Commemorating Altab Ali Day 4 May Against Racism and Fascism

Brick Lane, 20 August 1978. Demo by Tower Hamlets Defence Committee and the Anti-Nazi League. © Paul Trevor Commemorating Altab Ali Day – 4 May

Edited by Ansar Ahmed Ullah and Steve Silver Contributions from Rajonuddin Jalal, Julie Begum, Soyful Alom, Dan Jones, Upa Biswas and David Rosenberg Photographs: © Paul Trevor Thanks to UNISON for the financial assistance that made this publication possible Cover photo: , 20 August 1978. Demo by Tower Hamlets Defence Committee and the Anti-Nazi League.

United Platform Against Racism And Fascism Altab Ali Foundation c/o Bangladesh Welfare Association c/o Bangladesh Welfare Association Shaheed Bhavan Shaheed Bhavan 39 , London E1 6QE 39 Fournier Street, London E1 6QE

2 | Altab Ali Day Commemorating Altab Ali Day – 4 May Introduction

Park Lane, London W1, 14 May 1978. Procession behind Altab Ali coffin from to Whitehall. © Paul Trevor

he annual celebration of returning home from the factory TAltab Ali Day on 4 May is when he was stabbed and murdered an important event in the by racist thugs. It was the evening anti-racist and anti-fascist calendar. of the local elections. His death sent It gives us an opportunity to both shockwaves through the Bengali reflect on the catalogue of racist community. murders that have taken place in This pamphlet outlines how a mass Britain and also on the struggle anti-racist movement was built against racism and fascism. in the wake of Altab Ali’s death. It For anti-racists, the East End of shows how the skinhead thugs of London has long been a site of the NF were defeated in the summer resistance against racism and of 1978 by the organised resistance fascism. It was in the East End that of the Bengali community and its Oswald Mosley’s Blackshirt thugs anti-racist allies. The events of that whipped up hatred against Jewish summer became known as the people in the 1930s. But they did not “Battle of Brick Lane 1978”. get it all their own way. When they Today’s race haters may not sport tried to march through the Jewish the Blackshirt uniforms of Commemorating districts on 4 October 1936 they Mosley’s 1930s’ BUF, or the skinhead were prevented by a mass of anti- haircuts and boots of the NF thugs fascists who used the slogan “They in the 1970s, but they still organise, Shall Not Pass!” playing on peoples fears and Altab The fascists and race haters never prejudices. They too have to really went away and decades later be defeated. they remerged under the guise of By telling the story of Altab Ali’s the National Front (NF), terrorising murder, and of the anti-racist Bengalis just as Mosley’s mob had movement that was built in its terrorised the Jewish immigrants wake, we hope that this pamphlet Ali that had once made their home will inspire people to commemorate there many years earlier. Altab Ali Day and oppose racism and On 4 May 1978, Altab Ali, a young fascism today in whatever new guise day on 4 May Bengali clothing worker, was it emerges.

