Anti-Nazi League
The Anti-Nazi League (or ANL) is a far left UK organisation opposed to what it describes as neo-Fascist individuals and groups. It developed in the 1970s as an attempt by the far-left to counter the National Front, and then again in the 1990s against various other far right groups. In the 2000s, its main target has been the British National Party.
Activities
The ANL carries out leafletting and other campaigns against what it see's as "Nazi" groups including protests, some of which have resulted in Rioting and other criminal activities. The ANL was linked to "Rock Against Racism" in the 1970s, and is heavily involved in a similar group, "Love Music Hate Racism", in the 2000s.
Critics accuse the ANL of being opposed to free speech, the most notable being the Pro-Democracy League, a group linked to the British National Party which often holds counter demonstrations against the ANL. On May 19th 2002 for example, Julie Waterson (then ANL National Organiser) said "We have to forget ideas about freedom of speech", in reference to the groups that the ANL oppose and wish to have banned.
Sir Paul Condon, the then Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police said of an ANL protest in London in October, 1993:
- "Again in London we have seen a cowardly mob of extremists turning up ... to cause disorder, violence and damage."
In response the ANL claimed that, having prevented any exit from the area, mounted and riot police broke their own rules by charging the crowd.
History
The ANL begun as a United front initiative on the part of the Socialist Workers Party, and it still retains close ties with this organisation - many of its officials also being SWP members or officials. However in its first period, 1977-1981, it was ostensibly run by an elected committee nationally and similar committees throughout the country. Many trade unions sponsored it as did the Indian Workers Association (then a large organisation), and many members of the Labour Party such as Neil Kinnock.
During the late 1970s it faced a major split when the even more radical Red Action faction parted company from the main organisation due to ideological differences. Red Action went on to form the "Anti-Fascist Action" group, or AFA, which is noted for its predeliction for violent confrontation. AFA has since had an entirely separate history of its own.
In 1981 with the eclipse of the National Front and collapse of the British Movement the ANL was wound up.
In 1992 the SWP leadership relaunched the Anti-Nazi League due to the reconsolidation of far right groups in the British National Party and that party's electoral success. The ANL has recently affiliated with the Unite Against Racism group alongside other groups such as the National Assembly Against Racism.
The ANL's Leadership
The ANL's National Organiser and leader is Weyman Bennett, who is a high-ranking member of the Socialist Workers Party and on the National Executive of the Socialist Alliance.
Its previous National Organiser was Julie Waterson, who was also an active and high-ranking member of the SWP.
The ANL has close links with many Trade Unions, many of which have affiliated with it.
External links
- Official Anti-Nazi League website
- Guardian story about the banning of an ANL protest
- BBC story about an ANL protest beeing banned
- Pro-Democracy League- a website critical of the ANL from the standpoint of the British National Party and the National Front