Point Blank, RA Vol 3, Issue 5, Feb/Mar '99

TAL Film Show

THE GLASGOW - based Republican fanzine Tiochfaidh ar la, hosted the British premier of 'War and Peace in Ireland' at the Rio Cinema in East London on December 12. This excellent film was introduced by its director Arthur MacCaig, having travelled from Europe especially for the occasion. Possibly because of being so close to Xmas, less that one hundred people saw the film. Nonetheless the occasion was useful in pulling parties interested in establishing a London branch of the TAL Supporters Club.

Newcastle... Engaging the Enemy

"NO MORE marches meetings punch-ups" is the BNP statement that heralded their new found direction. Except, someone obviously neglected to tell their Newcastle branch. So in December they turned up intent on disrupting a benefit organised by Newcastle AFA. Expecting it to be a surprise the 15 strong gang led by Simon Biggs were instead greeted at the gig's entrance by expectant AFA stewards. The initial exchange saw Biggs armed with a spring loaded cosh attempt a solo and near suicidal charge into AFA ranks. He managed to stay on his feet for approximately a full second and a half before going down under a welter of AFA blows. Meanwhile his cohorts, (apart from the two armed with ammonia who advanced half way) stayed put threatening all sorts if only the force field preventing them advancing could be broken down. To the horror of the ammonia wielders, AFA then counter attacked, and the 'squeezy merchants', bottles now empty, fled along with the rest pleading "no weapons" (from what course on 'street-fighting ethics' are they graduates ?) Possibly the most dangerous moment for the stewards was 'trying to get back into the gig with dozens of skinheads eager to engage the attackers fighting to get out!' The rest of the evening went off without a hitch with 'Red London; Red Alert; and Running Riot' entertaining a large and enthusiastic crowd.

AFA Addresses Race Seminar

IN DECEMBER an AFA representative addressed a day long seminar held on the Isle of Dogs east London on the issue of 'Racism and Race Attacks'. The seminar was attended by leading academics in the field, professional youth workers from east and south London, community activists from a far afield as Glasgow, and a delegate from a government sponsored national youth agency. Given the range of backgrounds and experiences it was striking how quickly an understanding was established. AFAs particular area of expertise was to explain the thinking behind the BNP's change of strategy, the reasons behind it and the possible consequences of it.

Reproduced from RA Vol 3, Issue 5, Feb/Mar '99