Fighting Talk, Summer 1997

Many thanks to the person who forwarded this leaflet to the Archive. This is a two page document from Anti-Fascist Ireland produced in Summer 1997. As noted previously:

Anti-Fascist Action Ireland was founded in 1991. As it says on its Facebook page:

AFA is dedicated to confronting fascism, both physically and politi­cally, in whatever guise it might take” and “As expected, the group’s work is diverse. Small-scale activities involve the removing of racist graffiti and stickers, leafleting an area where there has been a case of fascist activity and organising ben­efit gigs. More substantial projects include getting involved in football related anti-racist initiatives, writing and producing a magazine called No Quarter and mobilising large numbers to physically confront neo-Nazis when the time calls.

This documents notes on the main article that:

Anti-Fascist Action was founded in Ireland in 1991. Since then, due tot he low level of racist activity in Ireland, we have operated as a ‘network’ organisation providing information to people interested in anti fascist issues in Ireland, Britain and Europe. In the past few months the situation has changed dramatically due to the hostile reaction of many Irish people towards refugees.

The hysteria whipped up by the media and politicians has contributed to the dangerous and worsening situation.

The racist nature of much of the media coverage has given the impression that lreland is being overrun with crimiinal spongers, rather than the reality that a relatively smalI number of desperate people have come here fleeing from persecution, war and poverty.

At present our activity is aimed at dispelling the widespread lies and stereotypes – about refugees. In the past two months we have held leafleting and postering sessions in Phibsboro, Cabria, Summerhill, Ballybough, Crumlin, the SCR, the City Centre and other areas.

And:

We believe that racism must be fought on two levels.

On the one hand many people – who rightly feel abandoned by politicians – are dealing with the reality of unemployment, low pay, crime and drugs, and are now being encouraged to blame refugees for the problems of Irish people.

AFA is making it clear that the blame for poverty, lack of housing, crime, etc. lies with the government, not the refugees.

There are a small number of people attempting to stir up hatred by producing racist posters, stickers and leaflets and carrying out physical attacks. For these p.eople there will be ZERO TOLERANCE. AFA will not allow the emergence of an organised racist or fascist group here.

The document also has an account of Racist Attacks in Dublin and notes both the history of Anti Fascist Action and the African Refugee Network.

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