Hidden London: The Real Battle of Cable Street
The magnificent mural in Cable Street in East London, depicts the 1936 battle of Cable Street, when East end residents stopped Oswald Mosley and his fascist followers marching through their streets. In this powerful dissection of what happened, the real battle we learn was three way, between the police, the fascists and local people. Interwoven with eye witness testimony from Bill Fishman, Alan Hudson provides a riveting account of the events, the context and many hidden truths. The official labour movement tried to stop the anti-fascist protests and organised an alternative rally in Trafalgar Square. Lessons for today come thick and fast and we are left to contemplate the mural’s contemporary meaning. It may only strike a cord locally Alan explains if we support today’s migrant population and oppose all immigration controls.
Recommended links:
- Podcast of Alan Hudson’s lecture: East End Figures
- WORLDwrite’s London Behind the Scenes alternative tour: Brick Lane
- Article by Kenan Malik: Race, pluralism and the meaning of difference
Related topics: Democracy, Making History, Social Change
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Penny Dolan said:
Am reading & reviewing Alan Gibbon’s recently re-published novel for teens “Street of Tall People” (Fig Leaves Publications ) about the Battle of Cable Street and wanted to know more. Am very glad that I found this film which I’ll return to and recommend to others. Thank you, Alan Hudson.
horacio said:
Thanks to Hudson’s comments, they are very enlighting.
Whenever I visit London I go to Cable St. to pay homage to those freedom fighters.
One thing that should be added is the plaque in the front of this building where Bennington painted the mural.
From this same building young british lads went to fight for democracy in the Spanish Civil War.
For me this building is full of meaning.
The meaning of fighting for freedom.
(From Buenos Aires – Argentina)
Gido Karow said:
Great piece of documentary film making! Well done!
Jim said:
This street piece is fascinating really I had no idea of real balance of forces at the time thankyou for bringing history alive
Joy Farrsa said:
Agree on Cable Street, this is not how I was told the story, this is a very thought provoking programme which I think would be good for colleges.
kentucky said:
wow
Bootz said:
This film shows how you can never really take your history lessons at face value. I was always told that the fight and battle of Cable Street were between East Enders and Mosley’s mob. Alan Hudson paints a truer picture and shows how it was just as much a fight between the state and its police and the working class.