, do the right thing. But remember we are trying to stop people who smash skulls, a broken wall in comparison is a small price to pay.

Conclusion

It cannot be expected that such marches will be organised like a military machine. We are not paid soldiers and, unlike the police, the biggest weapon we have is our resolve. However, it would be appreciated by all like minded demonstrators, if the organising committee, instead of kissing collective police arse, made it more difficult for them not easier. It is necessary, of course, to agree to the march route so as to ensure the demo gets going, but some ingenuity, for example splitting into smaller groups that go off the route, or even having half the march starting off in another direction, so that hundreds approach from different positions.

Keep communications open to all those in the march, even those at the back. if they know what is going on at the front, they can arrange suitable diversions. Make marchers aware that there will be confrontation, so that those most able to deal with the situation are at the front, whilst those with disabilities, are elderly or with children, can take the necessary precautions. This did not take place at Welling and no-doubt put off many who cannot get involved in the rough stuff from coming again. This is wrong, they too have a place. Others marching at Welling may have experiences which are different from these. But I think my conclusion will be accepted: Organisationally we must clarify our objectives and be uncluttered by petty factionalism, then we strike effectively.

Colin West. 1994