Short documentary on the East End Of Londons militant anti fascist action against Mosely's British Union of Fascists on this day 77 years ago 4th October 1936.
In the end the fascists were thwarted because of a determined group of united people who would not let them pass.77 years ago, people from all backgrounds worked together to prevent Oswald Mosley's fascists from marching through a Jewish area in London. We might like to think those days are behind us, but anti-semitism, racism and intolerance against Muslims is on the rise. The far-right are growing throughout Europe. After seventy seven years we must still remain vigilant to this. We should never forget events like the battle of Cable Street. Teach your kids about it.
This post is dedicated to Paul Dacre of the Daily Mail and all other fascist scum who think they can pass among us.
W.H. Davies ( 3/7/1871 - 26/9/40 ) The Battle for Cable Street.
You ask me how I got like this, Sir
Well, I don't care to say
But I will tell you a little story
Of when I was in a big fray.
I'm not very well in my old age
And as I sits drinking my broth
My mind goes back to 1936
That Sunday,Otober the fourth.
I was walking down Bethnal Green Road, Sir
just walking about at my ease
When the strains of a famous old song, Sir
Came floating to me on the breeze.
I stoppe, I looked and listened
Now where have I heard that old song?
Then I dashed to the Salmon and Ball, Sir
I know I wouldn't go wrong.
It was the Intenationale they were singing
They were singing it with a defiant blast
And holding up a big banner
With these words: " THEY SHALL NOT PASS"
And we then marched on to the East End
They were five thousand of us , I am sure
And when we got to the Aldgate
We were met by three hundred thousand more.
'Red Front! Red Front! these workers cried
It was a sight I wouldn't have missed
To see these thousands of defiant workers
Holding up their Mighty Clenched Fist.
The police said 'Now move along please,
This is all we ask'
But we said 'No, not for those blackshirts
Those rotters THEY SHALL NOT PASS'
We then marched on to Stepney Green Sir
You could see that this fight was no sham
For there were thousands of and thousands of workers
Marching from Limehous,Poplar, Stratford and East Ham.
You could see that Mosely wouldn't get through Sir
That our slogan that day was no boast
And I shouted 'Hip Hip hurrah'
And I saw our flag being tied to a lamp post
the children shouted from the windows "O, golly"
For Mosley, no one seemed sorry
But someone ha da the goodness
To lendv us their two ton lorry
We got it over on its side Sir
It wasn't much of a strain
But the police krpt knocking our barricade down
So we built the damn thing up again.
The police said we worked mighty fast
As with a hanky their faces they mopped
So we got out our big red banner
And stuck it right on the top.
The police then charged with their truncheons
They charged us, the working class
But they couldn't pinch our red banner
With these words THEY SHALL NOT PASS
I wish you had been there to see it
You would have said it was a ruddy fine feat
How we kept that old Red Flag flying
On those barricades of Cable Street.
So this is the end of my story
And I must get back to my broth
But I hope you will never forget Sir
It was Sunday October the fourth.
Ghosts of Cable Street
(video showing the scenes of Cable Street,
set to the music of the Men They Couldn't hang)
and again and again
we will cry
THEY SHALL NOT PASS
NO PASARON
Picture below by David Rosenberg
