European
anti-racist
actions on
April 23
A WEST European-wide conference of anti-racist groups was held in the Swedish capital in early February. The results are described in the following article from the February 11 issue of Internationalen, the paper of the Socialist Party, Swedish section of the Fourth International. MARIANNE HJORT
T HE RUNDOWN dance theater in
Skeppsholmen in Stockholm was the scene of a historic conference last weekend [February 5/6]. The 21 delegates from six countries took on the task of uniting all the anti-racist forces in Western Europe for the first time in common actions against racism and fascism.
They came from Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Belgium, France, West Germany and Great Britain, representing a range of forces from the big French organization SOS Racisme to small West German and Danish groups. The sponsor of the meeting was the Swedish Riksförbundet Stoppa Rasismen [National Association to Stop Racism].
The target date for launching Europe-wide collaboration was carefully chosen. On April 23, Le Pen and his fascistic National Front will be standing in the presidential elections in France. Independent opinion polls are giving him 10 per cent.
The conference's most important objectives were to achieve unity around a common statement and, on the day of the French elections, to hold big mobilizations against racism and fascism throughout Europe. The debates were often heated, even chaotic, where different viewpoints and lines collided for the first time. But when the common statement was finally read out,
"I am very happy that the congress got results," said an optimistic Graeme Atkinson from Britain. "We cannot overlook the
PHILIPPINES • SWEDEN fact that there are differences, but we should not let them get in the way of our building broad mass organizations."
Just as optimistic, Karin Lundberg from the National Association to Stop Racism said: "It was very exciting to see how it could all work. Everyone wants continuing collaboration. This is not going to be a one-off event."
"The situation in France is frightening"
The conference proclaimed the objective of winning a majority of young people throughout Europe to an anti-racist current. Local committees are to be formed in the schools, universities, neighborhoods and factories. The first opportunity for common efforts will be on the anniversary of Sharpesville on March 21, when protests against apartheid in South Africa will be combined with opposition to racism in general.
In the fall, the organizations in the three Scandinavian countries are calling a new conference. An international anti-racist journal in which experiences can be exchanged has already started to be planned.
"The situation in France is frightening," Karin continued. "It is striking the way similar developments are occurring in various countries. Everywhere, the refugee laws are being toughened. The racist and fascistic organizations are also getting more militant and beginning to organize themselves more.
"There were very different views at our conference. But we pulled it off. All the various anti-racist groups could cooperate!"
On April 23, demonstrations, mass meetings and rock concerts will be held in a series of West Europe's biggest cities against racism and fascism and for a Europe with open frontiers. * By Pantu Nattonal, Le Pon's party - Drawing 19 by Plantu
March 21, 1988 • International Viewpoint