Doing things differently - From Leeds Indymedia


The 635 Group
~ Fighting Fascism In West Yorkshire ~

FOUNDING STATEMENT

WHO WE ARE
The 635 Group is a group of militant anti-fascists based in West Yorkshire and affiliated to the national organisation (and international movement) Antifa.
We exist to confront fascist ideas, activities and organisations wherever and however they occur.
We utilise a wide range of tactics and believe it is important to confront fascism on the streets as well as ideologically.
We do not advocate the electoral process as a means of defeating fascism nor will we work with groups that do.
Our structure is anti-authoritarian and non hierarchical. We oppose discrimination based on race, gender, sexuality, ability or age.
We will not work with, accept information from, nor pass information to the magazine Searchlight.
FASCISTS BEWARE !!!

FASCISM
It is a mistake to see fascism solely in terms of extreme far-right nationalist political parties such as the BNP, NF etc. While these are the most obvious target for an anti-fascist campaign, many policies promoted by other parties are equally fascist in nature, and demand an appropriate reaction. The media is also guilty of pushing far-right ideology (the tabloid treatment of the issues surrounding refugees for example) and their actions often fall within the remit of an anti-fascist group. We should oppose fascist ideology whatever its source. Equally, fascism is often used as a synonym for racism. Racism is a tool frequently employed by fascist movements, but it is important to be aware that fascists can be non-racist and indeed most racists are not fascists. While our major target is fascism, we must be aware that bigotry in all forms (racism, sexism, homophobia, etc) needs to be fought, whether it comes from the mouths of fascists or from elsewhere.

PHYSICAL CONFRONTATION
Fascism is a violent ideology, which throughout history has been prepared to use violence against those it opposes, and against those who challenge it politically. The 635 Group is part of the ‘physical force’ anti-fascist tradition, prepared to confront fascism by force when we deem it necessary and appropriate. Physical confrontation is only one of our tactics though, we do not aim to fetishise it as one tactic above all others, nor will we allow a hierarchy to develop based on the kudos of street-fighting. If an individual member feels unable to engage on this level they are no less worthy as an anti-fascist than any other member of the group, however those with a ‘moral’ problem regarding this issue should be advised that this is not the group for them.

HIERARCHY AND GROUP STRUCTURE
In keeping with our anti-authoritarian ideas, we seek to challenge hierarchy within our own group and elsewhere. We do not believe in fixed leadership or power structures. Within the group we make decisions on a consensus basis to ensure that the opinions of all within the group are represented as far as possible. Where an organising role needs to be taken on by one or more people (for example, acting as chief steward during an action), we accept that this is immediately revocable should the members of the group be dissatisfied, and that the appointment of any role that could be seen as leadership is temporary and based on group consensus. There are situations in militant anti-fascism where decisions have to be made quickly (e.g. chief stewarding) and it is vital that the group trusts the person who is making those decisions. It is also vital that appointing those decision-makers does not create any unspoken hierarchy, so we encourage the rotation of roles as far as possible. This extends to meetings, where we encourage a rotating chair. The structure of our own group needs to reflect our political goals.

INCLUSIVITY
Within militant anti-fascism, the role of women has often been reduced to simply ‘spotting’ and fund-raising. A culture of chauvinism and a ‘boys club’ mentality has often prevailed, with groups being made up exclusively of young white men. Women are well represented in The 635 Group, and active and full participants in all our activities.

SEARCHLIGHT
We will not work with, accept information from, nor pass information to the so-called anti-fascist magazine/organisation Searchlight, and we will not work with individuals who have any connection to them. As an organisation that works hand-in-glove with State agencies, we cannot trust them or the agenda they pursue. Their influence within, and manipulation of, militant anti-fascism has been deeply divisive over the years, their methods and involvement with State security services are well documented and entirely incompatible with our own position.

