The Tories ran the last election campaign on a clear racist ticket. Thatcher spoke of the country being "swamped by an alien culture" and Willie Whitelaw - the Tory "softie" - openly explained the need to slam the door on Black immigration. All in the interests of "racial harmony", of course.
The meaning of the Tory "hard line" on immigration is already being felt by Black families up and down the country: Evidence is already leaking out that twice the number of families are being harassed and deported today as under the previous Labour governinent.
The case of Sanjesh. Jayesh and Diptesh Patel taken away from their mother and deported hack to India because of an "improper" entry clearance - is an example of the vicious harassment beins used Whitelaw's curbs give police the green light to harass Biack community dul amended it to bring out the real victums of these new curbs. Only the fiances or husbands of non-British (i.e. Black) women settled here would be penalised. Coulin t he deurer. could it? The aim of the amendments is not to nul on Black immigration. "FIRMER ACTION"
e• Black pcople eto can stili gain dranged murrages mean by moin their tamily alreads settled terr. te encem orthe Tory forensent tor the "familv"
reduciy i itter the rights of of "officsls" and toking "firmer denon" ayaanst se-called illegal hel visus.
under the 1971 Aut. the power to inchout waront and deport those considered "andesirable" without right of appeal, it is a my stor exact what "ürmer action"
steps are clearl important in continuing the pressure against the govemment.
Most important. however. it was agreed to hold a national conference in the Spring of all of CARL's supporters. Obviousl! key to such a conference must he mapping out a series of national structure capable of winning the widest lavers into the campaign. CENTRAL The ability of CARL to build on so far should not be under-valued. The Tories racist measures are not accidental. They are central to whipping up racist moods which -it is hoped - will divide and and helping confuse working people in the rears ahead as inflation & unemploymen grow.
CLIMAX the right. tghten un on immigration. as such.
The other ereprsas the Tories have :de smali trekie These inclade s han en aimed at the and a virtual breesi doest extend to Black Oe gerants are aime al ¡ose Blar h people who do manage te ship ets cogli the immigration net.
These inslade acreasing the power immigrants and dost "overstaying"
Sitco the polict aiready have.
arrest suspected "illegal immigrants"
FIGHT-BACK ancali actions and setting up a democratic Presumably, it is a nod and wink to the police to escalate their harassment already being dealt out to the Black community.
When these proposals were put to Parliament, ex-Home Secretary Merlyn Rees denounced them as "racist, sexist and discriminatory". Fine words. What Rees didn't explain was that they form merely the climax of a whole string of equaliț racist acts which Labour -as well as Tory - governments have introduced over the years.
Ever since the Tories brought in the Commonwealth Immigration Act in 1962 - making entry into Britain dependent on a colour bar -successive governments have tumbled indecently over cach other in tightening the screws on Black entry. Wilson's 1965 White Paper and Callaghan's 1968 Immigration Act were part of this whole shitt to And didn'i Merlyn Rees himselt. when in office, enforce without an! scruples the 1971 Immigration Act. despite the lact that the Labour Party conference had denounced it as racist and called for its immediate repeal"?
LEGAL RACISM It is no doubt a step forward for Rees to denounce the latest proposals in the Tory White Paper. That campot ener up for the fact. however. that be accepting the racist logic of these Acts for so long. Labour governments have helped to create a climate of legalised racism in Britain.
What else can doo call it? Once it is accepted that Black people can be denied entry on grounds of colour • and denied democratic rights on the same grounds - then racism has recented official approval Ail the Race Relations Acts in the world won't change thai!
ln is this climate of legalised racism fostered by these Aits which the Tories now want to take still furthe* -.that creates a highly explosive situation. Unless it is challenged now, white workers could begin to fall vietim to the demagogy of the ultra-right and see Black people not as allies but as a threat to the jobs and wages scramble that will open up.
Fortunately: despite the Labour It is only by building a strong campaign now against these meas. ures that it will be possible to offset such a development in the future. This means. in particular. taking CARL into trade union and Labour Party branches and gaining mass support for the campaign.
The fact that the demonstration on Nov. 25th was backed by over 30 Labour MPs and by the Labour Party NEC is a positive step in WHITELAW'S RACIST CHARTER The 1971 Immigration Act already makes it virtually impossible for Blacks to enter the country. Only those who have grandparents her can come in freely - and that, of course, means whites. Blacks (or non-Dałmas as toe sci owus toem have no right of entry.
In order to close the tew remain ing "loopholes" - and reduce those Blacks already here to second-class Clizens wanclan s proposal.
include .1 han on arranged marriages Obviously directed against the Asian community to curb the trickle of fiances coming in, Al han on hushands & fiances. White foreign-born women. settled here. will be free to orne n aneu nuspanas Hances Vn back wonen wil oe MCCLcu 1 han on parents, grandparents & children under 18. Virtually every one secking entry to join their family will be excluded anaer me new conditions. wn‹ cares about the suffering caused? Work Permit Restrictions. Aim ad at cutting still further the miniscule number of Blacks allowed in under the quota scheme.
* Curh on foreixn students.
Greater powers are envisaged to deport foreign students deemed to he prolonging their stay 'unnecessaril!" or failing to attend courses on a regular Internal Controls. 'Firmer action' is considered necessary anainst illegal immigrants and 'help' tor those genuincly wishme lo leave tuc counuv. suen proposals will give immigration officers & police the green light ii 'up' their harassment of Black communities. Already. under the Thatcher regime, the number of Blacks being deportVG aS QouDCa "with?e Torer ..:.. building up to these laws and inling expression in the labour The mass CARL demonstration on Neverber 25th won the backing of the Labour Party NEC and over 30 Labour MPs. They supported a march which not only opposed the latest Tory proposals but called openly for the repeal of the 1971 Immigration Act.
That was a major step forward bat still only a step. The aims of CARL have dow got to be taken into all tade union and Labour Party branches and the passive "acceptance" of racism by the Labour leaders chailenged head-on. Only by winning the labour movement to the aims of this campaign can we create a force capable of curbing the growth of racism in the ditticult years ahead.
(CARL Steering Cttes)
March at Friend's Meeting House, { Luston Rd.. . London. Bradford Asian Youth Movement march i trom pradora lo London. zou W8K2 Thrai
----- pull-quotes -----
AERE To