Defend the Bradford 11

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THE TRIAL of the Bradford Il will be a focusing point for the state's ruthless attempt to crush black people's resistance to racism.

It is a major issue for the labour movement. The 11 Asian youths, aged between 17 and 25, are mainly supporters of the Bradfordbased United Black Youth League, and some of the accused, particularly GatAura and Tariq Ali, are prominent anti-fasicst organIsers.

They have been accused of manufacturing 38 petrol bombs and storing them for use against the police and skinheads.

But the charges, related to two sections of the reactionary conspiracy laws show the ruthlessness with which Home Secretary Whitelaw and the Director of Public Prosecutions will pursue this case.

Despite the fact that their "crime" has been the wish to defend Bradford's Asians against fascist and police provocation, the first charge carries a maximum prison sentence of ten years, the second life imprisonment.

And despite the fact that some of the accused have worrying home situations, for example, dependent relatives, two applications for bail have been refused.

The hammer is falling on the Bradford 11; for the state it is a test case. We must mobilise the maximum labour movement resistance to the show trial.

The rapidly formed July 1 Action Committee has aken important steps towards this. Pickets and all-night vigils have been organised.

A • national demonstration is being built for.

But this trial is an attack by the state on the very notion of anti-racist defence. In that sense it is highly political.

And that is why the action committee is launching an independent inquiry into the nature of racist attacks • and the police response to them in Bradford since the mid 1970s.

Hopefully when the trial proper actually begins it will be possible to provide information on the real background, a situation where racist harassment is a daily occurence for Asian workers, and where the police have failed to defend communities against, for example, arson attacks on Asian homes and premises in Bradford.

Relatives of the defendants have reported that the 1l youths are under severe intimidation inside. Whatever our political differences with them, the primary issue is their defence against a show trial by the Thatcher government.

*Drop the charges defend the Bradford 11!

Self defence is no offence - build workers defence squads!

Send money, telegrams or messages of support and inquiry evidence to: July 11 Action Committee, c/o 2nd Floor, Textile Hall, Westgate, Bradford.

DALE ACKROYD