THE AUTHORITARIAN LEFT
For decades certain Marxist-Leninist groups, most obviously the “Socialist Workers Party”, have opportunistically used the mobilisation against fascism as a way of trying to swell their membership numbers and the coffers of their party. We are not interested in working with these groups, nor with their front groups, such as the ‘Anti-Nazi League’ or ‘Unite Against Fascism’. Our experience is that these front groups exist merely to try and recruit members on behalf of the controlling party, to peddle their papers, and to manipulate and marginalize genuine anti-fascists. In the past we have seen the leadership of such fronts collaborate not only with the State, but also with the fascists themselves. We will not be fooled again, and advise genuine anti-fascists within these organisations to leave, after which we may be able to work with them.

VOTING
Voting is something that allows the State to pretend we live in a democracy, and it is a tactic used by fascist parties such as the British National Party to promote themselves and their policies. While the BNP may be in a position to throw bricks through the windows of a few Asian households, it is New Labour that is locking up refugees and bombing Iraqi civilians. It is ridiculous to suggest that voting helps to stop fascism, and the sort of insult to working class communities that has allowed the BNP to grow. This is the case whether we are being told to vote for the old Statist parties or opportunist fronts, such as ‘Respect’, which has helped to promote bigotry (sexism and homophobia) in order to further the agenda of its leadership. The problems that allow racism and fascism to flourish will not be solved simply by voting for parties which mask their fascism slightly more cleverly than the BNP, nor for some middle-class tourist standing on a Left-Wing ticket.

THE WIDER STRUGGLE
Eliminating the threat of fascism will not magically correct all the wrongs of the world; only the overthrow of global capitalism will offer any chance of real lasting change. Members of the group are involved in a wide variety of other anti-capitalist struggle, but The 635 Group itself remains focussed on the fight against fascism, which we believe is linked to the wider struggle. The State will employ fascist tactics if necessary in the cause of suppressing dissent, and the fight against openly fascist ideology, wherever it comes from, is a critical part of the fight against the ultimate enemy of capitalism itself.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Fascism can be suppressed by the use of street-level tactics against their attempts to publicly organise. Its electoral ambitions can be defeated by the use of counter-propaganda. But a meaningful impact on fascism requires far more than this. We believe that involvement in local communities is critical (and this does not mean parachuting in as outsiders, but people taking action in their own communities.) Education and presenting workable solutions to the problems faced by communities are absolutely vital to the struggle. These may be outside the remit of The 635 Group, but we will support these tactics, and while we may not be able to initiate such activities, we strongly encourage our members to involve themselves in this sort of grass-roots work.

SECURITY AND RECRUITMENT
For tactical and security reasons, The 635 Group is not an ‘open’ group. Some of our work may put us in conflict with the authorities, and of course with fascists themselves. We do not seek mass-recruitment and we do not hold regular open meetings. That said, we are always on the lookout for potential new members, who are committed and security-conscious. If you are interested in getting involved with The 635 Group, or if you would like to assist us in our work, please get in touch.

 the635group@mail.com

"The 635 Group is part of the ‘physical force’ anti-fascist tradition, prepared to confront fascism by force when we deem it necessary and appropriate. Physical confrontation is only one of our tactics though, we do not aim to fetishise it as one tactic above all others"

So where were you when Griffin was in Leeds Court, did you manage to use "physical force" against him. There are probably more letters in "The 635 Group" than members.

In regards to Dave Landau , typical rant from a group that has done sweet FA when it comes to fighting the nazis.

They now the master(bating) race? Its like the sheep leading themsleves to slaughter.

Shouting slogans and getting your photos taken.

I don't the 635 group aim to be a mass-organisation, but I went out on one of their actions the other week, and despite the fact it was strictly word-of-mouth, there were over 40 people. I wouldn't underestimate them. They do a lot of stuff that never gets reported I imagine too, and whose to say some of them weren't around when Griffin was in court, though tactically it was hardly the best place for a 'physical force' intervention was it?

I have been out leafletting with UAF a couple of times, admittedly a couple of years back, but I never felt very safe with them, they just didn't seem to know what they were doing. Meet-up points were publicly advertised, and in quite 'hostile' areas, and there wasn't any kind of stewarding or plan for if there was trouble. The second time I went we were split into pairs and given leaflets, my friend ended up with a fascist spy, who later drove past with her boyfriend shouting abuse.

