The Spartacus League considers that it is urgently necessary for all radical young people to turn their energies to the fight against racism and to action in solidarity with the black victims of racist attacks. Over the last two months there has been an orgy of arrests and savage charges against black people in London; following a march by 100 black youths to the police station at Caledonian Road to enquire about four of their brothers and sisters who were in jail, thirteen people were arrested on wild charges; on a demonstration from the Mangrove Restaurant in Notting Hill to three police stations protesting against police repression of black people in the area, 20 people were arrested. On the August Bank Holiday weekend, the police raided social functions organised by black people in Harlesden, Kennington, Forest Gate and the East End, setting dogs on people and making arrests. The state is bringing charges. of grievous bodily harm and riotous assembly, which can result in prison sentences of several years for those found guilty.
The important thing is not to throw up our hands in horror, but to understand why this is happening, in order that we can combat it.
Of course, part of the explanation is the existence of a sadistic and virulently racist current within the police in parts of London. But this doesn't account for the timing, scope and targets of their activity. Nor does it explain the orchestrated hysteria against "Black Power extremists" in the press, especially the London evening papers. The truth is that the state is frightened by signs that important sections of the million black people in this country are turning to the militant black organisations as the only instruments they can use to solve their problems.
The scare stories in the press, the trumpeted study of Special Branch "dossiers" by Home Secretary Maudling, coupled with the largescale intimidation and arrests of militants-all this represents an attempt to isolate the black political organisations before they transform the growing sympathy for their ideas within the black community into an organised political force. The Government also hopes that the arrests, jailings and huge court expenses will cripple these organisations.
It is imperative to combat this state of affairs. The Spartacus League organised a picket of Camberwell Magistrates Court on Friday October 9th where some black brothers and sisters were being tried. We have also organised a tour round the country for the Black Panther movement to explain the real situation that people are facing in this racist society. The Panthers have already visited the North-East of England and Scotland. In addition the following meetings will take place:
Wednesday October 21st: Stafford Thursday 22nd: Keele, lunchtime.
evenine Friday 23rd:
Students Union, lunchtime.
Tuesday 27th: Birmingham & Aston Univ.s Wednesday 28th: Coventry (2 mtgs Thursday 29th: Nottingham (2 mtgs)
Friday 30th: Leicester Tuesday November 3rd: Norwich If you would like to organise a meeting for the Panthers for November, then please write immediately to the Spartacus League, 182 Pentonville Road, London N.1.
A "Black Defence Committee" has been set up: to defend the black people arrested in London over the summer and waiting trial. The Spartacus League is participating in this committee, which 1 am interested in getting more information about the Spartacus League.
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ADDRESS.
Send to: The Spartacus League, 182 Pentonville Road, London N.1. has set itself the following urgent tasks: 1) The raising of £300 over the next six weeks to help cover the defence costs of those arrested; 2) Organising a picket of the Marylebone Magis trates Court on October 28th (10 a.m.) where those arrested on the Mangrove demonstration will be appearing; 3) Organising a demonstration through Notting Hill on Saturday October 31st protesting against repression against black people in the area. The demonstration is planned to start outside Ladbroke Grove tube at 11 a.m Contact Black Defence Committee, c/o 182 Pentonville Road, London N.1 for further information, leaflets and posters on this campaign. Also send donations to the defence fund to the same address-please give generously. Cheques should be made out to Unity Books, and sent to the Defence Committee.