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A Britain We All Call Home > Published by Cormac Hollingsworth, October 2nd 2011 at 9:00 am

No platform no pasaran; Cable Street 75

This week marks the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Cable Street, and today, a 96-year-old veteran of the fight against fascism, Max Levitas, will speak at a commemorative march and rally, on a platform next to the newly restored Cable Street mural.

Battle-of-Cable-Street-plaque The march will assemble at 11:30 at the junction of Braham Street and Leman Street, near Aldgate East tube, ending with the rally at 1:00 at St George’s in the East Gardens, Cable Street (see map).

Mr Levitas will recall how, in October 1936, every entrance to the East End was blockaded, while Irish dockers and Jewish tailors built three barricades across Cable Street to prevent an invasion by 3,000 uniformed fascists.

He will be joined today by representatives from Bengali and Jewish organisations, trade union leaders and local political figures. They will urge marchers to celebrate the spirit of Cable Street by campaigning together to send a powerful message of unity against all who sow division and hatred in Britain today.

Here, Left Foot Forward’s Cormac Hollingsworth pens an imagined letter from a Cable Street veteran to a newly elected politician:

Dear Newly Elected Representative,

I am a veteran of the Battle of Cable Street when I made a stand to protect our public streets against the extremist black-shirted British Union of Fascists.

It was 1936, before the full abominations of the totalitarian regimes were visible. At that time, the public authorities were not aware of the threat of totalitarian ideologies. While Hitler had written “if outvoting them takes longer than outshooting them, at least the results will be guaranteed by their own Constitution”, many thought he would protect them against Stalin, while both slaughtered tens of millions.

You now have no such excuse. You know the industrialised slaughter the modern state can inflict when controlled by a party of a totalitarian ideology.

You shouldn’t be naïve about extremists at our fringes. If you allow them access to the public streets, they will abuse the responsibilities that you instinctively follow. And by denying their responsibilities, they seek to take control of the public street.

Their strategies haven’t changed – they use “the big lie” to undermine the truthful and fact-based responsibility within our freedom of speech; they will pursue an insane partisanship that will be motivated by “the worse it gets the better”, undermining our social contract; and don’t be fooled by their offer of alliances against a different foe: it was a social democratic party who let in Lenin; it was a right wing that made Hitler Reich Chancellor.

Painful as it may seem, there are moments where you can save the public streets only through bipartisanship.

But don’t imagine the weight of this responsibility to be too great. Trust in the fact that your many allies in preserving the public streets are your fellow participants. If you look around you will see how many already recognise their responsibility to preserve the public streets: thousands of people who’d never done political activity volunteered for Hope Not Hate to stop the BNP last year.

And “no platform” is now strongly supported from the Charities Commission, to the Church of England, and even to Her Majesty’s summer tea party.

In 1936 the Metropolitan Police were enforcing the BUF’s claimed “right to free speech” – that’s why we crowded Cable Street; in 2011 the Met protected Cable Street from the EDL, just as their fellow forces had protected their local communities in Bradford, Leicester and elsewhere. These are all proof of how much we have learned the lessons of the 20th century.

I hope you never face an organised totalitarian mass movement. But if you do, remember the courage of the citizens of Cable Street, and know the British soul will never be lost to the extremes if the defenders of the public streets stand firm.

No platform. No Pasaran.

A veteran of Cable Street

See also:

• NUJ: EDL thugs “violently attacked” journalists – Shamik Das, September 6th 2011

• Getting to the roots of far right xenophobia – Dr Matthew Goodwin, April 9th 2011

• If the EDL find a British Geert Wilders, the political scene could change – George Readings, March 7th 2011

• Searchlight’s ‘Fear and Hope’ paints a fascinating and concerning picture – George Readings, February 28th 2011

• BNP’s Oldham candidate shows the party’s as racist as ever – Chris Tarquini, January 5th 2011

http://twitter.com/bristolred/status/120410027390545920 Darren Lewis

No platform no pasaran; Cable Street 75: http://t.co/Uqwlu2PF by @CormacHolly @HopeNotHate #CableStreet #BattleofCableStreet
http://twitter.com/rachel787878/status/120410710277758976 Rachel Burns

No platform no pasaran; Cable Street 75: http://t.co/Uqwlu2PF by @CormacHolly @HopeNotHate #CableStreet #BattleofCableStreet
http://twitter.com/daviderswell/status/120411972465463296 David Erswell

If you're in East London this morning, I recommend Cable Street 75 http://t.co/NuMEcddz #Nopasaran #CableStreet
http://twitter.com/cormacholly/status/120412648868294657 Cormac Hollingsworth

No platform no pasaran; Cable Street 75: http://t.co/UhtjlPVv @HopeNotHate #BattleofCableStreet they made a stand and inspire us still
http://twitter.com/little_leaguer/status/120414618496663552 Robbie Dolan

