Battle of Cable Street

Battle of Cable Street
Flyer distributed by the London Communist Party
Date	4 October 1936
Location	Cable Street, East End of London, United Kingdom
Caused by	Opposition to a fascist march through East London
Resulted in	Fascist march called off
Parties to the civil conflict
British Union of Fascists (Blackshirts) Anti-fascists Communists Socialists Anarchists British Jews Irish dockers Independent Labour Party Metropolitan Police
Lead figures
Oswald Mosley Phil Piratin Philip Game
Number
3,000 20,000 6,000
Casualties
Injuries	~175
Arrested	~150

The Battle of Cable Street took place on Sunday 4 October 1936 in Cable Street in the East End of London. It was a clash between the Metropolitan Police, protecting a march by members of the British Union of Fascists, led by Oswald Mosley, and various anti-fascist demonstrators, including local Jewish, Irish, socialist, anarchist and communist groups. The majority of both marchers and counter-protesters travelled into the area for this purpose. Mosley planned to send thousands of marchers dressed in uniforms styled on those of Blackshirts through the East End, which then had a large Jewish population.

Background

The Board of Deputies of British Jews denounced the march as anti-semitic and urged Jewish people to stay away. The Communist Party of Great Britain, under the leadership of Phil Piratin, led the opposition forces. The following year, he became the first Communist to be elected to Stepney Borough Council. In 1945, he was elected as a Communist MP for Mile End.

Despite the strong likelihood of violence, the government hesitated to ban the march and a large escort of police was provided in an attempt to prevent anti-fascist protesters from disrupting the march.

Events

The anti-fascist groups built roadblocks in an attempt to prevent the march from taking place. The barricades were constructed near the junction with Christian Street, towards the west end of this long street. An estimated 20,000 anti-fascist demonstrators turned out, and were met by 6,000 police, who attempted to clear the road to permit the march of 2,000–3,000 fascists to proceed. The demonstrators fought back with sticks, rocks, chair legs and other improvised weapons. Rubbish, rotten vegetables and the contents of chamber pots were thrown at the police by women in houses along the street. After a series of running battles, Mosley agreed to abandon the march to prevent bloodshed. The BUF marchers were dispersed towards Hyde Park instead while the anti-fascists rioted with police. About 150 demonstrators were arrested, although some escaped with the help of other demonstrators. Several members of the police were arrested by demonstrators. Around 175 people were injured including police, women and children.

Aftermath

Commemorative plaque in Dock Street

Many of the arrested demonstrators reported harsh treatment at the hands of the police.

After the Battle of Cable Street, the BUF lost momentum. It became clear that the local populace was largely against its actions, and that it would be met with fierce opposition.

In the 1980s, a large mural depicting the battle was painted on the side of St George's Town Hall. This building was originally the vestry hall for the area and later the town hall of Stepney Borough Council. It stands in Cable Street, about 150 yards (140 m) west of Shadwell underground station. A red plaque in Dock Street commemorates the incident.

For the 75th Anniversary in October 2011, there were numerous events planned in East London, including music and a march, and the Cable Street Mural was restored. In 2016, the battle marked its 80th Anniversary, and was commemorated with a march from Altab Ali Park to Cable Street. The march was attended by original marchers from 1936. [1]

Modern depiction of the Battle of Cable Street. The event is frequently invoked in contemporary British politics

In popular culture

• The Arnold Wesker play Chicken Soup with Barley depicts an East End Jewish family on the day of the Battle of Cable Street.

See also

• Battle of Stockton – an earlier incident between BUF members and anti-fascists in Stockton-on-Tees on 10 September 1933.
• Christie Pits riot – a similar incident which took place in Toronto on 16 August 1933.
• 6 February 1934 crisis – a similar event which took place in Paris.

External links

• The Battle of Cable Street 80th anniversary
• News footage from the day News reel from youtube.com
• Video for the Ghosts of Cable Street by 'They Men They Couldn't Hang' set to images of the battle
• Historical article by David Rosenberg linked to the 'battle's 75th anniversary
• The Battle of Cable Street as told by the Communist Party of Britain.
• "Fascists and Police Routed at Cable Street" a personal account of the battle by a participant.
• Cable Street and the Battle of Cable Street.
• Google Earth view of the junction of Cable Street and Christian Street as it is now