Altab Ali Day | 3 Commemorating Altab Ali Day – 4 May Who Killed Altab Ali? Racism! Racism! n 4 May 1978, Altab Ali was Oattacked by racists in the and left to die in a pool of blood. The 25-year-old Bengali textile worker was travelling home from his workplace nearby, heading past what was then known as St Mary’s Gardens when he was murdered in Adler Street off Whitechapel High Street. The racist killing of Altab Ali was not an isolated incident in the East End. The following month a 50-year-old Bengali man – Ishaq Ali – was murdered in Hackney. Attacks on Bengalis were commonplace in the 1970s. Bricks were thrown through windows and excrement smeared over doors leaving many National Front (NF) in the area Bengalis in a perpetual state of fear. around Brick Lane often ended in While young racist thugs engaged violence. The night that Altab Ali was in “paki bashing”, the media blamed killed was the evening of the local the immigrants themselves for not elections when 41 NF candidates integrating, stood in Tower Hamlets. Politicians introduced tighter Altab Ali’s death enraged local immigration legislation in the people and became a symbol of 1960s and 1970s, seemingly giving race hatred in the area. In its wake legitimacy to the idea that newly a powerful anti-racist movement arrived Bengalis from East Pakistan was built. At a hastily convened Police behind Altab Ali’s coffin, in a long (Bangladesh didn’t exist then) did not meeting a new body, the Action poster, procession led by Asian youth and belong in the country. With politicians Committee Against Racial Attacks, Heneage their anti-racist allies. All over and the media against them the brought together all the major Street, London hundreds of Asian cafes, Bengali immigrants were an easy groups in the Asian community, London restaurants and shops closed in scapegoat who could be blamed for Tower Hamlets Against Racism and E1, 1978 sympathy. everything, just as other immigrants Fascism, the Trades Council and the © Paul Trevor Slogans highlighted the anger many had been blamed before them. rapidly growing Anti Nazi League, to felt at the government’s failure to For racists, the East End of London organise a national demonstration do anything about racist attacks, was fertile ground. Job opportunities against racial attacks. the level of police racism and were limited to low-paid and Ten days after his murder, on 14 criminalisation by the government unskilled jobs in small factories May 1978, 10,000 Bengalis gathered of immigrant communities. The and the textile trade. The Bengali in Brick Lane to join one of the demonstrators shouted “Law and community bore the brunt of the largest demonstrations by Asians order for whom?”, “Self defence is racist activity in the area and were that had been seen in Britain. no offence”, “Black and white unite targeted by organised racists. They marched to Whitehall – the and fight”, and “Who killed Altab Provocative activities by the fascist centre of British government – Ali? Racism! Racism!”

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The People Behind Summer of ‘78 a Movement Rajonuddin Jalal, currently Secretary of the Altab Ali Foundation, and a Anti-racists fight back leading anti-racist activist in the East End in the 1970s recalls: “A tribute is due to the key activists, nti-racist youths in the East l Black Solidarity Day – a day long who led the anti-racist movement. AEnd of London saw their strike in Tower Hamlets against racist Joe Abrams, a school teacher, Dan activities gather momentum attacks which brought the whole Jones, a trade unionist, and Patrick as they gained confidence and went area to a standstill. Kodikora and his partner Cathy. on the offensive. While the police l Opposing The Cathy Forrester and her family, who and the establishment appealed to Council’s (GLC) ghetto housing plan played a key role in mobilising local community elders to end what it which had been created white people in support of the anti- saw as confrontational activities the in the name of “safe” council racist movement. anti-racist movement responded housing for the Bengali community. by forming the Hackney and Tower This plan was flatly rejected by Aloke Biswas, Brojon Chatterjee, Hamlets Defence Committee. the local community who were Bengali left wing activists from he organisation initiated and against a segregated housing Hackney who became a part of the participated in radical actions policy. The local people advocated movement in Tower Hamlets. including: multiculturalism and vowed Reverend Ken Leech, who mobilised l Sit down protests outside Bethnal to establish a multi-cultural the church community in favour Green Police Station, protesting community in Tower Hamlets. of the movement (and wrote the against police brutality against The movement decisively defeated publication Brick Lane 1978). Pat and Bengali youth activists and inaction the National Front as a street Alan Henman, Michael Myers, and against racist attacks. These events presence in Tower Hamlets at the the late Bill Kelly also became key attracted thousands of participants. time and they were forced to close supporters of the struggle against l Occupation of the corner their offices in the area. However, racism and fascism. where Brick Lane met Bethnal there was still latent support for the Paul Beasley, the leader of the Green Road, demanding the closure racist party at the ballot box. council also became a key supporter of the National Front stall selling The anti-racist movement in of the anti-racist movement, as did their newspaper and other racist the 1970s brought together Councillor Geoff White. propaganda, and closure of their progressive, secular and left wing The youth organisations remained headquarters nearby in political activists from different united, guided by Tasadduq Ahmed, l Patrolling at the top of Brick Lane/ backgrounds into a united force. It Rajonuddin Fakaruddin Ahmed and a number every Saturday night to was a movement that believed in a Jalal, Secretary of youth leaders emerged as stop the gathering of National Front secular, multi-cultural and socially of the the vanguard of the movement, thugs, who would congregate to plan progressive society and freedom, Altab Ali including: Zia Uddin Lala, Shoiab their Sunday provocations and attacks. equality and justice for all. Foundation Ahmed Chowdhury, Akikur Rahman, Chomok Ali Noor, Sirajul Haque, Rafique Ullah, Sunahwar Ali, Kutub Uddin, Chunu Miah, Fakaruddin Billy, Shirin Mukaddar, Enamul Haque, Syed Mizan, Sirajuddin Ahmed, Jamal Hasan, Shams Uddin, Ataur Rahman Choudhury, Manuhor Ali, the late Abdul Bari and Kamrul Ahsan JJ, myself and many others. Bengali women such as Anwara Haque and Amirun Nessa also played an important role in our activities.”

