Class War protest at Downing Street, 2016

Class War is an anarchist group[1][2] and newspaper established by Ian Bone and others in 1983[3] in the United Kingdom. An incarnation of Class War was briefly registered as a political party for the purposes of fighting the 2015 United Kingdom general election.

Events

In the 1980s, Class War organised a number of "Bash The Rich" demonstrations, in which supporters were invited to march through and disrupt wealthier areas of London such as Kensington, and Henley-on-Thames, bearing banners and placards with slogans such as "Behold your future executioners!"[4]

A third Bash the Rich event, scheduled to march through Hampstead, in 1985 was largely prevented by a heavy police presence and was acknowledged by Class War to have been a failure. This event was seen by many as a major setback for the group and many members left to form other groups or drifted away.[5]

2010s onwards

Class War at the Anti Austerity demonstration, London, June 2015

In the 2010s, Ian Bone revived Class War as a political party.[6] Their activities included a weekly protest about "poor doors" outside One Commercial Street in Aldgate, with Action East End and Freedom News.[7] These protests ended in partial victory in November 2014.[8][9] Group member Lisa McKenzie was found not guilty under joint enterprise for causing criminal damage.[10]

Class War also encouraged a demonstration against the Jack the Ripper Museum.[10]

In the 2015 United Kingdom general election, Class War stood seven candidates which received a total of 526 votes. The party was voluntarily deregistered with the electoral commission in July 2015.[11]

In July 2021, a group emerged at the London School of Economics called 'LSE Class War' demanding the abolition of the LSESU Hayek Society, a private-school-free LSE and a David Graeber lecture series to commemorate the life of the late academic.[12] The President of the LSESU Hayek Society responding saying they were "totally illegitimate" and have, "no affiliation to the Students' Union, no affiliation to the university and they're not an official campaign of the Students' Union".[13]

References

  1. ↑ Walker, Peter (29 September 2015). "Class War accuses Cereal Killer Cafe owners of 'milking publicity'". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 3 April 2016. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  2. ↑ Haynes, Gavin (2015). "This Is How London's Anarchists Prepared for This Year's May Day Protests". Vice News. Archived from the original on 25 March 2016. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
  3. ↑ Barberis, Peter; McHugh, John; Tyldesley, Mike; Pendry, Helen (2000). Encyclopedia of British and Irish Political Organizations: Parties, Groups and Movements of the Twentieth Century. London & New York: Pinter. ISBN 9781855672642.
  4. ↑ "Even anarchists like a little romance". 13 February 2009. Archived from the original on 16 February 2009. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
  5. ↑ Home, Stewart (1988). The Assault on Culture: Utopian Currents from Lettrisme to Class War. London: Aporia Press & Unpopular Books. ISBN 9780948518881.
  6. ↑ Croucher, Shane (8 April 2015). "This party is standing at #GE2015 'because all other candidates are scum'". International Business Times UK. Archived from the original on 7 November 2018. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
  7. ↑ "Poor Doors - Class War". Class War. Archived from the original on 1 May 2015. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  8. ↑ "Anarchists Have Nearly Defeated the 'Poor Doors' On a London Block of Flats | VICE | United Kingdom". VICE. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  9. ↑ "CLASS WAR WINS ROUND ONE IN POOR DOORS BATTLE - Class War". Class War. Archived from the original on 18 November 2015. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  10. 1 2 Gayle, Damien (21 October 2015). "Class War protester cleared of criminal damage at poor doors demonstration". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 20 November 2018. Retrieved 25 November 2018.
  11. ↑ "Class War [De-registered 06/07/15]". The Electoral Commission.
  12. ↑ Steerpike (26 July 2021). "LSE campaign demands Hayek Society abolition". The Spectator. Archived from the original on 23 August 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2021.
  13. ↑ Jhangiani, Sachin (5 November 2021). "What makes a conservative? Right wing politics at LSE". The Beaver.
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