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Witness History: The Battle of Lewisham

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The Battle of Lewisham

09/10/2020 GMT

BBC World Service - Witness History, The Battle of Lewisham

How anti-racists stopped a far-right march in South London in 1977.

How anti-racists stopped a far-right march in South London in 1977, preventing the National Front from entering the British political mainstream.

In August 1977, the racist National Front organisation planned to stage a march into Lewisham in South London at a time of high racial tension in the area. The National Front activists were met by a huge counter-demonstration organised by anti-racist campaigners – in the clashes that followed, hundreds of people were arrested and injured before the National Front were forced to withdraw.  The so-called Battle of Lewisham is now seen as having halted the rise of the far-right in British politics. Nacheal Catnott talks to Lez Henry, who grew up in Lewisham and witnessed the unrest. Produced by Eleanor Biggs.

PHOTO: A police officer attempts to restore order in Lewisham in 1977 (Getty Images)

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