Remembering Cable Street and those who continued the fight in Spain

There was a large IBMT contingent among the more than 5,000 people at the 'Cable Street 90' march and rally on Sunday 4 October.

They celebrated the legacy of the Battle of Cable Street exactly 90 years ago, when Sir Oswald Mosley’s fascist Blackshirts were stopped from marching through the mainly Jewish area of Whitechapel in London’s East End.

The battle’s slogan was ‘They shall not pass’ and ‘No pasarán’, and many of the 100,000 protesters who blocked Mosley's antisemitic thugs went on to volunteer in the International Brigades to continue the fight against fascism.

Family members joined IBMT supporters to carry 'Eternal Regiment' placards and photos with the names of some of those for whom Cable Street was the road to Spain.

The placards were produced in conjunction with the Marx Memorial Library and with the help of Unite London & Eastern Region.

Addressing the marchers before they set off, IBMT Secretary Megan Dobney reminded them that ‘No pasarán’ – made famous by La Pasionaria during the Spanish Civil War – remains to this day the rallying cry of all those opposing the far right.

Lou Kenton's daughter, Judy McGuire, with Islington North MP Jeremy Corbyn.

Adam Woolgar, from Ringwood, Hampshire, where British Battalion commander and Cable Street veteran Bill Alexander was born.

Grandsons of Charlie Matthews, Matthew (left) and Tom Happold.

From left, Marx Memorial Library Director Meirian Jump, MML Chair Mary Davis and MML Secretary Simon Renton.