Hyde Park, London W1, 14 May 1978. 10,000 rally after march from the East End with Altab Ali coffin. © Paul Trevor

Altab Ali Day | 5 Commemorating Altab Ali Day – 4 May The Bengali community in London’s East End

here are records going back charitable work with the local poor, Tto 1605 of people from what and Jewish charities were based there is now known as Bangladesh at the end of the 19th century. residing in the East End. Then South War of Independence Asian seamen, known as lascars, including Bengalis, began to settle By the end of the 1960s and early in London’s East End – not far from 1970s political developments in the docks – from the 1850s onwards. Pakistan and especially in East They had been recruited by the East Pakistan, where Bengalis came from, India Company, long before the Indian were moving fast. Pakistanis were subcontinent gained its independence campaigning against military rule. from the British in 1947. In addition the Bengalis of East From the earliest records of their Pakistan were engaged in a political arrival the Bengali seamen in London campaign highlighting the disparities were politically active with the between East and West Pakistan. formation of organisations such as As resentment grew against the the Society for the Protection of ruling elite based in West Pakistan, Asian Sailors in 1857. East Pakistanis demanded autonomy and this turned into a fully fledged Welfare politics Independence War in 1971. An early and influential Bengali figure During Bangladesh’s War of connected to the East End of London Independence in 1971, Britain’s was Ayub Ali Master. He started the Bengali community played an Indian Seamen’s Welfare League in important role in highlighting the 1943 and also hosted meetings of atrocities taking place in Bangladesh, the East London branch of the India lobbying the British government and League which campaigned for full the international community and independence and self-government raising funds for refugees and Bengali for India. freedom fighters. In the 1950s and 1960s, when the The Youth Organise that came out of this struggle were British government actively recruited the Bangladesh Youth Movement, and welcomed immigrant workers From 1975-1976 many British Asians, Bangladesh Youth Front, Progressive from former colonies the Bengali including Bengalis who lived in the Youth Organisation, Bangladesh population of East London grew East End of London, were Youth Association and and the men, both seamen and experiencing racism, social From the 1970s- the Bangladesh Youth others who had come by air, had deprivation and high levels of 1980s Bengali League amongst others. established the Pakistan Welfare unemployment. community 1978 saw the emergence Association (which became the For the 10-15,000 Bengalis politics moved of the second generation Bangladesh Welfare Association after living in Tower Hamlets, away from of Bengali community Bangladesh’s independence from who were under constant preoccupations activists who would later Pakistan in 1971) for the welfare of attack from the racists, Altab with political enter mainstream politics in their fellow countrymen. Ali’s murder in 1978 was a struggles in the 1980s. The Bangladesh Welfare Association turning point, especially for Bangladesh to From the 1970s-1980s (BWA) building at 39 Fournier Street, the youth. activism in Bengali community stands next to the , They rapidly became the UK. politics moved away from which was formerly a synagogue, politicised. They began to preoccupations with and before that, a Huguenot church. organise youth groups, community political struggles in Bangladesh The BWA building is connected with and campaigning organisations to activism in the UK. The second generations of immigrant experience: and linked up with other anti-racist generation of Bengali youth was it was the base of Huguenot movements and groups. The groups at the forefront of this political

