Manchester Anti-Fascist Alliance: Closing Statement
Manchester Anti-Fascist Alliance | 13.12.2011 21:27 | Anti-racism
Manchester Anti-Fascist Action: Closing Statement.
After much discussion, Manchester Anti-Fascist Alliance is to be closed down as an organisation. This is not because, as individuals, we believe that fascism is not a threat to the working class of Greater Manchester. It is because we believe that, after around two and a half years, the exiting MAFA structure and focus is unable to carry on organising and politicising working class people in Greater Manchester. Our original aims to combat fascism ideologically and physically has been made redundant by: a split and divided English Defence League and a retreating British National Party. The tactics to combat fascism and continue politicising working class people must change.
We are proud of our achievements. We are proud that we brought together dozens of anti-fascists of different political backgrounds. We are proud that we stemmed the rise of the BNP in Salford to the extent that they were scared to have stalls in certain areas. We are proud that we brought to the attention of working class people in Greater Manchester that the BNP does not represent working class interests. We are proud that the EDL never managed to gain a foothold in Salford and south Manchester. We are proud of all our achievements.
The political scene has changed dramatically since the summer of 2009 particularly since the riots in August. Electorally the BNP were achieving impressive results now they are split, financially crippled and have had their electoral bases smashed. The EDL initially having large numbers on their demonstrations have had their numbers dwindle; the split of the more hard-core racists, the Infidels, have been proved wanting when their first demonstration drew mere dozens. Now the EDL have signed up with an obscure and political nobodies: the British Freedom Party; prompting more division. Just as the political
environment changes so must those trying to defend, organise and politicise the working class. The changes in the situation regarding the far-right, the post-riot changes in policing and civil justice and the assault on the working class from the Tory-Lib Dem government requires we change too. Individuals associated with MAFA will, separately, continue to defend, organise and politicise the working class in new and existing organisations.
No Retreat
Fat Lad
After much discussion, Manchester Anti-Fascist Alliance is to be closed down as an organisation. This is not because, as individuals, we believe that fascism is not a threat to the working class of Greater Manchester. It is because we believe that, after around two and a half years, the exiting MAFA structure and focus is unable to carry on organising and politicising working class people in Greater Manchester. Our original aims to combat fascism ideologically and physically has been made redundant by: a split and divided English Defence League and a retreating British National Party. The tactics to combat fascism and continue politicising working class people must change.
We are proud of our achievements. We are proud that we brought together dozens of anti-fascists of different political backgrounds. We are proud that we stemmed the rise of the BNP in Salford to the extent that they were scared to have stalls in certain areas. We are proud that we brought to the attention of working class people in Greater Manchester that the BNP does not represent working class interests. We are proud that the EDL never managed to gain a foothold in Salford and south Manchester. We are proud of all our achievements.
The political scene has changed dramatically since the summer of 2009 particularly since the riots in August. Electorally the BNP were achieving impressive results now they are split, financially crippled and have had their electoral bases smashed. The EDL initially having large numbers on their demonstrations have had their numbers dwindle; the split of the more hard-core racists, the Infidels, have been proved wanting when their first demonstration drew mere dozens. Now the EDL have signed up with an obscure and political nobodies: the British Freedom Party; prompting more division. Just as the political
environment changes so must those trying to defend, organise and politicise the working class. The changes in the situation regarding the far-right, the post-riot changes in policing and civil justice and the assault on the working class from the Tory-Lib Dem government requires we change too. Individuals associated with MAFA will, separately, continue to defend, organise and politicise the working class in new and existing organisations.
No Retreat
Fat Lad
Manchester Anti-Fascist Alliance
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