Anti-fascist demonstrators flee as police attack a barricade.
IMAGE: DAVID SAVILL/TOPICAL PRESS AGENCY/GETTY IMAGES
In 1936, a tide of fascism was sweeping across Europe. Adolf Hitler had seized and consolidated power as führer of Nazi Germany, and was throwing his support behind Francisco Franco's Nationalists in the Spanish Civil War.
The British Union of Fascists, founded in 1932 by far-right MP Oswald Mosley, had developed a sizable following among the working and middle classes thanks to isolationist and protectionist policies. This following shrank dramatically as the BUF — known as "blackshirts," after their uniforms — adopted a xenophobic, antisemitic platform and clashed violently and repeatedly with anti-fascist protesters.
In October, Mosley and his blackshirts announced a plan to march through London's East End, a neighborhood populated mainly by Irish and Jewish refugees and immigrants. The government allowed it against the strenuous objections of local groups.
Some anti-fascist groups, including the Labour party and Jewish Board of deputies, decided to ignore the march to starve it of attention.Most, however, were not about to allow such a thing in their community. A broad coalition of Jews, Irish, Communists, Socialists, unionists, dockworkers and other East Londoners were determined to halt the fascist march by any means necessary.
British Union of Fascists members salute their leader, Sir Oswald Mosley.
IMAGE: CENTRAL PRESS/GETTY IMAGES
We had to stop Mosley and his fascists. We had to ensure these racists could not terrorize the people and march through the East End.MAX LEVITAS
IMAGE: CENTRAL PRESS/GETTY IMAGES
On the day of the march, Mosley marshaled about 3,000 blackshirts on Royal Mint Street. The fascists were protected by approximately 6,000 police, many of them on horseback.
They were met by tens of thousands of demonstrators who blocked the streets with improvised barricades, tearing up paving stones and tossing furniture out of windows to make the marchers' route impassable.When the police charged the barricades and attempted to clear the route, they were pelted with garbage, rotten vegetables, stones, and the contents of a few chamber pots.
We all charged towards Cable Street. At the bottom end, an overturned lorry was used as a barricade and we blocked the road – Hasidic Jews with little beards and great strapping Irish dockers all standing together. People began to throw down their mattresses to block the street and a mass onslaught on the police ensued, with two officers even being taken hostage.BILL FISHMAN
Police clash with anti-fascist demonstrators.
IMAGE: ULLSTEIN BILD/ULLSTEIN BILD VIA GETTY IMAGES
Police clear away a barricade erected by protesters to make way for the fascist marchers.
IMAGE: TOPICAL PRESS AGENCY/GETTY IMAGES
I had a great opinion of the police until then. Our local copper was a friendly man; he knew everyone. But when I saw the baton charges, I changed my mind there and then. It seemed to me they were doing the work of the fascists for them.WILLIE MYERS
Police arrest an anti-fascist demonstrator.
IMAGE: TOPICAL PRESS AGENCY/GETTY IMAGES
Police arrest an anti-fascist demonstrator.
IMAGE: ULLSTEIN BILD/ULLSTEIN BILD VIA GETTY IMAGES
As the police swung truncheons and pushed into the seething crowds, the demonstrators chanted the Spanish Civil War slogan "No pasarán!" or "they shall not pass!"
The battle raged for hours through the narrow streets, resulting in hundreds of injuries to police officers and demonstrators, including women and children, and around 150 arrests.Finally, Mosley called off the march, and the anti-fascists declared triumph.
Police arrest an anti-fascist demonstrator.
IMAGE: ULLSTEIN BILD/ULLSTEIN BILD VIA GETTY IMAGES
Police arrest an anti-fascist protester. One officer is holding the protester's shoe in his hand.
IMAGE: ULLSTEIN BILD/ULLSTEIN BILD VIA GETTY IMAGES
The battle initially appeared to be a pyrrhic victory for the protesters, as it led to a spike in fascist support and antisemitic violence — exactly what Mosley wanted. However, laws were quickly passed which banned marching in uniform and required police permission for marches.The British Union of Fascists declined in membership as it became increasingly associated with Nazi Germany. In 1940, the party was banned altogether, and Mosley was interned for the much of the war.
Locals repair a sidewalk which was torn up to disrupt the fascist march.
IMAGE: MAEERS/FOX PHOTOS/GETTY IMAGES
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