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Pic Miah Family (© localhistory@ towerhamlets .gov.uk) Solidarity with Bangladesh

Bengalis campaign for an independent Bangladesh, Trafalgar Square, 1971 he borders of Bangladesh had been Searchlight by the Pakistani Army and Tcreated by the British Partition of was carefully devised by several top army India in 1947, when it became the generals to “crush” the Bengalis. eastern wing of Pakistan (East Pakistan), Sheikh Mujib was arrested and taken to West separated from the western wing by 1,600 Pakistan. General Yahya Khan banned the km (1,000 miles). Despite their common Awami League. 10 million Bengalis fled to religion of Islam, East and West Pakistan India, but eventually the troops from West were very different. Pakistan were defeated by the Bengali freedom In East Pakistan the language was Bengali fighters with Indian and Soviet assistance. whereas in West Pakistan it was Urdu. For many, Bangladesh’s War acted as a They were also very different from each conduit between the elders and the young other culturally. The government was based anti-racists activists of 1978. Nooruddin in West Pakistan and many East Pakistanis struggle. The youth organisations Ahmed, one of the anti-racist activists at the (Bengalis) felt that it was not interested in were consolidated into the Federation time recalled: their affairs. Bangladeshi Youth Organisations “I think there was definitely a parallel (FBYO), an umbrella body set up in West Pakistan dominated the divided between Bangladesh’s independence 1980, which spearheaded campaigns country politically and economically. movement of 1971 and the anti-racist for better housing, health and The military dictatorships of Ayub Khan movement of 1978. The elders were not education and against racism. and Yahya Khan, both West Pakistanis, only politically active in the UK because they had increased East Pakistan’s feelings of isolation The youth took the opportunity to different kind of priorities. But they had and resentment. gain access to the local political clear political consciousness, that’s why they system and to various funding The situation reached a climax when Bengali formed the Bangladesh Welfare Association. streams channelled through the local nationalist leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s “Because at that time they felt they needed council, the Greater London Council Awami League won a clear majority in to give people advice on welfare and and the local education authority. the elections of 1970 and West Pakistan’s immigration rights. And they did it because They also saw the importance of leadership refused to allow him to form a they had clear political minds. If you look at building alliances with activists outside government. the first demonstration in 1978, after Altab the Bengali community, such as other On the night of 25 March, the Pakistani Ali’s murder, it was the elderly who took the Asian activists from Hackney, Newham, military began a violent effort to suppress initiative, and then the young people joined Camden, Southall, Birmingham and the Bengali opposition. Bengali members in. Obviously the young people were able to Bradford and those from the white of military services were disarmed. march ahead of older people but they never majority community including Jewish The operation was called Operation left each other behind.” activists in the East End.

