8 February 2012

Tony Greenstein's New Book on Combatting Fascism




On July 2nd last year, I was invited by Brighton Labour History Workshop to do a talk on the fight against fascism in Brighton and on the South Coast. The invitation was extended to me because I have been prominent in the campaign against the fascists from the mid-1970's and have remained active ever since.

The talk, which was recorded, was written up into a book. I did, and am still doing, further research into fascism on the South Coast and it is extremely interesting. One fact which is virtually unknown was that it was the Daily Mirror which was most outspoken in support of Sir Oswald Moseley’s British Union of Fascists with Viscount Rothermere advocating that they be given a ‘helping hand’.

Fascism of course hasn’t gone away and we have to remain vigilant. As the book makes clear, the fight against racism and fascism is indivisible – be it here in Britain or against Zionism and the Israeli state.

It is no surprise that today, the racists and fascists of the EDL see a role model in the actions of the Israeli state against Palestinians. We see it in the BNP style rhetoric about Muslims on far-right Zionist sites like Harry's Place.

Just as racists are coming together so must anti-fascists and anti-racists. The fascists have never gone away and neither have we.

Tony Greenstein

THE FIGHT AGAINST FASCISM IN BRIGHTON & THE SOUTH COAST

Speaker: Tony Greenstein
Tony has been active in the fight against fascism, both locally and nationally. Tony is also Secretary of Brighton & Hove Unemployed Workers Centre and a founding member of Palestine Solidarity Campaign.

Tony's book The Fight Against Fascism in Brighton & the South Coast will be launched at a meeting on:

BRIGHTON BOOK LAUNCH
Saturday, 17 March 12 pm Friends Meeting House, Ship Street, Brighton BN1 1AF

contact Terry on terrylhm@virginmedia.com www.labourhistory.co.uk
Brighton History Workshop

12 comments:

  1. Wow all the antisemites are writing books..............

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  2. Err yes. The 'anti-Semites' are writing books on how to combat fascism and the Zionist opponents of 'anti-Semitism' believe, in the words of the Chairman of the Yesha Rabbinical Council, Rabbi Dov Lior, that a 'Jewish fingernail is worth more than a thousand Palestinian lives.'

    Oh and kosher pigs really do fly!

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  3. ... while the Zionists keep supporting a fascitoid Israeli g'ment and justify this because of 'plucky, independent Israel's' 'security needs' while talking about 'Auschwitz boders'...

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  4. Tony - your comment seems the equivalent of saying all critics of Israel are Atzmon fans.

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  5. Hmm. I think you are logically challenged Sarah.

    I was replying to some Zionist idiot who was saying that I was an anti-Semite who had written a book outlining the history of the fight against fascism in Brighton and the South Coast. As part of the book covers the Moseley period, when the BUF targetted British Jews, one might wonder why an 'anti-semite' should write a book about the fight against anti-Semitism.

    Of course the simple answer is that 'anti-Semitism' from a Zionist's mouth is in fact a form of anti-racism to anyone else. And since the statements of Zionists re Jews were little or no different, and in some cases even worse, than the anti-Semites, they are of course in no position to make any sort of judgment. But then again, Zionists like you understand little of Zionist history or concepts such as the negation of the diaspora.

    I wasn't arguing that all Zionists are equivalent to Judeo-Nazis like Dov Lior but that those Zionists propagandists who conflate opposition to anti-Semitism with anti-Zionism, certainly do belong to the overtly racist wing of Zionism, since their argument is predicated on the basis that all Jews are Zionists and to oppose Zionism is therefore a form of anti-Semitism?

    Just try thinking about it. I realise that working on HP your critical faculties are somewhat dimmed Sarah, but there's hope still. And note that unlike the 'freedom of speech' for racists proponents at HP, I haven't banned you from commenting!

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  6. OK - if your comment was essentially intentionally exaggerated, in response to the comment of Anonymous - fair enough.

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  7. I think you are in error in one small way:

    "One fact which is virtually unknown was that it was the Daily Mirror which was most outspoken in support of Sir Oswald Moseley’s British Union of Fascists with Viscount Rothermere advocating that they be given a ‘helping hand’."

    I think you mean "Daily Mail".

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  8. I wondered if someone would come back on my comment on the Daily Mirror.

    As you will see Pinkie, what is not very well known is that it was the Mirror that was the first and longest supporter in Fleet Street of Oswald Mosley.

    In essence the Mirror supported Mosley when he rebelled inside the Labour Party and issued a Manifesto, which was nearly successful at the 1930 Labour Party Conference. In 1931 he broke away to support the New Party, with the support of the Daily Mirror.

    You will have to read my book! Essentially much of the Left also supported Mosley. Eg. both Aneurin Bevan and John Strachey did.

    As the picture I have added to the article makes clear, the Mirror did indeed support the BUF. In fact it was more ardent than the Daily Mail! But this has been buried underneath the mythology of a 'left-wing' Mirror.

    In fact the ownership of the Mirror had been the same as the Maily. The Northcliffes/ Harmsworths/Rothermeres and on 22 January, 1934 the Mirror ran the headline "Give the Blackshirts a helping hand". It certainly tried to do so!

    http://www.democracyforum.co.uk/bnp/94186-how-daily-mirror-told-people-join-blackshirts.html

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  9. "Hurrah for the Blackshirts!"

    Was a headline in Rothermere's Daily Mail, some time in the 1930's, I believe. Fairly well known, but some 70 plus years ago. I have no reason to defend the Daily Mail of today, but I do find this criticism somewhat pointless, the paper should be criticised for what it is today, not for what it was, relatively briefly, many years ago.

    Just to repeat myself, the Daily Mail should be criticised for what it is now, not for what it was in the past.

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  10. Blimey, I will read your book, I may even buy it.

    I am not particularly surprised that the Mirror at some time supported the New Party, but the BUF? That takes dalliance with 'new thinking' to another grotesque level.

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  11. I think the point is that the Daily Mail hasn't changed, just its targets have changed. It is still a paper that targets immigrants, asylum seekers, the victims of oppression etc. It is still as anti-working class as it ever was. In this of course it isn't alone and Dirty Desmond seems determined that the Express should plumb new depths.

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  12. Now one of the Daily Mail’s most prominent columnists is Mad Mel (Witch of British Zionism), recently found (predictably) in support of Lizzard Gingrich’s ‘Palestinians are an invented People’ croc and otherwise ranting about bad Moooslims, ‘gay agendas’ and MMR conspiracy theories of her own making. Too rightwing for The Spectator, perfect fit for the Daily Hate Mail… Reactionary then, reactionary now.

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