Kmflett's Blog

The Battle of Wood Green took place 49 years ago today (it was a Saturday). The fascist National Front having assembled well over a thousand on Ducketts Common, Turnpike Lane, marched into Wood Green High Rd full of Saturday shoppers.

A large counter protest and lots of shoppers attacked the march and it was partially broken. The front marched on to a rally in Arnos Grove, in the Borough of Enfield.

The organiser of the united counter protest was a young Haringey Councillor who went on to become rather better known- Jeremy Corbyn.

Some of those who organised the protest and were there that day are no longer with us. I was 20 and hope to go on for a bit yet- I’m still out protesting for Palestine.

The reality is however that in terms of living memory 23rd April 1977 in Wood Green is moving out of living memory and into the history books.

So why remember it? Firstly because there are still racists and fascists and efforts to oppose them. Remembering past efforts, perhaps particularly when they were successful as on that Saturday afternoon 49 years ago, is important.

Also because its important to remember that struggles for a better world have a past as well as a present and a future. The Labour Party is, mostly, poor on this, often as a matter of deliberate policy. The labour movement is much better.

We remember and continue efforts to make that future now.