by Martin Gilbert (31.12.2017)
Editorial Note:
SINCE Martin Gilbert wrote this report on the Manchester Anarchist Bookfair at the end of December, the Anarchist Federation [AF] in London has fallen apart, and issued a statement on New Year's Day critical of many in its former leadership who have now left the AF party. The Trans' faction having taken over the party are now denouncing these skedaddlers. This curious coup by an exotic tendency has thrown into relief the serious intellectual and moral bankrupcy of affiliated anarchism.
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Editorial Note:
SINCE Martin Gilbert wrote this report on the Manchester Anarchist Bookfair at the end of December, the Anarchist Federation [AF] in London has fallen apart, and issued a statement on New Year's Day critical of many in its former leadership who have now left the AF party. The Trans' faction having taken over the party are now denouncing these skedaddlers. This curious coup by an exotic tendency has thrown into relief the serious intellectual and moral bankrupcy of affiliated anarchism.
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BRIAN Bamford has asked me to
recall, to the best of my ability, the first five minutes or so of
events around a Manchester anarchist book fair. That event was on
Saturday 2nd December 2017, held at 'The Partisan'
Cheetham Hill Road. I have added some back-ground information to that
event, for clarity and to show that the incident was not unique or
isolated. I was in the company of Barry Woodling, Brian Bamford and
Bob Crane.
Owing to past hate-filled
incidents against Barry, and Brian we were all very uncertain about
our reception at that book fair. We all four met the previous
evening to discuss our main purposes of that visit. It was agreed
that we were not looking for trouble of any kind. We wanted to see
the books and pamphlets on offer. My suggestion was readily agreed
to that we should try to negotiate with the book fair organisers
about a better relationship between us.
Some years previously Brian
had published (in my opinion) a highly insensitive obituary of Bob
Miller [in Northern Voices No.12]. No apology was given in any form. Bob’s widow Sally
responded violently. Soon after, at a London anarchist book fair
Sally wrecked Brian’s stall, causing costly damaged. Mr. Ilyan
Thomas, a man in his 70’s was pushed to the ground by Sally’s
supporters when he tried to intervene.
For contemporaneous eye-witness report see:
Subsequently, a book fair was organised in Manchester by the same anarchist faction that had supported Bob Miller and Sally. They are now very small in number, calling themselves 'the anarchist federation'.
For contemporaneous eye-witness report see:
Subsequently, a book fair was organised in Manchester by the same anarchist faction that had supported Bob Miller and Sally. They are now very small in number, calling themselves 'the anarchist federation'.
Barry Woodling has long been a critic of Israel’s treatment of Palestinians on the West Bank and in Gaza. On attending the Manchester book fair Barry was accused of being 'anti-Semitic' and man-handled out
of the room at the People's History Museum. The accusation was foolish, there being a vast
difference between sympathy for victims of Israeli colonization and
being anti-jewish. It was merely an
excuse to eject one who was and is a friend of Brian Bamford. Also,
Barry Woodling and I are of Jewish extraction.
As we entered 'The
Partisan', I was stood a little apart from my three other
companions. In that first five minutes Brian and Barry were not
recognised immediately. Peter Good, a long time opponent of 'Northern Voices' had his stall close to the entrance. I believe
that Peter Good signalled for Barry and Brian to be removed. Barry
called out that those who were pushing him were following orders. Brian was then seized by young men half
his age, as was Barry. Bob Crane and I were untouched at that
point.
I immediately began explaining the vast difference between
anti-Semitism and being critical of Israeli colonisation. I am a
public speaker with a loud voice. I was then also similarly
assaulted. In this turmoil I glanced that Brian had been pushed close
to Peter Good’s stall and happened to touch it. Brian was pushed
to the floor where he went limp as they carried him outside.
A young man
known as 'Veg' spoke at length with Brian and I, we were not
provoked by his violently insulting language. 'Veg' seemed
to know nothing about the long standing dispute between the handful
of 'class war' supporters and those who are closer to our blog / 'Northern Voices'. A main organiser of that event (who I only
know as 'David-under-the-pavement') then wanted to talk with me.
He apologised for delay in contacting me about a matter of mutual
political interest. 'David' then angrily asked why we had come 'where we knew we were not welcome'. His tone gave no room for
attempted negotiation. It was all 'I will talk and you will
listen'. Days before this book fair I spoke with Chris Draper who
is a long time supporter and contributor to our blog/ magazine 'Northern Voices'. Chris complained that 'David-under-the-pavement'
had accused him of threatening violence against him, a charge utterly without substance.
Eventually, Bob Crane was
allowed to look at the book fair. Later that evening he returned to 'The Partisan', where he got on quite well with other anarchists
who were present earlier at the book fair.
On 4th December,
after the above events I received a phone call from 'David-under-the-pavement'.
He again asked 'why had we come…' I argued that we had come
to see a book fair and try to
negotiate/ explain past misunderstandings. But this was a waste of time with him and his associates. Abruptly I ended this conversation.
For more go to: Northern Voices: Alice-in-Wonderland 'Anti-semitism' Charge Against ...
For more go to: Northern Voices: Alice-in-Wonderland 'Anti-semitism' Charge Against ...
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