Resistance Library: Resistance to the Far Right
For many, the resurgence of racist and fascist attacks and mobilisations has sparked a desire to return to the strategies used to organise and defend Black and Asian communities under attack during the 1970s and 80s, including the East End.
This moment requires creativity and innovation, not complacency. But racist attacks on our homes and communities – and in turn, a rich history of struggle against fascism – is not new, and we have kept ourselves safe for generations, while also maintaining a tradition of internal critique over the way forward.
This Resistance Library event will look at what lessons we can take from the past, both in their successes and failures, and collectively consider what strategies and models are needed to respond to the threat of fascism today.
Details of reading materials and question prompts
Date : Thursday 28th August
Time: 6PM
Place: Pelican House, E1 5QJ
In July and August of 2024, the people of Bangladesh defied all expectation to overthrow the violently repressive, authoritarian regime of Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League. Weeks of street protests held ground against the combined violence of the police and the regime’s student wing, and suffering a death toll of at least 1,400.
In the aftermath, the military-backed Interim Government has largely dissipated the radical potential of the uprising, while rightwing forces are in ascendance. But the forces that drove people into the streets remain: crushing economic conditions, social violence, and large-scale looting of public wealth. These are not isolated crises — they are the result of how capitalism is structured and sustained in Bangladesh. To chart a path forward, we must understand the system that gave rise to this moment, and how today’s political players are navigating — or upholding — it.
More details and to download/purchase a copy of the book/pamphlet.
Date : Tuesday 12th August
Time: 6PM
Place: Pelican House, E1 5QJ
Join us to reflect on the legacy of anti-fascist organising in Britain — from the 1970s to today, our communities have always resisted. One year on from last summer’s pogroms, we come together to honour that history and look forward.
Date : Tuesday 24th July
Time: 6PM
Place: Oxford House
Housing and exorbitant rents have become defining issues our time – casting a shadow over the lives of working class people, but also serving as a flashpoint of struggle and politicisation for the masses. In recent years one of Nijjor Manush’s key campaigns has been the Save Brick Lane campaign and with it the issue of gentrification in the area.
For the first session of our Resistant Library reading group we will be exploring the centrality of Housing and housing campaigning in the development and defence of communities historically in the East End.
We will be looking back on how housing has been secured through the likes of the East End squatters’ movement and earlier tenants organising, and how campaigning around housing can be bound up with broader political fights, such as the struggle against fascism.
Date : Thursday 24th April 2025
Time: 6PM
Location: Bricklane Bookshop
Nijjor Manush are excited to co-host a Tower Hamlet community Iftar on wednesday 5th March in pelican house (Cambridge heath road)
This is a pot-luck event so please do bring a dish if you are able (ensuring there are no nuts & food is labelled).
Bring a friend, bring a neighbour and let’s celebrate the start of Ramadan amongst new friends and old!
Date : Wednesday 5th March 2025
Time: 5 PM
Location: Pelican House
SELF DEFENCE IS NO OFFENCE! A HISTORY OF ANTI-RACISM IN EAST LONDON
From the 1936 Battle of Cable Street to the Altab Ali protests in 1978, to the resistance against the English Defence League and the Palestine solidarity demonstrations in 2024, East London has a rich and proud history of successfully organising against racist organisations, the police and states.
In this public meeting, we will hear from some of those involved in these past and present struggles against racism, and learn about the ways in which local communities and groups were able to analyse, organise, confront and resist fascism and racism. As the far-right attempt to remobilise and attack our communities, we think about what lessons we can learn to build an effective working-class, multi-racial, anti-racist movement that keeps each another safe and defeats the far-right.
Date : Thursday, 27th February
Time: 7 PM onwards
Place: Rich Mix
Join us for the launch of our JCB: Stop bulldozer genocide campaign.
JCB is a British manufacturing company who’s subsidiaries are accused of allowing the equipment to be utilised in systematic oppression of Muslims in India, ongoing occupation in Kashmir, and expanding settlements in Palestine.
Learn more about our campaign, hearing from experts and find out how you can actively get involved.
Date : Sunday 12th January
Time: 3PM
Place: Pelican House, E1 5QJ
Victory-Day mela fundraising for Palestinian advocates legal aid.
This will be a family fun-filled day with live music, workshops, henna, food and more.
Date : Saturday 14th December
Time: 12 – 4 PM
Location: Mulberry and Bigland Green Centre
Join us for an exclusive film screening of the documentary The Blockade, including a Q&A with the director.
The Blockade documents the direct action taken by American and Bangladeshi peace activists in the US to prevent arms being shipped by their government to the West Pakistani government during 1971, at the height of the genocide and Bangladeshi Liberation War.
With the UK still refusing a meaningful arms embargo to Israel and with activists across the world taking action into their own hands to block material used for Israel’s slaughter in Gaza, this is a timely reminder of the power and importance of grassroots organising.