If you're in East London this morning, I recommend Cable Street 75 http://t.co/NuMEcddz #Nopasaran #CableStreet
http://twitter.com/elliecrobinson/status/120414775283957760 Ellie Robinson

RT @CormacHolly: No platform no pasaran; Cable Street 75: http://t.co/qttWInjs @HopeNotHate they made a stand and inspire us still
http://twitter.com/andrew4mk/status/120417236094689281 Andrew Pakes

No platform no pasaran; Cable Street 75: http://t.co/UhtjlPVv @HopeNotHate #BattleofCableStreet they made a stand and inspire us still
http://twitter.com/politicalplanet/status/120417683815669760 Political Planet

No platform no pasaran; Cable Street 75: This week marks the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Cable Street; Lef… http://t.co/jk5b16h4
http://twitter.com/labour52rose/status/120423894422269952 Alex Braithwaite

RT @leftfootfwd: No platform no pasaran; Cable Street 75 http://t.co/Zjno9SQ1
http://twitter.com/shriekinleek/status/120425918027137024 Bill Cawley

No platform no pasaran; Cable Street 75: http://t.co/Uqwlu2PF by @CormacHolly @HopeNotHate #CableStreet #BattleofCableStreet
http://twitter.com/ruthsmeeth/status/120427998452260864 Ruth Smeeth

No platform no pasaran; Cable Street 75: http://t.co/UhtjlPVv @HopeNotHate #BattleofCableStreet they made a stand and inspire us still
http://thetyrannyofthemajority.blogspot.com/ Tyrannyofthemajority

Nice to see you championing liberalism against authoritarianism.

‘You shouldn’t be naïve about extremists at our fringes. If you allow them access to the public streets, they will abuse the responsibilities that you instinctively follow. And by denying their responsibilities, they seek to take control of the public street.’

Censoring people whose opinions you don’t like?

Is that really a good idea?

I think even extremists should have freedom of speech. Then people can see how stupid their views are. Or maybe you assume the public are so dumb and bigoted that they can be duped by any passing fascist into becoming a ravening nationalist mob?

The BNP and EDL, despite the hype, are small fringe groups and don’t look like changing into anything more than that any time soon.

It’s censorious people like you who are the threat to liberty at the moment.
http://twitter.com/hopenothate/status/120472450986287104 Nick Lowles

RT @CormacHolly: No platform no pasaran; Cable Street 75: http://t.co/qttWInjs @HopeNotHate they made a stand and inspire us still
http://twitter.com/hopenothate/status/120472497492725760 Nick Lowles

No platform no pasaran; Cable Street 75: http://t.co/UhtjlPVv @HopeNotHate #BattleofCableStreet they made a stand and inspire us still
http://twitter.com/nemesisrepublic/status/120472817165803520 Nemesis Republic

No platform no pasaran; Cable Street 75: http://t.co/UhtjlPVv @HopeNotHate #BattleofCableStreet they made a stand and inspire us still
http://twitter.com/johnhedges109/status/120473679128834048 John Hedges

RT @EllieCRobinson: RT @CormacHolly: No platform no pasaran; Cable Street 75: http://t.co/C1XgWevt @HopeNotHat… (cont) http://t.co/qtKA95gi
http://twitter.com/tasha_alden/status/120474108298412033 Tasha Alden

No platform no pasaran; Cable Street 75: http://t.co/UhtjlPVv @HopeNotHate #BattleofCableStreet they made a stand and inspire us still
http://twitter.com/unisonhousing/status/120475868442271746 UNISON Housing Assoc

No platform no pasaran; Cable Street 75: http://t.co/UhtjlPVv @HopeNotHate #BattleofCableStreet they made a stand and inspire us still
http://twitter.com/stuartfreedman/status/120476811518939136 Stuart Freedman

No platform no pasaran; Cable Street 75: http://t.co/Uqwlu2PF by @CormacHolly @HopeNotHate #CableStreet #BattleofCableStreet
http://twitter.com/stuartfreedman/status/120476811518939136 Stuart Freedman

No platform no pasaran; Cable Street 75: http://t.co/Uqwlu2PF by @CormacHolly @HopeNotHate #CableStreet #BattleofCableStreet
http://twitter.com/redvark/status/120483356747112449 Richard Hardy

No platform no pasaran; Cable Street 75: http://t.co/UhtjlPVv @HopeNotHate #BattleofCableStreet they made a stand and inspire us still
http://twitter.com/redvark/status/120483356747112449 Richard Hardy

No platform no pasaran; Cable Street 75: http://t.co/UhtjlPVv @HopeNotHate #BattleofCableStreet they made a stand and inspire us still
http://twitter.com/kirstyjmcneill/status/120486485458821120 Kirsty McNeill

No platform no pasaran; Cable Street 75: http://t.co/UhtjlPVv @HopeNotHate #BattleofCableStreet they made a stand and inspire us still
http://twitter.com/kirstyjmcneill/status/120486485458821120 Kirsty McNeill

