Every street is Cable Street

Thousands of people marched through London’s East End on Sunday (4 October) to mark 90 years since local communities stood up to fascists marching through their streets – with hundreds of Unite members joining the huge crowds.

Marchers began gathering outside Tower Hamlets Town Hall hours before they set off to St George’s Gardens in Cable Street for a rally featuring a wide range of speakers.

The march and rally drew in thousands to commemorate 90 years since the Battle of Cable Street. On 4 October 1936, Oswald Mosley’s British Union of Fascists were chased off the streets of East London by a strong, organised working class who knew that the politics of hate and division offers no solutions.

In Whitechapel that day 5,000 fascists were left humiliated after being forced to abandon their march through the diverse and largely Jewish area. They had been faced with thousands of local people of every background who had gathered to reject fascism and hate.

Unite members from the union’s many sectors travelled from across the country to attend the event – under the slogan “Every street is Cable Street”.

Unite regional organiser Declan Murphy was joined carrying the London Building Workers Branch banner with George Fuller and plumber Andy Farrell.

Declan said he was proud to march in the footsteps of many in the East Ends Irish community who came out in force to support their Jewish neighbours, adding that, “Unite London Building Workers were out in force today to commemorate 90 years since the working class of East London united to stand up to Moseley’s blackshirts in the Battle of Cable Street. “They shall not pass!””

Simon Crew is a Unite Executive Community member for the Finance and Legal sectors who had travelled up from Bristol to take part. Simon said that he was here “to commemorate one of the most iconic events in the history of our movement.

“Unfortunately fascism is making a reappearance and we need to today what they did in 1936.”

The large Unite block was packed full of banners from many workplaces, with one banner making it’s first appearance at the march.

The Unite Section of Architectural Workers (SAW) represents a wide range of professionals across the UK’s architectural and design sectors, many who were marching with the new banner.

Branch Secretary Cameron McKay explained that the banner had been produced by Ed Hall, “which was very appropriate as he started his career as an architect.”

“There is an amazing atmosphere, and it is good to be here with the new banner and so many positive people ready to take to the streets to fight the far right.”

“Every street is Cable Street” was a sentiment that echoed with Unite regional officer Gareth Lowe who had travelled from Somerset to take part in the commemoration.

Gareth explained that, “Though the Battle of Cable Street happened 90 years ago the fascists haven’t gone away. Unite members across Somerset are having to regularly hold counter demonstrations against far right gatherings in Taunton, and will soon be coming together in Yeovil against a planned march.

“We have also seen a rise of street stalls and other activities in market towns like Glastonbury.

“Cable Street reminds us how important it is to stand up in solidarity against the far right, and as long as they keep spreading their hatred, Unite members will keep turning up to challenge them. ”

Providing a sound track to the Unite block marching through the East End was the Rhythms of Resistance samba band.

Shelia Freeman is a member of the band playing percussion, and said, “We were really pleased to be playing and marching today. 

“The sun came out and everything was really well organised by the Unite steward team. We not only had people dancing on the march, but saw people dancing in the balconies that lined the route.

“Ryhums of Resistance has a bit of a fluid membership, but we had around 30 people in the band today. I think most of them would have come anyway, but to be part of the Unite block made it extra special.”

The march ended at a rally in the garden of St George-in-the-East Church where descendants of those present at Cable Street in 1936 spoke about why the local Jewish community was targeted, and how it resisted with the support of Irish dockers, trade unionists and others from across the East End.

Poet Micheal Rosen gave an eyewitness account from his father who was there on the day, adding “The Battle of Cable Street was my parents first date!”  

Joining them were speakers from trade unions across the world, political parties and campaigners who spoke about the importance of solidarity and the working class standing together at a time when the far right is on the 

After leading the Unite block from Whitechapel to Cable Street, Unite general secretary Sharon Graham addressed the rally with a stirring speech that said that it was 90 years since the working class pushed back the fascist from Cable Street and rejected their poison.

“We need to channel that spirit today! Lets say it loud and clear, no surrender, no retreat – they shall not pass!”

Pointing to economic parallels between now and the 1930’s the general secretary said that “in that vacuum that is created comes exploitation of despair and of fear.

“The return of the fascist, of the blackshirts, of the balaclava gangs roaming our streets and spreading their hatred. Friends this is a defining moment, a working class moment. Together we say “We will push you back!”

Speaking on behalf of the Jewish Socialists’ Group Julia Bard said, “For me – and for all of us in the Jewish Socialists’ Group – the most important political lesson of Cable Street is the absolute necessity of solidarity – of collective action – in defence of particular communities, of course, but also in defence of human values in general. We particularly celebrate the solidarity between Irish and Jewish people in defending the streets of East London.”

With the speakers, musicians and poets continuing to address a packed church garden, many took the opportunity to visit the church itself and view the new stained glass window that Unite had commissioned for the 90th anniversary commemorations.

Church Rector, Father Richard Springer, showed the general secretary and others the new window and explained how the church is supporting the community in the area.

As the rally wrapped, people began to drift off with renewed energy to continue to build networks between communities and remember that “They did not pass then, they will not pass now!”

You can see the Unite Live photo gallery from the Battle of Cable Street 90th Anniversary here.

By Keith Hatch

Photo by Mark Thomas