Date : Sunday 26th June
Time: 7.45 PM onwards
Place: Rich Mix
We have called for a non-partisan demonstration in the heart of the Bangladeshi community in Britain, in solidarity with Bangladeshi students and youth against violent repression at the hands of the Bangladeshi state.
This will be both a solidarity rally and a teach-in to learn more about what is happening on the ground.
In light of the British government’s own complicity with the Bangladeshi state, including their training of the notorious Rapid Action Battalion, and their recent agreement to fast track deportations of Bangladeshi asylum seekers, their words of concern of the demonstrations ring hollow.
Therefore we stand as Bangladeshi and non-Bangladeshis in Britain with protestors in Bangladesh: for their demand for a more just reform of the quota system, for the deepening of democratic struggle in Bangladesh, and for an end to British complicity in the Bangladeshi state’s violent repression.
Thank you to Debashish Chakrabarty for lending us your beautiful art work.
Date : Sunday 28th November
Time: 13:30 – 16:00 GMT
Place: Toynbee Hall, 28 Commercial St, London, E1 6LS
“Labour Tory both the same, both play the racist game” – Asian Youth Movement of the 1970s
Last week’s election saw the end of 14 years of Conservative Party-led rule – but was marked across the country and in our communities by deep anger and dissatisfaction at the main choices on offer, and at the limitations of the British political system.
But politics and the fight for popular democracy do not start or end at the ballot box – there are older traditions of independent left-wing, community-rooted Asian organising, as well as ongoing efforts around Palestine today, that we can learn from and adapt as we enter a new phase in Britain.
Therefore Nijjor Manush are inviting you to Hayre politics: The future of Asian organising in Britain, a community discussion event to both recover and learn from those older traditions, and to collectively think through the ways forward for organising Bengali and Asian communities now.
- What is the path ahead for a community politics that exists outside of the Parliamentary system?
- Can we develop a common political agenda within our communities?
- Can we even speak of a unified ‘community politics’ today when our communities span renters to landlords, low-wage workers to bosses?
Hayre politics will be space for discussing and reflecting on these questions and more, and we want to hear from you all.
Date : 25th July
Time: Pelican House
Register here: https://outsavvy.com/Pages/Event.aspx?eventid=21214
They Cannot Extinguish The Moon: Political Prisoners from South Asia to Palestine
Join us for the second teach-in hosted by the South Asians for Palestine coalition, focusing on political prisoners from South Asia to Palestine, to discuss how their resistance to settler colonialism and state violence are criminalised, and how we in Britain can challenge attempts to suppress our support of their struggles.
Our speakers will draw together the role of Political Prisoners in occupied Palestine to the broader Palestinian liberation struggle, along with struggles of prisoners in present-day Kashmir, Pakistan and India.
Date : Sunday 26th June
Time: 7.45 PM onwards
Place: Rich Mix
Nijjor Manush x The Rights Collective Presents –
Join us for our first teach-in for the “South Asians for Palestine” series. Exploring the historical solidarity between Palestine and south Asian countries/communities.
It is through learning about these shared struggles that we can continue to expand on these rich traditions of solidarity.
Date : Sunday 28th November
Time: 13:30 – 16:00 GMT
Place: Toynbee Hall, 28 Commercial St, London, E1 6LS
Join us for a memorial and then evening of film, discussion and photographs to remember the lives lost at Rana Plaza.
Date : Monday 24th April
Time: 5.30 PM – Meet at Altab Ali Park for memorial
Place: Toynbee Hall, 28 Commercial St, London, E1 6LS
The Save Brick Lane Coalition are taking Tower Hamlets Council to the High Court on the 29th & 30th June to challenge The Truman Brewery planning application. We now need your help to raise 15k in legal costs. We have a real chance to win this.
With over 7k+ objections, 140 local traders in opposition & a letter of objection signed by more then 550 local residents, the public have rejected this proposal!
Date : Sunday 26th June
Time: 7.45 PM onwards
Place: Rich Mix
Join the Save Brick Lane coalition and other local groups for a vegan-inspired iftar.
The iftar marks the end of fasting for the day and will include vegan and vegetarian dishes.
Attendees to the iftar are asked to bring their own dish to share with others, but don’t worry if you can’t as there will be plenty of food available.
The evening will include informal discussions, poetry and spoken word.
Date : Sunday 28th November
Time: 13:30 – 16:00 GMT
Place: Toynbee Hall, 28 Commercial St, London, E1 6LS
Bangla Fora is a common colloquial term used by the Bengali community for children’s education programs that were popularised in the ’70s and ’80s in an effort for the Bengali community to connect and link their children to their community and culture. Our Bangla Fora will include 10 online webinars available to take live and view as recordings.
