Event    From 4/10/1936  To 4/10/1936

Battle of Cable Street

Mosley planned to march thousands of his British Union of Fascists through the East End of London, an area where many Jews lived. This attracted a lot of opposition which prompted the police to provide a 10,000 strong escort for the march. Most of the marchers and also the counter-protesters were not locals, they came here specifically for the event.

The anti-fascists (Jews, Socialists, Anarchists, Communists, Irish) put up barricades and attacked the police when they tried to clear the street. People were throwing things at the police from the windows along the street. Mosley agreed that his marchers should go elsewhere, leaving the police to battle it out with the anti-fascists. 150 were arrested and about 100 people including women, children and police were injured. Two important outcomes: political parties were banned from wearing uniforms; it became obligatory to obtain police consent for political rallies.

Almost exactly 83 years later the similar anti-fascist Battle of Lewisham took place.

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This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Battle of Cable Street

Commemorated ati

Battle of Cable Street - Dock Street

The red colour of this plaque is, we're sure, chosen on purely aesthetic grou...

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Cable Street mural

From a letter to the Guardian from Desmond Rochfort, 26 September 2016: Dan J...

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Cable Street mural - Mosley

There must be a story to explain why Mosley is shown in his underwear, but we...

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Other Subjects

Charles Beauclerk, Duke of St Albans

Charles Beauclerk, Duke of St Albans

Illegitimate son of Nell Gwynne and Charles II.  Born at his mother's house in Lincoln's Inn Fields.  Served the monarch as a soldier in a number of battles.  Died at Bath. 

Person, Armed Forces, Politics & Administration

1 memorial
John de Vere, 12th Earl of Oxford

John de Vere, 12th Earl of Oxford

Born in Essex.  Caught supporting the wrong side when Edward IV assumed the throne, he was arrested and convicted of high treason which led to the loss of his head at Tower Hill.

Person, Execution, Politics & Administration

1 memorial
John Joseph Dorey

John Joseph Dorey

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Person, Politics & Administration

1 memorial
David J. Keep

David J. Keep

Town Clerk of Bethnal Green in 1922, 1926, 1937.

Person, Politics & Administration

3 memorials
Cllr. Maurice Heaster

Cllr. Maurice Heaster

Conservative councillor. Mayor of Wandsworth in 1985. Chair of the Wandsworth Policy and Finance Committee 1994. Awarded an OBE in 2010 when he had "been a councillor for 40 years, and deputy leade...

Person, Politics & Administration

1 memorial