From the Class War site (given out at a LMHR gig in Leeds):

LOVE MUSIC
HATE RACISM (AND THE SWP)

‘Love Music Hate Racism’, ‘Unite Against Fascism’ – Great sounding slogans, but unfortunately, just like ‘Globalise Resistance’, the organisations that currently use these names are nothing more than parasitic and opportunist ‘front’ groups for the Socialist Workers Party – The bunch of idiots who told us to vote for Blair in 1997, and are now telling us to vote for ‘Respect’ – a pseudo-party that hold sexually segregated meetings, who are in favour of racially segregated schools, and who have ditched any pretence at pushing a socialist agenda in order to court right-wing bigots, muslim fundamentalists, anti-abortionists, and people who think Queer men and women should be executed.

The SWP have never had any genuine interest in fighting fascism, they have even collaborated with fascist groups – In Leeds they used to alternate paper sales with the British National Party and National Front. But by setting up front groups under their control – the Anti-Nazi League, Unite, LMHR - they hope to recruit the gullible into their party and raise an awful lot more money than they ever would putting on gigs as the SWP. They are using racism in much the same way as the BNP, the Tories, or New Labour.

The musicians playing tonight are just trying to do something to fight racism, it’s not their fault they’ve been conned by slick opportunists who have more varieties than Heinz – All unfit for human consumption – But you should be asking where all the money is going, Unite have 3 benefit gigs on in West Yorkshire alone this weekend, and dozens more across the country – Is it just going on a few politically incoherent leaflets? Of course not. Racism is big business for the scumbag leadership of the SWP.

Leeds has a history of real militant anti-fascism stretching back to the days of Oswald Mosley’s fascist ‘blackshirts’ – The SWP have nothing whatsoever to do with that tradition, nor with the fight that is still going on today, a fight being carried forward by The 635 Group, the northern arm of the anti-fascist organisation Anifa. Check out our position at www.antifa.org.uk

SMASH FASCISM

DON’T FUND THE SOCIALIST WANKERS PARTY

"For decades certain Marxist-Leninist groups, most obviously the “Socialist Workers Party”, have opportunistically used the mobilisation against fascism as a way of trying to swell their membership numbers and the coffers of their party...these front groups exist merely to try and recruit members on behalf of the controlling party, to peddle their papers, and to manipulate and marginalize genuine anti-fascists."

I agree. I'm sure that there are good people doing their best to work with UAF, I know people who go to UAF demos just 'cos they are against the BNP and don't know what else to do. We shouldn't allow ourselves to be used by the likes of the SWP or Respect though.

Just where do you get off calling those of us who went wankers and scum??????

You can always tell an SWP hack, they shriek "sectarian" at anyone who's not in their sect.

You trots, you're your own best parodists.

And they go all frowny-faced about "islamophobes" whenever anyone criticises the reactionary behaviour of one of their current fascist pals.

Remember kids: if you don't like it when some far-right opportunists who've done a political deal with the SWP make homophobic comments, then fuck off and die you islamophobe.

It was the far-right Serbian nationalists the SWP were defending not so very long ago. Same old shit, different religion.

After the down-turn in working class struggle in the 1970's the danger came from the right. To be fair to the SWP they have a sound trdition of fighting the Nazis, when most other groups ignored the dangers of the NF the SWP initiated the ANL and mobilised mass counter demonstrations.

In 1977, Lewisham the NF attempted to march in a predominatory black area, the ANL mobilsed thousands of local people and were successful in stopping the NF. This is quite correctly identified as the turning point in the down fall of the NF.

The ANL like UAF was not automatically liked by certain sections of the left, for instance, there was a struggle to win the arguement that the ANL should associate the NF with Nazis (we all take it for granted today) some labour left and the communist party said that the NF were not nazis, the swp won the important agruement.

To say that the swp set up the ANL in order to swell their ranks is utter crap, the ANL main aim was to smash the NF, when the NF fell apart in the early 80's the ANL was disbanded. Of course in the process people did join the swp but so what.

