From: "Neil (practical history)" <practicalhistory at hotmail.com> To: aut-op-sy at lists.village.virginia.edu Subject: RE: AUT: not a race riot in oldham Date: Wed, 30 May 2001 16:22:34 -0000
This is from Indymedia:
The truth behind the Oldham Riots - An eyewitness report (text) by No Platform - Anti-Fascist Network 7:31am Tue May 29 '01
- Introduction - Background to the events - The timetable of immediate events - A report on the mood in the wake of the riots - Introduction - Background to the events - The timetable of immediate events - A report on the mood in the wake of the riots
Introduction
Apparently the race issue is now back on the agenda for the General Election according to the newspapers writing in the wake of the recent Oldham events. Sadly we dont think it was ever allowed to go away thanks to the ever opportunistic agenda of those in power who are desperate to point the finger at any possible scapegoat to avoid discussing the real issues behind their policies. As for these very same newspapers and the wider media they have always been happy to play the race card rather than ask the difficult questions that a genuinely free media would have to ask of the criminals who now parade before us as potential elected representatives.
The fascists will be crowing at what they feel they have started. But they shouldnt crow too loudly. Like the puppets they are they have simply continued stirring the pot created by the more successful democratic politicians.
But what is the reality of the Oldham Riots. Here are some reports and comments from eye witnesses present before, during and after the events reply to the hand-wringing confusion of the media. Our basic conclusion is simple these events were started by the media particularly the local Oldham Chronicle, by the Police and stirred by their friends in the NF and BNP.
Background to the events
In the weeks leading up to the Oldham Riot the National Front (NF) had been trying to capitalise on an attack on an old white pensioner which the local police had described as a racial attack despite the victim and his family saying this was not true. The NF have tried, not very successfully, to organise provocative marches while the British National Party (BNP) have hoped to capitalise on the street activity through standing their leader, Nick Griffin, in the local constituency
The police lies have been enthusiastically taken up by both the local and the national media. The main local paper, the Oldham Chronicle has been in the forefront of spreading the racist agenda of the local police force for months.
When questioned about the truth behind the attack, after asking the views of local Asian community members, the local police bod said "you must have been talking to the only two people who can read and write". Police statistics on racial incidents all very debatable, you only have to look at who are making them - were loudly and uncritically trumpeted for showing supposed increases in racial crime by a layer of young Asians. Such statistics even if true - could equally be presented as an increase in the willingness to fight back when provoked.
This same media forgot to mention that it was the Asian community who caught and turning the idiot muggers in. They also forgot to mention the rising tide of physical attacks local Asian people have been facing. Just one instance recently, a local Asian taxi driver only narrowly escaped with his life after being forced to get in the boot of his own car which the racists then tried to set alight. Asian taxi drivers say they are regularly attacked or robbed by white pick-ups going home late at night and by call outs from the more racist estates in the area - many have given up out of fear. But this story obviously wasnt juicy enough for the press and radio.
While the NF and BNP were able to do what they wanted Anti-Fascists leafleting in opposition to the electoral campaign have been constantly stopped and harassed by the Police for weeks. As for the local Asian community they were informed by Police (which the Police now deny) that they should stay out of the centre of town during the NF march days. This was the opposite reality behind the media created myth of a "no-go" zone.
As a member of the Bangladeshi Youth Association says: "For the past fortnight Asian kids feel they have been asked to stand back while skinheads walk around town handing out literature".
On the monday prior to the riot, outside a local school - Breeze Hill - a small group of white former pupils arrived at the school gates, taunting Asians and blacks and threatening staff. We do not know the role that far-right propaganda campaign had played in this. This continued until the Thursday when Police were called in. It was a group of Asian pupils who had decided to retaliate that were arrested. This was not a new experience for Asian youth in Oldham when Police were called to 'racial' incidents.