Altab Ali Day | 7 Commemorating Altab Ali Day – 4 May Blood on the Streets

or Bengalis in London’s that led to the first immigration were also smaller organisation such FEast End in the 1970s “Paki legislation, The Aliens Act of 1905. as the notoriously violent British bashing” was a common Numerous proto-fascist and then Movement, Column 88, and the experience. White racists, often fascist organisations were to follow, shadowy umbrella organisation, the whipped up by the National Front the most notorious being Sir Oswald League of St George. and other far-right groups, gave Mosley’s British Union of Fascists in In the 1974 General Election the NF racism a very real and frightening the 1930s. Mosley and the British stood in the Bethnal Green and Bow presence in the area. Union of Fascists had thousands of parliamentary constituency and polled However, the Bengali community did supporters who blamed Jews for high 7% of the vote – over 2000 votes. have anti-racist allies, most notably unemployment and social evils in the In the 1977 Greater London Council among organised workers in the trade area. Violent attacks elections NF candidates union movement. In 1978 Bethnal took place against polled over 19% of the Green and Trades Council Jews although the vote in Bethnal Green produced a publication called Blood on anti-fascist movement and Bow. In Hackney the Streets, outlining the racist climate fought back, most South and Shoreditch that existed in the East End at the time. famously at the Battle the NF polled 9.4% of Blood on the Streets numbered a of Cable Street in the vote. hefty 100 pages putting the then October 1936 when the In the 1978 local current situation into context by fascists were prevented council elections – the examining the role of the National from marching through evening of Altab Ali’s Front and other racist groups and the East End’s Jewish murder – the NF fielded their history of activity in the area. districts. 41 candidates gaining The East End had been a breeding Unrepentant, even after 9.4% of the vote and ground for extreme right wing the crimes of fascism in Europe were collecting a total of 7,000 votes in political activity since the turn of the revealed after the Second World Tower Hamlets. It was a significant 20th Century. In the early 1900s the War, the fascists continued their vote for a fascist party but it wasn’t the British Brothers League championed activities. With the passage of time landslide that they had expected. It was by the Conservative MP for Stepney, the organisations splintered and to herald a new wave of violence. Major William Evans-Gordon, took on new names. The most well While attacks on Bengalis, and other mounted a virulent campaign against known group in the 1970s were visible minorities, was commonplace Jewish immigrants in East London the National Front (NF) but there the fascists also singled out white anti-

“I find it difficult to write about There were times in the late Dan Jones the late 1970s in the East End. My ‘70s when thousands of Sylheti memories are full of death, marches (Bengali) workers from the factories, and funeral processions. sweatshops and restaurants of Reflects I walked behind the coffin of Altab the East End took to the streets Ali, a young clothing worker from in massive marches and protests , who was stabbed to death demanding an end to racist In 1983 the Tower Hamlets in Whitechapel. I remember the incitement and attacks. The Trades Arts Project (THAP) published massive outburst of grief and the Council published its indictment a booklet called Auschwitz dignified defiance by Bengali workers of racialism, Blood on the Streets. that followed his murder. I remember Protests remained peaceful and and East London which multi-racial despite continued supported an exhibition the murders of Ishaq Ali and Michael Ferreira in Hackney, the deaths of provocation and a deadening lack of mounted locally which made response from the authorities. links between experiences Kenneth Singh of Newham and of the Khan family in Walthamstow. A new generation of young cockney of racism past and present. Bengalis was emerging, no longer In this booklet, Dan Jones, My friend Blair Peach, a member of the Trades Council and teacher prepared to cower in fear or to at that time a youth worker of handicapped children at Phoenix accept discriminatory treatment — a and secretary of the Tower School in Bow, died at the hands of the movement that has begun to make Hamlets Trades Council, police in the Southall disturbances. a fundamental political and social reflected on the 1970s and the Ten thousand of us, black and white, impact on our area. battles that had been fought Sikh, Muslim, Christian and Jew The Asian community continues to against the racists in the gathered in the bleak East London demand fair treatment in housing, East End. cemetery for his burial. employment and civil liberty, and

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Brick Lane, 1978. © Paul Trevor

