We Will Fight On’ Black Sections Warns

About this item

This newspaper article from October 1989 details the ongoing campaign by the Labour Party's Black Sections to gain official recognition within the party. Despite a rejection at the Labour Party conference, activists, including MP Bernie Grant, vowed to continue their fight against racial exclusion. The article highlights plans for new strategies, including standing candidates and targeting trade unions, to advance Black political representation.

Key points:
– Labour Party conference voted against officially recognizing Black Sections as a separate black body.
– Black Sections leadership planned new campaigns, especially engaging Black and Asian communities in Scotland and trade unions.
– Bernie Grant emphasized the need for a change in tactics and called for direct talks with Labour leaders Neil Kinnock and Roy Hattersley.
– Labour Party bosses had proposed a Black Socialist Society allowing white members voting rights over black leadership, which activists rejected.
– Despite setbacks, the Black Sections’ campaign gained significant support with over a million votes and planned a national conference in London on November 5, 1989.

This item captures a critical moment in Black British political activism during the late 1980s, illustrating the struggles faced by Black Sections within the Labour Party. Bernie Grant, a key figure in Black British politics and campaigning for racial justice and political representation, is prominently featured expressing the need for renewed strategy. The campaign reflects broader issues of anti-racism, internal party dynamics, and the push for structural change in local and national government.

Source note: The OCR quality is generally clear but shows minor errors in formatting and some words split across lines. These do not materially affect the factual interpretation of the document.