Battle of Duckett's Common

Comment by Gerry Platt on September 2, 2011 at 7:21

A day I still remember, the police didn't let the NF get to Palmers Green for fear of an all out battle.

The really wonderful thing was all the local people in the flats above the shops in Wood Green High Road shouting from their windows "fascists go home, you're not welcome here".

If I'm right it was the same year as the 200,000 strong Anti-Nazi League concert in Victoria Park; a year that, in no small way, helped make London the multi-cultural place it is today.

Comment by Dave Morris on April 17, 2012 at 0:57

Hi all

I was there in 1977 involved in the confrontation as anti-fascists attacked the NF march. I was one of the very few who managed to get through police lines and witness 1,000 fascists marching up Wood Green High Rd - protected by police. In 2002 I contributed my recollections of the day to Haringey Trades Union Council who produced an excellent commemorative pamphlet. The pamphlet is still circulated by the local Radical History Network - http://radicalhistorynetwork.blogspot.co.uk - and if pushed I could probably track it and the text down... I have somewhere a copy of the Journal anti-fascist 4 page spread that week too...  

3 months later The NF march in Lewisham was successfully broken up by thousands of anti-fascists and local people, which was the beginning of the end for their growth in public support and in their ability to develop an intimidating street prescence. Same in workplaces: I was an Islington postman at the time and there was a 100+ strong NF party cell in the main sorting office in North London (Islington High St) - but after the battle of Lewisham the fascists wrere repeatedly challenged and eventually marginalised, as was overt racism generally.

10 years back the NF planned a meeting somewhere (no-one knew exactly where) in Crouch End and 400 activists gathered beforehand by the ClockTower to physically prevent the meeting. It never happened.

2 or 3 years ago the BNP stood candidates in Alexandra Park Ward. The Haringey Federation of Residents Associations and the Haringey Trades Union Council co-ordinated the distribution of mass leafleting (all homes in the ward twice) and a public meeting with local community and trades union activists. I think the BNP got 29 votes.

So Haringey people have done pretty well in keeping fascists out. But eternal vigilance is needed!

Like with so many things (the welfare state, public services, human rights, decent wages etc etc) we can learn from and thank previous generations for the collective efforts of campaigns and movements which fought hard for these rights, freedoms and services. In my view we should never take these for granted, and must continue to campaign to defend and extend them...

best wishes and solidarity

Dave Morris

Comment by Hugh on April 17, 2012 at 9:01

On another unrelated thread yesterday, Seema Chandwani explained that 30 Willoughby Road is a building used by the AAG. She explained that it was purchased freehold with GLC funding in the late 70s as part of the fight against the National Front in Duckett's Common. The AAG was then known as the Asian Action Group who were believed to be the community most targetted by the NF at the time.

Comment by Roger Shand on June 10, 2014 at 20:03

Hi  all I was there at Ducketts Common 23rd April 1977 I went to BHS to buy a T-Shirt me and my friend crossed over and walk to Ducketts Common there was a pub on the cornner called the wellington. There was a speech and a lot of people sitting down and standing, we  had never seen the NF before we have now!! It was the most terrifying experiance. Then we heard them shouting there usual wards and then they ran towards us all hell broke loose. The good thing was they did`nt come back. Roger Shand

Comment by Simon Hester on April 8, 2017 at 10:46

My article in Socialist Review - with a great photo.http://socialistreview.org.uk/423/%E2%80%98smash-national-front%E2%...

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