Anti-Nazi League: Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

The Anti-Nazi League (or ANL) is a far left UK organisation opposed to what it describes as neo-Fascist individuals and groups. It was founded in the 1970s by the Socialist Workers Party as an attempt by the far left to counter the growth of the National Front, and then again in the 1990s against various other far right groups. In the 2000s, its main target has been the British National Party.

Activities

The ANL carried out leafletting and other campaigns against what it sees as "Nazi" groups including protests, some of which have resulted in Rioting and other criminal activities. The ANL was linked to "Rock Against Racism" in the 1970s, and is heavily involved in a similar group, "Love Music Hate Racism", in the 2000s.

Critics accuse the ANL of being opposed to free speech, the most notable being the Pro-Democracy League, a group linked to the British National Party which often holds counter demonstrations against the ANL.

On May 19th 2002 for example, Julie Waterson (then ANL National Organiser) said "We have to forget ideas about freedom of speech", in reference to the groups that the ANL oppose and wish to have banned.

Sir Paul Condon, the then Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police said of an ANL protest in London in October, 1993:

"Again in London we have seen a cowardly mob of extremists turning up ... to cause disorder, violence and damage."

In response the ANL claimed that, having prevented any exit from the area, mounted and riot police broke their own rules by charging the crowd.

The ANL has been accused of using the Nazi label against any of their critics, regardless of whether or not the label fits. Critics also contend that the ANL's "No free speech for Nazis" policy is undemocratic.

The ANL has been described by some of its critics as a front organization for the Socialist Workers Party, a left-wing organisation which promotes Trotskyism.

The ANL begun as a United Front initiative on the part of the Socialist Workers Party, and it still retains close ties with this organisation - many of its officials also being SWP members or officials. This has led critics on both the right and the left to label the ANL a front group for the SWP.

However in its first period, 1977-1981, it was ostensibly run by an elected committee nationally and similar committees throughout the country. Many trade unions sponsored it as did the Indian Workers Association (then a large organisation), and many members of the Labour Party such as Neil Kinnock.

During the late 1970s it faced a major split when the even more radical Red Action faction parted company from the main organisation due to ideological differences. Red Action went on to form the "Anti-Fascist Action" group, or AFA, which is noted for its predilections for violent confrontation. AFA has since had an entirely separate history of its own.

The ANL's most infamous campaigner was Blair Peach, a previously unknown teacher of special needs children from New Zealand, whose death in 1979 at the hands and truncheons of the Metropolitan Police Force's Special Patrol Group during a disturbance in the London borough of Southall caused a national outcry.

Blair Peach was struck by officers during a confrontation which followed the ANL's arrival outside Southall Town Hall to voice their protest at a National Front meeting taking place therein. An inquest jury later returned a highly controversial verdict of misadventure over Mr Peach's death.

He remains a symbolic figurehead for the ANL and campaigns continue to have a public inquiry into his death. A primary school in Southall bears his name.

In 1981 with the eclipse of the National Front and collapse of the British Movement the initial incarnation of the ANL was wound up.

But in 1992 the SWP leadership relaunched the Anti-Nazi League due to the reconsolidation of far right groups in the British National Party and that party's electoral success. The ANL has recently affiliated with the Unite Against Racism group alongside other groups such as the National Assembly Against Racism.

The ANL's National Organiser and leader is Weyman Bennett, who is a high-ranking member of the Socialist Workers Party and on the National Executive of the Socialist Alliance.

Its previous National Organiser was Julie Waterson, who was also an active and high-ranking member of the SWP.

The ANL has close links with many Trade Unions, many of which have affiliated with it.