What happened

"And it was not just a question of Jews being there on 4th October, the most amazing thing was to see a silk-coated Orthodox Jew standing next to an Irish docker with a grappling iron. This was absolutely unbelievable. Because it is not a question of... a punch-up between the Jews and fascists, it was a question of the people who understood what fascism was. And in my case it meant the continuation of the struggle in Spain"
Charlie Goodman, quoted in "The Battle Of Cable Street, 1936"

In 1936 civil war had broken out in Spain. Men from across Europe went to fight against Franco's dictatorship as part of the International Brigade. The rallying cry of the anti-Franco forces was "No Pasaran!" - they shall not pass. Meanwhile Fascist regimes had already come to power in Italy and Germany. Sir Oswald Mosley admired and emulated these European fascist movements - his supporters were 'blackshirts' because they wore black military style uniforms.

Mosley planned to march with his Blackshirts through the East End of London, then the most multicultural part of the capital. Large numbers of Jewish and Irish people lived there - and also a Somali community. The march was known about weeks in advance, and the events of Cable Street were not spontaneous: many people travelled from other parts of the country to take part in the confrontation on one side or the other. In the days before the Battle of Cable Street, the Spanish civil war slogan "No Pasaran!" was written on walls and pavements around Cable Street.

On the day of the Battle, police mounted on horses attempted to escort the British Union of Fascists through the area, but they were turned back by barricades, and locals armed with bottles, hot water and other improvised weapons. Dozens of people were hospitalised and arrested in fierce clashes, but no-one was killed. Finally unable to pass down Cable Street, the fascists turned back and marched instead through the deserted streets of the City of London.

The defeat at Cable Street arguably had some short term benefits for the BUF: they recruited many thousands more members immediately after the confrontation, but 1936 was the height of their power, and they gradually became a discredited organisation. The Battle also prompted the passing of the Public Order Act of 1936 controlled public processions made it illegal for members of a political party to march in uniform.

The Battle of Cable Street became significant in foreshadowing events to come - one of the few victories against fascism before the Second World War. It also had a huge impact on East Enders for a generation:

'Now a few years later I met Charlie, my husband. And one of the first questions he asked me was "Where were you on October 4th? Everybody laughs at this, but this is what East Enders asked themselves in those days.. And I said 'I was at Gardiner's' and said 'I was there too'. And I said 'I might have missed you, there were a few thousand there'.

And he said 'You might have seen me. Can you remember a young fellow climbing up a lamp-post and calling to the crowd?' And I clearly remembered it. Because we were being pushed back, the police were shoving us back, and suddenly this young man got up on a lamp-post and shouted: 'Come on you yellow bellies, don't let them push you back, come forward!' And that, of course, was Charlie.'
Joyce Goodman, quoted in the "The Battle Of Cable Street, 1936"

Commemorating Cable Street today:

1. The Cable Street Group are holding a series of events on Cable Street itself on Sunday October 8th. They include a photography exhibition, as well as a procession, theatre and music. The day will be opened by poet Michael Rosen and his father Harold, who was at the battle of Cable Street.

2. The Jewish East End Celebration Society are running a series of walks, and also a seminar that looks in depth at the myths and realities of the Battle of Cable Street. Oswald Mosley's son, Nicholas, will be talking about the events around the battle.

3. Visit the Cable Street mural. Much of Cable Street has changed beyond recognition since the battle, with modern estates and a railway line cutting through the area. However, there are a number of original houses near Shadwell tube, and close by, a house that has been decorated with scenes recalling the battle. There's a good picture of the whole mural here

4. The filmmaking team Film For Humanity have been helping young people from London produce films using the Battle of Cable Street as a springboard. The results will be touring schools during the autumn. You can see the results here - including an introduction that shows original footage from Cable Street on the day of the battle.

Further Reading

There are many books that touch on the Battle of Cable Street, and give far more detail on the politics behind the events. You may find the following useful:

The Battle Of Cable Street - available from the Cable Street Group for £5. 30 pages. Heavily illustrated it gives oral histories of people present at the battle, along with historical context and a look at the aftermath.

East London for Mosley - The British Union of Fascists 1933 - 40 - Thomas P. Linehan. A detailed story of how the British Union of Fascists organised themselves in London and Essex during the period.

A German website Cable Street Beat Berlin gives detailed interviews with people who were in Cable Street on the day of the battle.