The Manchester Martyrs" March held on Monday was viciously attacked by a demonstration led by Union Juckwaving members of the National Front, supported by some Incal residents.
About three hundred fascists and irate local citizens, whipped up by anti-trish hysteria from the NF attempted to stop the march as it proceded through Moston. The match is an annual event, heid to commemorate the hanging of three trishumen in 1867 for killing a guard while attempting to release Fenian prisoners.
The graves of the martyrs had carlier been daubed,and most of the bourgeois press described the assault as a spontaneous outburst by the people of Moston.
But while the counter-demonstration did grin support from local residents, the National Front had done much preparatory work, and shipped in supporters and thugs from other areas.
"IRISH OUT'
The counter-demonstration's chants of "NF and "Irish Ouf' were led by the Front, and NF agitators approached groups of bystanders, uring them to attack the march.
Unfortunately, the Martyrs" March 150 turing out. These were mainly mombers of Sinn Fein, independent Republicans, and the IMG, The low attendance, and the fact that the NF was able to gain support in this working class area of Manchester, should be a salutary lesson to the Manchester left.
For the first time in the area. the fascists have been ahle to intimidate an anti-imperialist demonstration and got away with it. This is because the left failed to turn out for the march, and because they bave failed to take up the question of Ireland inside the labour movement.
Sinn Fein bas annonced that it will organise a mammoth rally in Manchester, in defence of their right to demonstrate, and it is essentini that this is supported by all sections of the Hopefully, the forthcoming conference on racism to be held at the Renold Theatre in Manchester on 18 May will take the appropriate steps to ensure that no working class or anti-imperialist organisation or event can be attacked by the fascists in future.
The conference is being supported by sections of the labour movemenr in Manchester, Details from Manchester Anti-Fascist Committee, cjo 27 Thatch Leach, Chadderton, Didham, Lanes.
Rates: $4 per year, f2 for 6 months prapls in an attempt to show us that CND
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was poorty attended, with only about Support Red Weekly - SUBSCRIBE! Foreign 56 per year, 59 airmail Special offer! 12 issues for 50p Name