racists for attack. Labour Party workers were beaten and numerous premises of left wing organisations suffered arson attacks. Some people came under attacks in their own homes. On one of the worst occasions of fascist violence, 11 June 1978, 150 white youths ran down Brick Lane shouting “kill the black bastards”, smashing the windows of a dozen shops and car windscreens of Bengali shopkeepers. One shopkeeper, Abdul Monan, was knocked unconscious by a hail of rocks and stones hurled through his shop window. He lost two teeth in the attack and needed five stitches to his face. In that attack some local Bengalis and anti-racists fought off the racists and managed to hold 20 of the white youths for 10 minutes until the police arrived. However, the police released all but three of the youths who were eventually only charged with the minor offence of threatening behaviour. After a number of confrontations the fascists were eventually driven from the area and the activities of the summer of 1978 became known as the “Battle of Brick Lane.” the right to live and work in peace against the ideas of Hitler and his like anyone else, but the pattern of heirs continues today. We have racist attacks continues. Black people driven the National Front from complain of harassment by the their Shoreditch headquarters, police and often that the victims of action is at last being taken against racist attacks are the people arrested the bookstall that has sold Nazi while racist incitement is ignored. propaganda against Jews and Now the black people face a whole black people at the Sunday market new generation of discriminatory in Brick Lane for many months. practices by the State: passports are But Sieg Heil salutes and racist demanded by officials in housing chants still echo from the North departments, dole offices, education Bank at West Ham football ground, offices and hospitals. The screw and outside the schoolgates our tightens as Britain’s increasingly children are handed poisonous racist laws and rules on nationality leaflets that claim the Holocaust and immigration break up black was a Jewish lie. We despair since families and treat black people as white unemployed youth are still second class citizens. attracted to the British Movement. As the whole political climate Racism flourishes where there is moves in a more racialist direction, insecurity, unemployment, bad social what were once the mouthings of conditions and an easy scapegoat. a tiny fringe of extremists have It will not disappear until we tackle now become the common currency fundamental problems and attitudes Dan Jones today of major parties. The struggle that lie deep in our area.”

Altab Ali Day | 9 Commemorating Altab Ali Day – 4 May Altab Ali – The political legacy Here to stay, here to fight!

ore than three decades Mhave passed since Altab Ali was murdered on that election night of 4 May 1978. Cut down in cold blood by racists, his memory nevertheless lives on. To a generation of activists the name Altab Ali conjures up not only a time of great pain but also a time of resistance. A time when a movement was built that fought against racism and for the rights of all who live in London’s East End regardless of the colour of their skin or their religious Akikur background. Rahman The racists sought to totally isolate (left) and Rajonuddin the Bengali community but in Jalal, Bengali response the anti-racists – black and youth white – built alliances that have lasted activists in the 1970s. a generation. It was a time when the Today they Bengali youth created a movement are chair and that empowered their community and secretary of the Altab Ali left a legacy that endures today. Foundation. Rajonuddin Jalal, who was one of © Paul Trevor the founders of the Bangladesh Youth Movement (BYM), recalled: would find that the existence of Movement; Bangladesh Youth “Iwas involved in the formation of the the community was not really Association; Progressive Youth Bangladesh Youth Movement (BYM). acknowledged in the wider arena organisation: Bangladesh Youth The BYM was the brainchild of the late so having a youth movement as an League Birmingham, Sunderland Shahjajan Lutfur Rahman, a teacher organisation itself was an important Bengali Youth Organisation; and barrister. It was a crucial youth achievement. Later on it became a Bangladesh Youth Approach; organisation organising against the very important organisation in that Shapla Youth Force; Weavers Youth then National Front (NF) back in 1978. it was mobilising the community Forum; Bangladesh Youth League; I was involved in setting up many against racism, racial attacks and Bangladesh Youth League Luton; cultural projects in Tower Hamlets, for racist agitation as well. Eagle Youth Organisation; Overseas example The Kobi Nazrul Centre. “So it was an organisation that Youth Organisation; Hackney Bangladesh Youth Organisation, “The youth movement played an mobilised the young people and the [Above] important role against the fascists community at large, it gave a voice Wallsall Youth Organisation; Bradford Leaflet for when they became organised and to the community, it organised to Youth Organisation and the League of Altab Ali Day 2012 active in Brick Lane area, following support people who were victims of Joi Bangla Youth amongst others. the murders of Altab Ali and Ishaq racial attacks on housing estates, and The FBYO also published the bilingual [TOP Right] Altab Ali Ali. BYM was one of the leading on streets. Later on it played a role in Jubobarta magazine and was Festival organisations that organised the politicising the community.” involved in the production of three poster 1989 (© Alan Dein) first protest march that involved As the battle on the streets came documentary films for Channel 4. thousands of Bengalis coming out to their conclusion by the end of The Bangladeshi community in the streets of London, marching 1978, the youth leaders and youth could no longer be ignored. The from Whitechapel to the House of organisations redefined the agenda government of the day launched Commons and back. The slogan was for the future. They established a the Home Affairs Select Committee ‘Here to stay, here to fight’.” national organisation, the Federation Report on Bangladeshis. The Tower Asked what the purpose of the BYM of Bangladeshi Youth Organisation Hamlets Association for Racial was he says: (FBYO), which involved the following Equality (THARE) and the FBYO “If you go back to 1976, then you organisations: Bangladesh Youth played a key role in compiling this

