Battle of Lewisham

The Battle of Lewisham is the name sometimes given to the events of 13 August 1977, when an attempt by the far-right National Front (NF) to march from New Cross to Lewisham in southeast London led to counter-demonstrations and violent clashes. The day has been seen since as a turning point in the fortunes of the National Front and the 1970s anti-fascist movement as well as in policing - riot shields were used for the first time in England.

Background

In the mid-1970s New Cross and surrounding areas of south London became the focus of intense and sometimes violent political activity by neo-Nazis and members of the National Front (led by John Tyndall) and a breakaway faction (the National Party led by John Kingsley Read). In 1976 these two organisations between them polled more votes in a local ward election (to Lewisham Council) than the Labour Party. In response to this, the All Lewisham Campaign Against Racism and Fascism (ALCARAF) was launched with the support of local trade unions and anti-racist and anti-fascist groups.

On 30 May 1977, the police staged dawn raids on 30 homes in New Cross and Lewisham and arrested 21 young black people, accusing them of being involved in mugging. [The Times, 31st May 1977] . The Lewisham 21 Defence Committee was set up soon after, and heavily criticised police tactics. [Kentish Mercury, 16th June 1977]

On Saturday, 2 July 1977, the Lewisham 21 Defence Committee held a demonstration in New Cross. Up to 200 National Front supporters turned out to oppose it, throwing 'rotten fruit and bags of caustic soda at marchers'. More than 80 people were arrested. [South London Press, 5 July 1977]

In the following weeks, the National Front announced plans for a major demonstration from New Cross to Lewisham. Martin Webster, NF national organiser, told the press: 'We believe that the multi-racial society is wrong, is evil and we want to destroy it' [South London Press, 5 August 1977] . Local church leaders, Lewisham Council and the Liberal Party all called for the march to be banned, but the Metropolitan Police Commissioner David McNee refused to do so. [South London Press, 2 August 1977]

There were political differences between anti-fascists about how best to respond, and as a result there were two distinct mobilisations for the counter-demonstration. The All Lewisham Campaign Against Racism and Fascism (ALCARAF) called for peaceful demonstration earlier on the day of the National Front march. The August 13 Ad Hoc Organising Committee, in which the Socialist Workers Party were prominent, called on people to occupy the National Front's intended meeting point at Clifton Rise in New Cross. [South London Press, 5 August 1977]

aturday, 13 August 1977

At 11:30 am, the All Lewisham Campaign Against Racism and Fascism (ALCARAF) demonstration gathered in Ladywell Fields, a park in Lewisham. Over 5000 people from more than 80 organisations heard speeches by the Mayor of Lewisham, the Bishop of Southwark, the exiled Bishop of Namibia and others [South London Press, 16 August 1977] . Police prevented the demonstration from reaching New Cross, although many of the marchers managed to make their way into New Cross where they joined the other protesters who had gathered at Clifton Rise.

There were clashes when the police tried to move demonstrators from Clifton Rise, close to where the National Front demonstrators were assembling in nearby Achilles Street. Police horses were sent into the crowd, and smoke bombs thrown. [Kentish Mercury, 18th August 1977]

At 3:00 pm, the police escorted National Front marchers out of Achilles Street, up Pagnell Street and into the main New Cross Road, behind a large 'Stop the Muggers' banner. The marchers were pelted with bricks, smoke bombs, bottles and pieces of wood. Anti-NF demonstrators managed to briefly break through police lines and attack the back of the march, separating them from the main body. The protesters then burnt captured National Front banners. [South London Press, 16 August 1977]

The police separated National Front and anti-fascists, and mounted police cleared a path through the crowd attempting to block progress of march towards Deptford Broadway. Police lead the march through deserted streets of Lewisham with crowds held back by road blocks over the whole area. Marchers were flanked by police three deep on either side, with 24 mounted police in front. [South London Press, 16 August 1977]

Meanwhile the anti-NF demonstrators made their way to Lewisham Town Centre, where they blocked the High Street. Unable to meet in the town centre proper, the National Front held a short rally in a car park in Connington Road, before being led on to waiting trains by the police. [The Times, 15 August 1977]

Clashes continue between the police and counter-demonstrators, the latter largely unaware that the National Front had already left the area. The police brought out riot shields for the first time in England, and baton charges and mounted police were used in an attempt to disperse the crowd. Bricks and bottles were thrown at police and police vehicles damaged. [Kentish Mercury, 5 July 1977]

214 people were arrested and at least 111 injured. [The Times, 15 August 1977]

See also

* The Battle of Cable Street
* New Cross Fire

References

Notes

External links

* [http://lewisham77.blogspot.com/2007/07/battle-of-lewisham-chronology.html Lewisham '77: Battle of Lewisham Chronology]
* [http://www.dkrenton.co.uk/lewisham_1977.html Battle of Lewisham by David Renton]
* Red Saunders [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vl9x-oK_qZs&eurl=http://lewisham77.blogspot.com/remembers the Battle of Lewisham [video]
* [http://www.irr.org.uk/2007/september/ha000019.html "Lewisham '77: success or failure?" By Jenny Bourne] , Institute for Race Relations, September 2007
* [http://www.newstatesman.com/society/2007/10/black-white-reactionaries "A black and white glimpse of the past"] by Darcus Howe, "New Statesman" October 2007
* [http://www.naar.org.uk/larag/0705pressrelease.htm Councillor Jarman Parmar remembers the Battle of Lewisham]
* [http://www.red-star-research.org.uk/rpm/anl.html#part1 Jim Kelly "The Anti-Nazi League] , Colin Roach Centre pamphlet
* [http://tottenhamlad.blogspot.com/2007/08/battle-of-lewisham.html "The 'Battle' of Lewisham": Tottenham Lad's eye witness account and analysis]