tion to assault! This is just one example of what all black youths know happens every week at clubs, parties and 'blues' (discos).
ATTACKS Brent has a large Irish community, and the campaign gainst police harassment now has the active support of the Provisional Sinn Fein against Racism, the Trade Union Committee against Racialism, and the Troops Out Movement.
The police have been revealed by their attacks on blacks, Irish, students and workers to be an institution dedicated to maintaining the capitalist status quo. Right now that means vicious racist attacks such as those me usco, has begun to operate a colour Dar creates an atmosphere of Chicago in the 1960s. If you were a young, unemployed school-leaver, where would you go to find entertainment in Tottenham? Four local discos have been closed down - and now Charlie Brown's, the only flourishBoth the police force and the management of Charlie Brown's have fears about black kids which are willingv nourished by the local paper, the Tottenham Herald. This paper has consistently promoted the respectability' of racism, by treating racist views as simply one point of view that has a right to be heard, or by claiming to reflect reality'. The local racist Councillor Coney nas frce buonery cvery une ne opens ms mouur occause te Herald's editor sees him as a 'livewire'), and the coverage given to muggings and incidents between black people and the police But when the police see what they call gangs' of black youths on the streets, and react to them with force and intimidation, what Iney are seeing is simpiy groups or young people nangung about in the parks and at any form of public entertainment because the Government's policies deny them a job and the proper provision of services such as entertainment On Sunday and on Wednesday last week, pickets were mounted outside Charlie Brown's with great success. The management tried to disguise its racist policy by various ploys, such as a sudden demand for membership cards, or by pretending to vet people for their 'smartness". But it was plain to the 50-strong picket on Wednesday that the only clear principle involved was one of race. On Sunday. the management was less sophisticated - they turned people away with the phrase "No blacks tonight".
is to ne cream or marneev rades come mar u responded with organised action so swiftly; however, Haringey needs a consistent campaign against every aspect of racism, and this can only be achieved by an organised body representing everyone in the community who is willing to take action. The local law centre is trying to initiate an anti-racist committee. When it is set up, this committee should be fighting not only against all the manifestations of racism in the borough, but it should also be fighting for a minimum wage for the unemployed. JANE GREENWOOD where they're going and find their parties and clubs regularly raided. Despite this no one expected the police to be quite so provocative on bonnie Nignt. Ine ver spontaneity of the youth's reaction to the police attack shows they weren't looking for trouble - even though organised black self-defence groups could perhaps have helped prevent some of the consequences.
MURDER And finally if anyone has any lingering doubts about the racism of the Leeds police after the Bonfire Night trial, they should remember the case of David Oluwale, a Nigerian student. His body was dragged from the river in Leeds a tew years back arter ne nad been beatel to death. Two senior police officers wer morisoned tor me came.
Red Weekly 15