Stupidly, some people have critcised bands for playing for love music hate racism as some kind of sheep. In the 70's LMHR gigs were an important battle in the fight against the NF. The NF used music to develop a following, strategically it was important to get people in the music industry to take sides, this was important, Eric Clapton said one time that he supported and flirted with the NF also David Bowie, this just gave the NF confidence. When the first LMHR concert was headed by the CLASH in 70's it gave a massive boost to the anti-Nazis and the fight against racism as a whole.

Please ,when it comes to fighting the Nazi's groups like 635 , please don't tell your grandmam how to suck eggs, more importantly learn from history , only the Nazis will benefit from such misinformation.

Unlike Red Letter, I suspect (since that it is a blatant potted history full of inaccuracies), I was actually there slugging it out with the fascists in the 1970's, something I'm still doing today. Many SWP members back then were involved in actively fighting fascism, but the best of them were either expelled or left, the SWP does not have " a sound tradition of fighting the Nazis", far from it.

Red Letter talks about "the down-turn in working class struggle in the 1970's", what year was that then? The SWP certainly did more than "initiate" the ANL, the ANL and SWP were barely indistinguishable, often having the same local leadership, with the ANL acting very obviously as a clumsy recruitment tool for the SWP.

I was at Lewisham, and while it is true that the SWP rank and file helped mobilise people, and were certainly there in good numbers, this was actually shortly before the ANL was formed. Again it is a myth that the ANL was formed when the NF was at it's height, NF membership figures were actually on the decline from 1976 (17,500 members.) In the 1980's and 90's the SWP leadership largely ignored fascism which shows it's real importance to them, but in the late 70's they hoped to opportunistically take advantage of the grass-roots antifascist awareness displayed at Wood Green and Lewisham in 1977, that is why the ANL was set up.

The politics of the ANL were pretty shallow, arguing that people should be 'anti-Nazi' because Frankie Vaughan or Neil Kinnock were, and while exposing the Nazi leadership of the NF, they never did much to challenge anything other than the racism of fascism. The way that the SWP behaved was incredibly manipulative, they saved fascists from a good hiding at the hands of genuine anti-fascists many times.

LMHR did not exist in the 1970's, I presume Red Letter is thinking of Rock Against Racism. Great gigs, but what is said about Clapton and Bowie are simplifications of reality, while both made stupid remarks, neither of them "flirted" with the NF. It was important that antifascists maintained dominance within the fledgling punk movement, but, with exceptions, the fascists did not really try to start using music until the 80's with Blood & Honour.

I could go on and on about the strokes the SWP pulled in the 70's, strokes they're still pulling today, but I doubt too many Indymedia readers would be surprised. Don't try and teach your Grandad to suck eggs Red Letter, I was there, and you clearly weren't.

I had some great times at RAR gigs in the 70's (like to know where all the money went though!) but a lot of the bands hadn't got a clue about politics, and they were often the only gigs they'd have got. Sham 69 were an RAR stalwart, but Jimmy Pursey (their lead singer) was politically clueless, and they always had fascist skinheads in their dressing room.

Yeah Red Letter, n tGlobalise Resistance was formed at the height of capitalism, and Respect is a progressive party. Take off your blinkers FFS.

Gay rights group are claming victory after anti-gay Muslim leader Sir Iqbal Sacranie pulled out from speaking at a London conference after gay protests. Sacranie was to have been a keynote speaker at a trade union-sponsored Unite Against Fascism conference at the weekend; however his views on homosexuality were widely condemned as echoing the anti-gay hatred of the BNP. "This climbdown is a victory for humanitarian values over homophobic prejudice. We want Muslim leaders like Sacranie to be part of the anti-BNP alliance, but only if they respect the human rights of gay people and other minorities," said Peter Tatchell of the gay human rights group, OutRage!, which helped coordinate the protests against Sacranie being invited to speak.

