ROY HATTERSLEY and his Sparkbrook cohorts are threatening a witch-hunt against members of the constituency who set up a black section two weeks ago. An emergency GMC called two days after it was formed decided to look into disciplinary action against those who took part, and also those involved in Thursday night's Bandung file programme on Channel 4, which exposed Hattersley's methods in maintaining his The day before, Hattersley addressed a public meeting in the constituency at which he announced that 'Sparkbrook Labour Party will not be divided against itself — particularly by that most vicious of all combinations, extremist infiltrators damaging the real Labour Party with the enthusiastic cooperation of the Tory Press.' Hattersley's threats are the vicious sharp edge of Kinnock's attack on black sections. They hang ominiously over a conference in which the black sections already claim a million votes in their support — including the NUR, whose executive voted last Wednesday by 11-4 to support black sections, against Jimmy Knapp's express Socialist Action spoke to AMIR KHAN, the Sparkhill councillor leading the move to form a Sparkbrook black section.
despite all the of self-organisation. That's hostility to black sections think we have to resist all amtempis to pre tersley, did you decide to vent this. We have to stand It's I think it is very important very important this that black people discuss stage that black people try the issue of black sections, to explain our white inat they discuss their own collades lial we Suller a problems and the question lot of problems and it's us that have to decide how within the best to raise these within the party. Black people Roy try to stop me? have to get together to do this. And that means black sections within the Labour isting The Labour Party has always been the mass organisation of the work- beople! ing class, and black people have always supported We therefore have a basic right in the Labour Party to organise black sections.
Roy has said discuss that section in tney saying DAL. would YUL they black don't Roy Hat- even have only representa- tatives.
last year, COMPLiCI enough.
. Some of many wno Will of the people who Are you Roy Hattersley is wrong when he says that coun people, cillors in the constituency been were selected and elected No, don't think it is LIONE when stood there lot hostility i stood as a black candidate won. Roy didn't want me and he worked against me. leaders is But I got selected. People high. voled tor me because 0] my political beliets, not because I am Amir Khan. Roy or whatever, and part oi my political beliefs iș support for the black sections and indeed racist.
If that was on merit, then why did «ine oranary not them who people They even We don't right It's worse without The So taken for city ward, the feeling very has said I don't agree. There are specific a black people. fect black people, Afro-Caribbean or Asian: unemployment, apalling living conditions. police harassment racist attacks. He can't compare OuT problems with those of white people.
He also said that to divide the between whites and the rest is better than apartheid What do you feel abou that?
Apartheid is part and parcel of the oppression of black people by white peo. Phat with black sections. can't compare We aren't oppressors. We the oppressed. We have to organise to defend ourselves We have to organise to get our rights like women's groups. an insult to us to compare black sell-organisation within the labour party with apartheid What has happened sinc the launch of the black sec tion?
black sections is increasing every day. When you walk on the roads, everybody wants to discuss the issue At least the debate is taking place. In the Sparkhill ward meeting on Thursday we had a very good discusLook, it lack people s People were saying right organise whichever way want. It's our basic right.' They oreanse. threat of disciplinary measures is, of serious. But it is a matte conscience. Peopl believe what they believe and I don't think i anyone is intimidation doesn't work, and at the end of the day it I will be our beliefs that will win through. Sup.
bening to a Lot People beginning to when going come and help us organise" our own black section?
Photo: ANNETTE SANDY HELEN CARR (TURC