Red Action was a British

leftist Left-wing politics describes the range of political ideologies that support and seek to achieve social equality and egalitarianism, often in opposition to social hierarchy. Left-wing politics typically involve a concern for those in soci ...

political group formed in 1981. It became known for violently confronting groups such as the British National Party on the streets, and for being the main organisational force behind

Anti-Fascist Action Anti-Fascist Action (AFA) was a militant anti-fascist organisation, founded in the UK in 1985 by a wide range of anti-racist and anti-fascist organisations. It was active in fighting far-right organisations, particularly the National Front an ...

.Zephaniah, Benjamin. 28 February 2016. "Benjamin Zephaniah on fighting the far right: ‘If we did nothing we would be killed on the streets’ | Books | The Guardian". ''The Guardian''.
/ref> In 1995, '' The Independent'' estimated that it had between 20 and 30 branches with 10–15 activists in each, and the paper stated that the group "enthusiastically espouses the use of violence"; it also set out links between Red Action and the Irish republican movement, and stated that members operated primarily in large cities such as London, Manchester, Leeds and Glasgow. The group was formed by

activist Activism (or Advocacy) consists of efforts to promote, impede, direct or intervene in social, political, economic or environmental reform with the desire to make changes in society toward a perceived greater good. Forms of activism range fro ...

s who had been expelled from the Socialist Workers Party (SWP) for their involvement in alleged " squadism" (violent actions against

far right Far-right politics, also referred to as the extreme right or right-wing extremism, are political beliefs and actions further to the right of the left–right political spectrum than the standard political right, particularly in terms of being ...

racist groups). The expelled activists regrouped around a paper named ''Red Action''. After several years, the group became more interested in the electoral process, and it joined the Red Front electoral alliance in 1987 and the Socialist Alliance in England and Wales in 1999. Red Action members then left this organisation, along with the Socialist Party, citing the domination of the SWP over the organisation. Some Red Action members went on to found the Independent Working Class Association.

References

External links

Red Action archive
* ttp://libcom.org/tags/red-action Red Action material at Libcombr>As Soon As This Pub Closes - Red Action section
satirical profile by John Sullivan Anti-fascist organisations in the United Kingdom Anti-racist organisations in the United Kingdom Political parties established in 1981 1981 establishments in the United Kingdom {{UK-poli-stub

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