The conference organisers claim Sacranie withdrew because he had another engagement. But this is disputed by Peter Tatchell of OutRage! "Three days ago the conference organisers were adamant that Sir Iqbal would be a speaker," said Tatchell. "After being deluged with protests they are now saying he is no longer available. This is not a credible explanation. We believe the organisers realised they could not secure the acceptance of a homophobe at an anti-fascist conference, so they dumped him. "Sacranie's attitude to gay people is similar to the homophobia of the BNP. He should have never been invited in the first place.

Fellow OutRage activist and gay Muslim, Ramzi Islam, added: "Sir Iqbal is leader of the anti-gay Muslim Council of Britain (MCB). As well as actively campaigning to maintain homophobic laws like Section 28, he last month publicly denounced lesbians and gay men on BBC Radio, saying they were immoral, harmful and spread disease

When Peter Tatchell was famously witch-hunted out of the Labour Party for being gay, Neil Kinnock, who signed the ANL founding statement said, "I'm not in favour of witchhunts, but I know the difference between witches and fairies."

Only the opportunistic SWP would invite someone like Sacranie to speak at a so-called antifascist conference. I heard that Respect even had sexually segregated meetings to appease right-wings muslims

Red'N'Black says

"It was important that antifascists maintained dominance within the fledgling punk movement, but, with exceptions, the fascists did not really try to start using music until the 80's with Blood & Honour".

Ethier you did not go out much in the 70's or you had your eyes closed. Why did alot of NF members wear skin heads with bomber jackets and doc martins, precisely because they followed skin bands and tried to recruit from the music sceene. Skinhead music and NF were an intergral part , even though bands such as Sham 69 were totally anti-racist the NF attended their gigs and attempt to win people to their culture and politics.

When Sham 69 signed up to rock against racism , it isolated the NF, it was therefore an important part of the ANL campaign. It is conceivable that given half the chance the BNP would also influrate popular music so LMHR is a very good initiative, this is something one learns from history something you do not have a grasp of.

Eric Clapton and Bowie felt confident to come out with racist ideas, mainly against immigration, this was precisely because the NF propaganda at that time were becoming respectable, again these artists needed to be isolated.

Another point of correction, the ANL was reformed in 1992 precisely because of the rise of the Nazis, when BNP Beackon won the council ward in Tower Hamlets the ANL was revitalised and the following year he lost his seat.

I was only very young in the 70's but I did remember my dad holding ANL meetings in his cafe ,(he was far from the politics of the swp) a few weeks later a demonstration force the NF to cancel their weekly meetings in the cafe around the corner. This is a small example where the ANL managed to unite people against the Nazis and cause significant damaged to their ability to organise.

Red'Black is all mouth, when you actually do somethimg of even a small act of political importance then i will respect your views, honestly, in the meantime shut your mouth and stop spreading lies (only to score politic points at the swp ) that will only benefit the nazis.

long live Blair Peach (remember him?)

Yes, I do remember Blair Peach Red Letter, because unlike you I was actually politically active in the 70's, not least in confronting organised fascism.

The second wave of skinheads didn't start appearing until about 1978, and they wore harringtons, denim jackets, or crombies, rather than bomber jackets, which didn't really become widespread until he 80's. Not all skinheads were racist, and even those in the NF, who hated Asians, were into soul and reggae. "Skinhead music" and the NF were not "an intergral part" (sic), skinheads weren't even big in the NF in the 70's. You're talking through your arse Red Letter, about a period of history you did not even witness.

"When Sham 69 signed up to rock against racism , it isolated the NF" If only it had been as simple as that ridiculous statement. Racist skinheads, mainly in the BM, came along to Sham 69 gigs precisely because they didn't have their own bands (at that time), AND because they were tolerated by Pursey & Co. Sham 69 were a punk band, and it would have been inconceivable for them not to play RAR gigs at that time. They were only one band out of dozens, if not hundreds, if you include all the local bands. In terms of the NF attending Sham 69 gig, in dozens of Sham gigs I went to in the late 70's, I never saw a single fascist leaflet given out, wheras antifascist litreature always was. Pursey hadn't got a clue about politics then any more than he has now though.

