‘History repeating’: activists who opposed UK far right in 1970s urge solidarity

Campaigners who founded anti-racist movements call on communities to oppose riots by rallying together peacefully

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When Balwinder Singh Rana, along with about 50 members of the newly formed Indian Youth Federation, entered a pub in Gravesend in 1969 after their inaugural meeting, it was their first collective moment of local activism.

There was this pub not far from the meeting hall, which did not serve our people," he said. If people went in there, they would just ignore and say: Get out, you black bastard.'"