Cable Street commemorates 90 years since anti-fascist battle

Thousands of demonstrators marched through East London on Sunday to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the Battle of Cable Street. The event marks the October 4, 1936, historic confrontation where anti-fascist protesters, including local residents and trade unions, blocked Sir Oswald Mosley’s British Union of Fascists from marching through the area, which had a large Jewish population.

Protesters carried banners with slogans such as “They shall not pass” and messages opposing antisemitism, Islamophobia, and racism. The march included participation from trade unions like Unite, as well as various anti-racism and pro-Palestinian campaign groups.

During the commemoration, speakers addressed the crowd at St George’s Gardens. Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn criticized anti-migrant rhetoric in British politics, stating that anti-racism requires opposing all forms of racism. Tower Hamlets Mayor Lutfur Rahman also spoke, emphasizing that the anniversary serves as a reminder of the resistance against fascism.