The course curriculum will develop participants skills as community organisers and activists while grounding them in the historical context of wider bangladeshi activism in the UK. The course will mix deep dives into the history of the Bangladeshi diaspora and its activism in the 70s and 80s with training in modern anti racism techniques, digital campaigning and community outreach.
Delivered by experts in the field, we will cover topics ranging from a History of Bengali anti-colonial resistance, storytelling and building narrative, navigating the UK politics systems, unionism: from Grunwick to Uber drivers, disrupting systems and more!
Resources and links to videos can be found here.
Join Nijjor Manush and Save Latin Village in conversation around their respective collective action campaigns against gentrification.
It’s a chance to find out how the community can come together around issues that affect them in order to make change.
They will discuss:
- Methods they use within their organisations to engage the community in issues that affect them
- How to challenge private developers and the council.
- They will also discuss challenges they face within their organising.
This session is for 15 – 25 year olds.
Photo credit Mario Washington-Ihieme @maz_o
Date : Sunday 28th November
Time: 13:30 – 16:00 GMT
Place: Toynbee Hall, 28 Commercial St, London, E1 6LS
Join us as we celebrate 50 years of Bangladesh with an exciting guest panel. With Dr Fatima Rajina and author Shahnaz Ahsan, we’ll be digging deep into the role art has played in the formation of Bangladesh, the legacy and impact of the 1971 Independence War on women, as well as exploring how this history impacts current topics such as the Save Brick Lane movement, and the rising persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh.
This event is held in partnership with An Indian Summer Festival.
Organised and hosted by ForwardCulture
Date : Sunday 5th December
Time: 11:00 – 12:30 GMT
Place: Zoom – register for link
Join us for potentially our last demonstration to show them that we do not want this social cleansing mall to go through! Come dressed in black.
Date: Sunday 12th September 2021
Time:11.30am
Place: Altab Ali Park
We have teamed up with @iwgb_union to continue organising Brick Lane!
Come join us for some face-to-face leafleting and organising on Brick Lane in London, 6pm on Fri 27th of August
💥 Want to learn about & practice recruiting workers into a trade union?
💥 Fancy meeting up with a cracking group of people and having a social?!
Date: 27th August 2021
Time:6pm
Place: Casa Blue, E2 6DG
We look forward to seeing you all tomorrow!
The council are attempting to deter us and break down the movement we have built by continuously deferring the development committee meeting!
We must show that we will not be deterred and we will not get complacent. This is a long battle ahead, one we are winning.
We will still be meeting this Sunday to galvanise, strengthen our support and show the council and the Truman Brewery that We will not give up and fight this till this proposal is REJECTED ✊🏽✊🏽✊🏿✊🏼✊🏻
Poster by @nurquhuman
Date: 18th July 2021
Time:12pm
Place: Altab Ali Park
Join us as we march from Altab Ali Park down to brick lane ✊🏽✊🏽
Wear colourful clothes, bring pots & pans to make noise! wear a face mask & follow government guidelines on social distancing
We say no to gentrification! no to social cleansing & no to this development!
#savebricklane
Date: Sunday 13th June 2021
Time:11.45am
Place: Altab Ali Park
Bangladesh at 50 – Discussing the 1971 Liberation War.
Come & join NijjorManush members discuss our earliest memories of hearing about the Liberation War from our relatives.
Date: 26th March2021
Time:6pm
Place: Zoom Link
Join us virtually on Saturday 20th Feb from 5PM U.K. TIME. For a fun, chill quiz night to help you learn and practice your Bangla/Sylheti and celebrate our Mother Tongue!
Date: Saturday 20th February 2021
Time:5pm – 7pm
Place: Zoom Link
Amar Doctor is a group of medics + professionals who have set up a series of health education workshops focused on Bangladeshi women’s health.
Date: October 3rd 2020
Time: 3pm – 4pm
Place: Zoom
Nijjor Manush presents Matri Basha: games night
Following the feedback from our last event, we have decided to create a safe space where you can learn, practice, and have discussions in Bangla and Sylheti in a fun environment.
There’ll be games, snacks, discussions and a lot more!
Date: 3rd May 2019
Time:6pm
Place: Queen Mary University, E1 4NT
Nijjor manush presents our second event, ‘matri basha: can we hold onto our language?’ come through and get your free tickets today!
Date: 22nd February 2019
Time:6pm
Place: Surma Community Centre, NW1 3JU
Join us at St George’s University for a talk on the Bengali Diaspora
Date: Monday 26th November 2018
Time:5pm
Place: St Georges University, Lecture Theatre A
Join us this Wednesday! Our team will be speaking in the first half!
Date: 6th June 2018
Time:10.30am – 4.45pm
Place: London School of Economics
Join us for our first ever event!
Date: Saturday 24th March 2018
Time:5pm – 7pm
Place: Kobi Nazrul Centre, E1 6QR