No platform no pasaran; Cable Street 75: http://t.co/UhtjlPVv @HopeNotHate #BattleofCableStreet they made a stand and inspire us still
http://twitter.com/digital_sarah/status/120524366550278144 sarah coften

RT @leftfootfwd: No platform no pasaran; Cable Street 75 http://t.co/7TDCowZj
http://twitter.com/digital_sarah/status/120524366550278144 sarah coften

RT @leftfootfwd: No platform no pasaran; Cable Street 75 http://t.co/7TDCowZj
Cormac Hollingsworth

Q.E.D.
http://www.leftfootforward.org/2011/10/look-left-02-10-11/ Look Left – Tory obsession with Europe goes on. And on. And on | Left Foot Forward

[...] ¡No Pasarán! [...]
http://twitter.com/living_autism/status/120563308100206592 Irene Burton

RT @leftfootfwd: No platform no pasaran; Cable Street 75 http://t.co/0a1JR0Ui
http://twitter.com/living_autism/status/120563308100206592 Irene Burton

RT @leftfootfwd: No platform no pasaran; Cable Street 75 http://t.co/0a1JR0Ui
http://twitter.com/annagillespie74/status/120566011773722624 Anna Gillespie

RT @leftfootfwd: No platform no pasaran; Cable Street 75 http://t.co/0a1JR0Ui
http://twitter.com/annagillespie74/status/120566011773722624 Anna Gillespie

RT @leftfootfwd: No platform no pasaran; Cable Street 75 http://t.co/0a1JR0Ui
http://twitter.com/yvonnehlee/status/120568399922343937 Yvonne Lee

RT @leftfootfwd: No platform no pasaran; Cable Street 75 http://t.co/1INHY1J1
http://twitter.com/yvonnehlee/status/120568399922343937 Yvonne Lee

RT @leftfootfwd: No platform no pasaran; Cable Street 75 http://t.co/1INHY1J1
George

I am a little confused by conflation in this article between the Battle of Cable Street – a rejection of a repulsive movement and its physical intimidation of the East End’s Jewish citizens – and no platforming people like the BNP and EDL who, repulsive as they are, do not represent a threat at all in the order of fascists in the 1930s.

Would be interested to hear the author’s justification for treating the two as though they are the same.
http://twitter.com/jruddy99/status/120602168062525440 John Ruddy

RT @leftfootfwd: No platform no pasaran; Cable Street 75 http://t.co/LNqCv1t3
http://twitter.com/jruddy99/status/120602168062525440 John Ruddy

RT @leftfootfwd: No platform no pasaran; Cable Street 75 http://t.co/LNqCv1t3
http://twitter.com/ronanburtenshaw/status/120606208871768064 Rónán Burtenshaw

No platform! No pasaran! #CableStreet 75 years on http://t.co/Zscofdgf via @leftfootfwd
http://twitter.com/ronanburtenshaw/status/120606208871768064 Rónán Burtenshaw

No platform! No pasaran! #CableStreet 75 years on http://t.co/Zscofdgf via @leftfootfwd
http://twitter.com/zzigggyyy/status/120609488104460288 Ziggy Stardust

MT @RonanBurtenshaw: No platform! No pasaran! #CableStreet 75 years on http://t.co/KCFt334E via @leftfootfwd #edl #UAF #AntiFA
http://twitter.com/zzigggyyy/status/120609488104460288 Ziggy Stardust

MT @RonanBurtenshaw: No platform! No pasaran! #CableStreet 75 years on http://t.co/KCFt334E via @leftfootfwd #edl #UAF #AntiFA
Mr. Sensible

Tyrannyofthemajority, half the problem with the likes of the EDL is that, wherever and whenever they turn up, there’s trouble.

I think it is important that we remember the spirit of Cable Street, and the fight against extremism.
Robert the crip

Trouble is also around when you have Muslim fanatics who will tell us Blair brown Cameron is dead long like the what ever it is they believe.
http://twitter.com/eskriv/status/120876192155963395 :::

RT @leftfootfwd: No platform no pasaran; The Battle of Cable Street 75 years on http://t.co/35CB3LWI
http://twitter.com/londoniww/status/120891386013818881 London IWW

FYI, Interesting: No platform no pasaran; Cable Street 75 http://t.co/D6kB3VuX
Leon Wolfson

@3 – Really? Seen the hate crime stats recently? And a LOT of hat crimes are not being reported to the police by the victims. (As I haven’t, and won’t unless I was needed hospital treatment after being attacked and hence would need to report to stay out of legal trouble)
http://www.leftfootforward.org/2012/05/vidal-sassoon-1928-2012/ Vidal Sassoon, anti-Fascist hero, “harder than the painted nails of his clients” | Left Foot Forward

[...] See also: • No platform no pasaran; Cable Street 75 2 Oct [...]