Politics · United Kingdom · 2 days ago
Bradford activist recalls organising against far-right attacks in the 1970s and 80s
Tariq Mehmood, now 70, moved from Pakistan to Bradford in 1967 and says he faced racism from childhood.
In the late 1970s, he helped found the Bradford Asian Youth Movement, which sought equal rights and defended communities from far-right groups.
After disagreements, he joined the United Black Youth League, a group that broke away in 1981.
Mehmood says attacks on South Asian people were frequent and that members organised to help protect their community because they did not trust the police to protect them.
When they heard fascists planned to go to Bradford, hundreds of people, including many white residents, mobilised; some members also made petrol bombs.
Mehmood links their fears to the 1981 New Cross house fire, in which 13 young Black people died, though a racist attack was never proved.
That summer, 12 UBYL members, including Mehmood, were arrested.
Former anti-racist activist Tariq Mehmood says organizing helped protect South Asian communities in Bradford from far-right attacks.
Mehmood migrated from Pakistan to Bradford in 1967 and experienced racism from childhood.
In the late 1970s, he helped found the Bradford Asian Youth Movement, which defended communities and campaigned for equal rights.
After disagreements, Mehmood joined the United Black Youth League, which split from the movement in 1981.
In summer 1981, Mehmood and 11 other league members were arrested.
- Who
- Tariq Mehmood and other members of the United Black Youth League.
- What
- They organized to defend their community against far-right attacks. Mehmood and 11 others were arrested in 1981.
- When
- Mehmood describes events from the late 1970s and summer 1981.
- Where
- Bradford, England.
- Why
- The group organized amid attacks on the South Asian community and distrust of the police.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Mehmood migrated from Pakistan to Bradford.
Mehmood helped found the Bradford Asian Youth Movement.
Mehmood was part of the United Black Youth League, which split from the Asian Youth Movement.
Mehmood and 11 other league members were arrested.
- Mehmood’s age
- 70 at the time of the interview
- Migration
- From Pakistan to Bradford in 1967
- Organization
- Bradford Asian Youth Movement
- Breakaway group
- United Black Youth League, formed in 1981
- Arrests
- 12 league members, including Mehmood, arrested in summer 1981
What people are saying
If you’re not organised, you get picked on. When you’re organised, often they will flee and you don’t have to fight.
We couldn’t trust the police; either they were incapable, or they didn’t care, or they harassed us.
We mobilised hundreds, many of them white, walking around, making sure people knew we were out, they didn’t have anything to fear.
Sources
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