Despite this, on the previous cancelled NF march, 200-300 Asian youth turned out to greet the elusive street fighters of the master race alongside other Anti-fascists. The planned rally was then cancelled by the self-appointed community leaders and the ANL on the basis that they had already been victorious.
The timetable of immediate events
Weve taken the times from the Oldham Chronicles "timetable of key moments in weekend mayhem" but added the bits they conveniently missed out - with the help of local eyewitness reports. We are not making any judgement on these evens just reporting what happened
Saturday
Morning and Afternoon NF / Combat18 bused in for planned march. BNP leaflet in a constituency. Allowed to move around with impunity. Fascists gathered in local Yates and Wetherspoons pubs in centre of town around 7.00pm.
8.00-8.30pm Racists attack an Asian families house in Roundthorn Road, Glodwick. Two carloads of racists arrive, apparently, after a minor incident between two teenage boys outside the local chip shop. Seven of them brick the windows and try to smash the door in. A car with a pregnant Asian woman and child inside was attacked and windows put through. Police are in force only five streets away where Asian youth have gathered yet fail to turn up when called by terrified Asian family. They eventually arrive as local people gather and arrest Asian men some who are, apparently, still being held days later.
9.10pm - Local youths, angry at hearing of police response gather and attack Live and Let Live Pub where NF supporters had been allowed to drink earlier in the day.
10.00pm At least 200 youth try to march towards centre of town through Waterloo Street but are turned back by Police.
11.00pm The Live and Let Live Pub is attacked with bricks, bottles and a petrol bomb. As police move in, cars are torched as barricades and a street battle rages
Sunday
1.00am Running battles between protesters and police escalate on the streets of Glodwick.The youth responded to riot cops, CS gas, helicopters and dogs with petrol bombs, fireworks and bricks they had had enough of being victims. While the rioters violence is widely reported there is absolute silence about the level of police violence. As usual, victims of police violence have no recourse as they are afraid of being stitched up. CCTV cameras are targeted some burnt down. Police tactics of using vans driven at speed against the crowd gathered in the street backfire under a hail of petrol bombs, leaving one van ablaze.
4.30am Police manage to "restore calm" after seven hours. Local youths make themselves scarce as Police occupy area.
4.45pm 1.40am on Monday morning sporadic fighting in area. Police swamp area with hundreds of riot cops. Youths stopped searched and questioned throughout day. A young probation worker we spoke too joked ironically how he had been released - unlike his friends - when police found out what his job was.
Monday
2.15am Oldham Chronicle offices in Union Street are firebombed.
Report on the mood in the wake of the riots
The saturday of the uprising had "become known as 'no-go day' or 'National Front Day' among Oldham Asians and blacks" according to the Independent. The Asian youth knew what they were fighting.
Talking to local youths it is clear that any illusions in the neutrality of law and order and the police - that some community "leaders" have tried to impress upon them in the past - have been completely shattered. Politicians of all major parties - were also attacked as hyporites.
The self appointed community "leaders" and local Asian councillors, who now call for calm and peace spent much of their time in the centre of Oldham working to coordinate police strategy alongside the law. There was anger at these individuals, especially those who turned out for the media in their best suits to condemn the riots (alongside with just about everyone else it seems!!).
The big question now in the minds of all those involved is what now? While younger ones may be happy just boasting about their role in the riots, many others are now looking at how they can continue to defend their communities. While the role of the both fascists and the police in sparking these events is clear to them a number of the youth we talked to are already saying that these issues must be linked to the wider ones effecting both Asian and white people in Oldham Unemployment, poor housing and lack of youth facilities where all mentioned. The burning anger against the fascists is just the final straw after years of feeling treated as second-class citizens.
It was very encouraging that a layer of the youth involved in recent events are already saying that they see campaigning on these wider issues as a way of cutting across divisions. The cuts presently being made in Oldham will inevitably make matters worse although we suspect that the police budget will not be effected! The danger is that without a clear opposition working class people will end up fighting one another over the few crumbs that are left. www.antifa.net/noplatform/oldham1.html
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