04.09.2002
Good music, weak politics
The 'Love music, hate racism' festival finally went ahead in south Manchester last Sunday after the Anti-Nazi League was told by Burnley council that there was no way it could take place on its property. Frightened of prospective clashes between the BNP and the ANL, the council had forced the organisers to go elsewhere. In one sense the event was a great success. The music was excellent and the weather helped to draw a lot of young people from across the city and beyond. The organisers estimate that 30,000 attended. Some of the local Manchester rap and rhythm and blues acts were superb and there was very little of the usual demagoguery and witlessness from stage speakers. At the same time, the political impact of the occasion was marginal. The demonstration was loud but small and there were no other groups present aside from the SWP, CPGB comrades, and one Morning Star seller. There were a handful of stalls - Palestine solidarity, No Sweat and the CND were represented, while the Socialist Alliance stall was doing particularly well. For our part we sold 50 copies of the Weekly Worker. Although we had plenty of debates with individual activists, there was little sense to be got from some of the youthful and exuberant Socialist Worker sellers. Future events will need more input from the Socialist Alliance - a paper would helpl Martyn Hudson
Worker