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Altab Ali – The political legacy Jagonari Women’s Centre Alongside the rise of the anti-racist movement women organised in the Bengali Here to stay, here to fight! community. Supported by the FBYO and other organisations, they were successful in obtaining a plot of disused land on where they established the Jagonari Women’s Centre. The leading lights in the organisation were Shila Thakor, Mithu Ghosh, Pola Uddin and Alma Chowdhury. This organisation did a lot of good work for women. The work was made possible with support from the Project and the GLC. The FBYO, THARJ (Tower Hamlets Association for Racial Justice) and Jagonari helped to initiate specialist health projects for the Bengali community, including nursing training courses and the Maternity Liaison scheme in the Tower Hamlets NHS. These organisations were also involved in the initiation of social work training courses – led by Jalil Bhuyia – for Bengalis with Tower Hamlets Council.

report, articulating the needs and aspirations of the Bangladeshi community in all spheres of British life. By now this was not an immigrant community but a community of British Bengalis in the UK. 1982 saw the first Bengalis elected to Tower Hamlets Council. Nurul Haque, an independent candidate from Spitalfields became a councillor defeating a Labour candidate. This was followed by Ashik Ali, a Labour candidate, who became a councillor in St Katherine’s ward. Today Tower Hamlets Council boasts the largest number of Black/ Altab Ali Day, 2011 Asian/Bengali councillors in the country with a total of 32 Bengali councillors. The Greater London Twenty years after he was killed, the structure decorating a black tubular framed Authority has Murad Qureshi as park adjacent to where Altab Ali was arch, in Bangladeshi style. an Assembly Member. The general attacked was renamed Altab Ali Park after The park also contains a smaller replica of election in 2010 saw the first years of campaigning by local anti-racists. the Shaheed Minar – the Bengali Martyrs’ Bengali, Rushanara Ali, enter the Prior to that it was named St Mary’s Monument – commemorating the killings House of Commons. Gardens, the site of a 14th Century church of Bengali language movement student Today, anti-racists face new called St Mary’s Matfelon. The church was activists in 1952 (the original is in , challenges from the British National painted bright white giving the local area – Bangladesh). Party, English Defence League and Whitechapel – its name. It was bombed in In 2012 a set of permanent display panels other sectarian extremists in our the Blitz during World War II, today only a were mounted on the wall of Altab Ali Park communities who try to offer simple few graves stones remain. just next to where he was murdered. On this solutions to complex problems, as Altab Ali Park contains an ornamental panel it says: “His death marked a turning fascists and racists have always wrought iron gateway arch at the point... The Bengali youth, the Anti Nazi done. Yet we know that these ideas entrance. It includes interwoven bands of League and the Rock against Racism groups can be beaten. That is the legacy of orange-coated metal wrapped around and were born out of the events of 1978 and far Altab Ali’s death and the movement interwoven through the tubular framed right extremists suffered a huge setback.” that beat the racists back in 1978.

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