Class War Explained

Class War is an anarchist group[1] [2] and newspaper established by Ian Bone and others in 1983[3] in the United Kingdom. An incarnation of Class War was briefly registered as a political party for the purposes of fighting the 2015 United Kingdom general election.

Events

In the 1980s, Class War organised a number of "Bash The Rich" demonstrations, in which supporters were invited to march through and disrupt wealthier areas of London such as Kensington, and Henley-on-Thames, bearing banners and placards with slogans such as "Behold your future executioners!"[4]

A third Bash the Rich event, scheduled to march through Hampstead, in 1985 was largely prevented by a heavy police presence and was acknowledged by Class War to have been a failure. This event was seen by many as a major setback for the group and many members left to form other groups or drifted away.[5]

2010s onwards

In the 2010s, Ian Bone revived Class War as a political party.[6] Their activities included a weekly protest about "poor doors" outside One Commercial Street in Aldgate, with Action East End and Freedom News.[7] These protests ended in partial victory in November 2014.[8] [9] Group member Lisa McKenzie was found not guilty under joint enterprise for causing criminal damage.

Class War also encouraged a demonstration against the Jack the Ripper Museum.[10]

In the 2015 United Kingdom general election, Class War stood seven candidates which received a total of 526 votes. The party was voluntarily deregistered with the electoral commission in July 2015.[11]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Walker. Peter. Class War accuses Cereal Killer Cafe owners of 'milking publicity'. 3 April 2016. The Guardian. 29 September 2015. 3 April 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160403174114/http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/sep/29/cereal-killer-cafe-class-war-anti-gentrification-protest-independent-businesses. live.
  2. News: Haynes. Gavin. This Is How London's Anarchists Prepared for This Year's May Day Protests. 3 April 2016. Vice News. 2015. 25 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160325235604/http://www.vice.com/en_uk/video/class-war. live.
  3. Book: Encyclopedia of British and Irish Political Organizations: Parties, Groups and Movements of the Twentieth Century . Peter . Barberis . John . McHugh . Mike . Tyldesley . Helen . Pendry . London & New York . Pinter . 2000 . 9781855672642 .
  4. News: Even anarchists like a little romance . 8 December 2019 . 13 February 2009 . 16 February 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090216182959/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7888016.stm . live .
  5. Book: Home, Stewart . Stewart Home . The Assault on Culture: Utopian Currents from Lettrisme to Class War . London . . 1988 . 9780948518881.
  6. Web site: Croucher . Shane . This party is standing at #GE2015 'because all other candidates are scum' . . 2015-04-08 . en . 2018-10-20 . dmy-all . 7 November 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181107120727/https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/election-2015-meet-class-war-party-standing-because-all-other-candidates-are-scum-1495040 . live .
  7. Web site: Poor Doors - Class War. Class War. 2015-10-25. en. 1 May 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150501131444/http://www.classwarparty.org.uk/poor-doors/. live.
  8. Web site: Anarchists Have Nearly Defeated the 'Poor Doors' On a London Block of Flats VICE United Kingdom. VICE. 27 November 2014 . 2015-10-25. en-uk. 4 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304084833/http://www.vice.com/en_uk/read/londons-poor-doors-defeated-by-anarchists-910. live.
  9. Web site: CLASS WAR WINS ROUND ONE IN POOR DOORS BATTLE - Class War. Class War. 2015-10-25. en. 18 November 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151118175448/http://www.classwarparty.org.uk/class-war-wins-round-one-poor-doors-battle/. live.
  10. News: Gayle . Damien . Class War protester cleared of criminal damage at poor doors demonstration . . 2015-10-21 . en-GB . 0261-3077 . dmy-all . 25 November 2018 . 20 November 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181120062800/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/oct/21/class-war-protestor-poor-doors-not-guilty . live .
  11. Web site: Class War [De-registered 06/07/15] ]. The Electoral Commission . 19 June 2018 . 8 December 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191208225856/http://search.electoralcommission.org.uk/English/Registrations/PP2269 . live .

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