Fighting the Nazi Threat Today

What you can do to fight racism and fascism in Britain

THE Anti Nazi League aims to involve the maximum number of people, whether they are black or white, women or men, gay or straight, young or old, disabled or able bodied. This is because we believe everyone has an interest in fighting fascism, whatever their views on any other issues. We seek the support of individuals, black and anti-racist organisations, trade union groups locally and nationally and other groups who wish to support our activities. We have a national office, which responds to queries and letters, keeps in contact with the media and coordinates activities and information nationally. There is also a Steering Committee which has overall direction of the organisation. The key, however, is getting as many people as possible involved in local activity, whether this is leafleting, painting out graffiti or demonstrating.

‘The Nazis in Britain may be marginal to mainstream politics today, but there is no room for complacency. They are preparing for the future--we need to do the same by ensuring that the Nazis are not given a platform for their racist and divisive ideas, and by campaigning against them whenever and wherever they organise.’
GLYN FORD MEP, ANL Treasurer and Rapporteur on the Rise of Racism and Xenophobia for the European Parliament, writing on behalf of the ANL Steering Committee in 1998

Some ANL activities you could take part in

Leafleting

Leafleting and petitioning in local shopping centres and housing estates are crucial to building local campaigns. When Nazis are standing in local elections local ANL groups organise mass leafleting and door to door canvassing. Contact the ANL office for advice on producing local leaflets.

Demonstrations and protests

Whenever there is any Nazi activity the ANL organises opposition to stop the Nazis. Whether the Nazis try to hold a meeting, speak in schools or colleges or try to demonstrate, ANL members campaign to get as many people out as possible to stop them.

No platform

No Nazi should be given a platform for their racist and vile ideas. They deny rights to others, like blacks, Asians, Jews ... If a Nazi tries to organise in your school, college or workplace, organise to stop them. The ANL has run successful campaigns to sack Nazis and expel them.

Teaching anti-racism

Teachers, students and parents were all involved in building anti-racist policies in schools in the 1970s and 1980s. In many ways this tradition has been lost in the last few years. It is up to anti-racists to rebuild it. Does your school have an anti-racist policy, and is it being applied? Do all teachers and students see the school as treating all students equally? What is being taught, and how? How many students are being excluded?
You can contact the ANL to get a speaker or a Holocaust survivor to speak at your school or college.

Graffiti

Nazi and racist graffiti appears everywhere from town centres and schools to the desecration of headstones in Jewish cemeteries. ANL members can paint out and clean up the graffiti.

Music

From Rock Against Racism in the 1970s to the ANL Carnival in 1994, music plays an important role. Numerous local raves against racism are held. You can organise your own to raise awareness for a local campaign and raise money to fund it.

Merchandise

The ANL produces thousands of badges, stickers, posters, leaflets and pamphlets. For an order form click here. Wear a badge and sticker and encourage others to do so.

The ANL receives letters every week from school and college students and teachers and lecturers. All show a deep concern about the rise of the Nazis and ask for further information. This pamphlet attempts to answer some of these questions by explaining something about the history and current activities of the ANL as well as looking at the activities and influence of the Nazis. Our pamphlet Holocaust Denial: the new Nazi lie is also useful and we hope to produce further material in the future. We would be very pleased to have comments on this pamphlet, how you have used it and what other information you would find useful. Ring or email the ANL office for a booklist and list of other organisations and publications that could be useful.