A network of individuals, independent and alternative media activists and organisations, offering grassroots, non-corporate, non-commercial coverage of important social and political issues.

brilliant day in Manchester at the ANL carnival

anti-nazi's | 03.09.2002 17:31

Around 30,000 people, black and white, young and old enjoyed the sun and the bands at the 'Love Music, Hate Racism' Carnival this weekend...

brilliant day in Manchester at the ANL carnival

more pics of the ANL carnival

Photos from the ANL carnival

More censored stills from the Manchester ANL carnival

Around 30,000 people, black and white, young and old enjoyed the sun and the bands at the 'Love Music, Hate Racism' Carnival this weekend - the biggest anti-racist event in the North West for two decades.

As the Labour council in Burnley had banned the event from Burnley on the grounds that it wouldn't promote good community relations(!) the carnival was rearranged at short notice to Manchester.

The day started with a spirited march from the city centre which joined the carnival in the early afternoon led by the big delegation from Burnley.

Beautiful weather complemented fine performances from countless acts - big crowd favourites were definitely Heartless Crew, Out Da Ville, the Doves- who played a beautiful acoustic tinged set- and headliner Ms Dynamite who pulled people from the crowd to show their rapping skills from the stage, much to the delight of the crowd. The dance tent was heaving for most of the afternoon pumping out some mad garage and drum and bass to get people's hands in the air and asses dancing!

In between the acts various speakers including Shahid Malik, beaten up by the police in last years riots, spoke of what a brilliant opportunity there now is to build a mass anti-racist movement to get rid of the Nazis - a mass petition, signed by all the acts is to be handed in to Burnley council demanding that they allow a carnival to be held there in the Spring.

A brilliant day of black and white unity and a big fuck you to the Nazis!

anti-nazi's
e-mail: anl@anl.org.uk
Homepage: http://www.anl.org.uk

Comments

Hide the following 6 comments

Nice work

03.09.2002 18:10

People will probably will start moaning about the AN(a)L being a SWP front group send out the 101 accusations that always comes with that, but WHO CARES? At least someone has the guts to oppose this scum, and send a message out to the world that RACISM IS UNACCEPTABLE ANYWHERE. The ANL may have come under fire many times for its controvesial tactics in opposing the likes of the BNP and NF, but what they do is nothing compared to what the BNP can (and will) do given half the chance. The ANL is an ANTI-FASCIST orgisation, and "anti-fascist" covers people of many different politcal pesuasions, not just those of the SWP.

Overall, nice work, shame I wasn't there myself, would have been worth it just to see Billy Bragg! Oh well, maybe one day I might actually join the ANL too, it would only cost me a quid, and with all the shit happening up North, the anti-fascist movement (including the ANL) needs all the help it can get...

Thomas J

A curmudgeon writes...

03.09.2002 20:25

I did go to Manchester, and had a lovely day with me mates and me daughter in the sunshine, listening to some top tunes.

As a show of anti-racist strength, yep, no doubt, fair play.

BUT, my problem is- what does it change? I doubt that many of the BNP's core constituency were around, and I'd be surprised if it changed too many minds; it's doubtful, for instance, that many of (the utterly wonderful) Ms. Dynamite's fans were surprised to hear that she's anti-racist.

As an event, it was fine; but to imagine that it did anything to "get rid of the Nazis", as the previous writer suggests, is fanciful; that's only going to be done by grassroots activists in the communities where the fash prosper.

And there is an unfortunate taste of something cynical about it too- given that I don't really believe that the SWP's hierarchy think that the BNP's popularity (or otherwise) is going to be affected one way or another by what happened on Sunday. What they did seem to see it as, unfortunately, was a massive recruiting opportunity, with the unfortunate effect that it sometimes felt a bit like one of the Jesus Army's rallies!

Jay-B

points

03.09.2002 21:42

i would questionj whether there was thirty thousand plp there, if there was then well done. It certainly looks as if they made sure their brand image were ever-present( the yellow lollipop). However, something I don't doubt is most of the SWP,s commitment to anti-racism, unfortunately this is often taken to the point of a withchunt on individuals who have been accused, but not proven, of rcism, prejudice etc.I would also say if the libertarian/anarchist movement is critical, then why do we not do something outselves?

info-pusher

Fighting fascism wont destroy capitalism!

04.09.2002 08:16

Fighting fascism on its ownis pointless. Fasicsm is just one of the many systoms of capitalism! What also needs to be done is to promote socialism a sane alternative to capitalism where all the workers of the world will democratically control all of the means of production and all of the earths resouces and plan production for need not profit!

http://www.socialistpary.org.uk

steelgate

Re: Jay-B and steelgate

04.09.2002 11:25

Jay-B: I agree that the ANL (or any other group) will not be able to smash racism and fascism just by holding a few festivals, and people as a whole need to be aware of what the BNP really stands for, and what the altenatives are.

Steelgate: This isn't about fighting/smashing capitalism, it's about preventing a system that is much, much worse from taking hold, fascism. Ideally yes, bring down capitalism, but we are a long way from that, and there are other forces present that want to make the situation much worse, and they need to be stopped.

Peace/solidarity, TJA

Thomas J

stop maoning and get off your asses

05.09.2002 15:00

-start quote- "spoke of what a brilliant opportunity there now is to build a mass anti-racist movement to get rid of the Nazis" -end quote-

I didn't say we got rid of the Nazis!

and if you don't think bringing thousands (25000, 26000, 30000 who cares it was lots of people) of people together makes any difference - then tell us what does?

stop whingeing and get off your asses and do something with the ANL or with anyone you want.....

but please do something and son't just contribute to the kind of pessimism that only allows the fascists to grow in the first place.

The young kids at the carnival were REALLY politicised not just about fighting fascism but Anti-Capitalism and oads of other stuff, one bookstall sold over £1500 of books! These kids will definately make a difference in the near future.....be warned BNP your time is up!

anti-nazi

UK Indymedia