Have you heard the BNP's 'popular music' RL? You should check out the latest Great White Records release. LMHR was not launched at a time when fascists were "influrating" (sic) popular music. Blood & Honour tried that, got kicked from pillar to post by AFA (which had nothing to do with the SWP), and still exist as a rump which LMHR have done nothing to confront.

For the record Bowie, always a wanker, said that Hitler was "the first superstar", the NF would not have touched him with a barge-pole. Clapton, another ignorant twat, came out with a racist remark, but he was not in the orbit of the NF, anymore than Bowie. Yes, these tired arrogant pop-stars needed to be challenged, but don't start rewriting a history you were not part of, something which displays even greater arrogance.

The ANL was reformed because the SWP again saw currency in tail-ending antifascism. When militant antifascist were having to slug it out with the fash every weekend the SWP were nowhere to be seen, since it's hard to stand around peddling papers in a battle-zone. And that is all they have ever been good for.

"Red'Black is all mouth, when you actually do somethimg of even a small act of political importance." You don't know the first thing about me, or what I've been involved in. Once again you are simply gobbing off from a position of total ignorance.

It is precisely because some of us were duped by the SWP/ANL in the 1970's that we will make sure we aren't duped by the SWP/UAF today. Don't work with manipulative, back-stabbing opportunists like the SWP, they just want to sell papers and get more members.

Sectarianism? isn't that when people have a go at their comrades? I dont remember calling any swoopie scumbag comrade.

My grandad used to talk about World War 2, it doesn't mean I'm qualified to talk about what it was like at Dunkirk. You've been duped mate.

There were hardly any skinheads in the NF in the 70's from what I saw, 'boot boys' for sure, but not skinheads (though there were some.) Just like mohicaned punks, they didn't come until later.

I think the first time I came across a skinhead in the NF was in 1978 in Rotherham. He was just some confused local lad, who was actually desperate to convince us that both he and the NF weren't racist. He told us his best mate, 'Sugar' was black, as were all his music heroes, as he was into soul and reggae. To prove his point, he shouted over to the local NF fuhrer, "Tony, soul and reggae, what do you think?" Well-protected by cops, the Nazi spat, "Nigger music." Gobsmacked, the skinhead asked, "But what about Sugar?" The reply came, "Send the black bastard back." This resulted in a punch-up, though unfortunately the skinhead got nicked!

I remember some turned up at the London antinazi carnival in Victoria Park in 1978. They were young and macho, moving through the crowd chanting "The skins are back", but I don't know what their politics were, if they had any. They had come to see the likes of The Clash, Steel Pulse, X-Ray Spex, and the Tom Robinson Band, and if they WERE nazis, they were pretty outnumbered that day.

The NME didn't report on Oi music until 1981, and I don't think the racist skinhead music came until later.

Blood & Honour was established in 1987.

"red sky at night' says:
"george galloway is also the holder of the stonewall award for most gay-friendly mp in westminster"

Liar!

There is no such award, and even if there were, Galloway would not win it. Stonewall ranked him only 460th before the last general election. He has, in fact, not even voted on most gay-related issues in parliament.

You seem to have talked a lot of toss Redletter, but then the SWP were always poor on real political education, preferring dimwitted first-year students in their ranks. Haven't you learned yet? You can tell a Trot is lying when his lips move.

"Leeds has a history of real militant anti-fascism stretching back to the days of Oswald Mosley’s fascist ‘blackshirts’ – The SWP have nothing whatsoever to do with that tradition".

Red Letter says: "Ethier you did not go out much in the 70's or you had your eyes closed. Why did alot of NF members wear skin heads with bomber jackets and doc martins, precisely because they followed skin bands"

So, which skin bands were these dummy? Name some of them. The only 'skin band' I remember from the 70's were Slade, and they didn't last long as a 'skin band'.

"I was only very young in the 70's"

What were you, an embryo?

My uncle was one of the first wave of skinheads, but him and his mates weren't racists.

The first time I came into contact with the NF in the 70's they were wearing black leather jackets, brown shirts, and black ties. Sylistically very different to skinheads, and they didn't have cropped heads.

Wouldn't touch either Searchlight or UAF with a 10ft pole.