Resist, Reclaim and Reimagine: Remembering the Battle of Cable Street 85 years later

Celebrating the 85th anniversary of this historic moment of community protest and solidarity

On Sunday 3rd October, we celebrated the 85th anniversary of the Battle of Cable Street where East End communities came together to challenge Oswald Mosely and his facists from marching across Cable street. We were joined by some brilliant local organisations and members of the community to remember this historic moment of community protest and solidarity.

On the 4th October 1936, In an era of rising fascism and anti-Semitism in the UK, Oswald Mosely and his fascist party, planned to march through the East End, targeting the Jewish community. Despite public outcry and a petition submitted to parliament to stop the march, it was allowed to go ahead. In protest, around 300,000 people including local Jewish communities and their neighbours, Irish Dockers, Trade Unionists and Communists across the East End and London came together to challenge Oswald Mosely from marching across Cable street.

To mark 85 years since the battle, there was a display of archival material documenting the event itself and following protests in the local area throughout the ages from East End Women’s museum and Four Corners, a protest art workshop run by Riot Soup, a collective of black and brown women artists in London and self-defence moves to protect yourself with Bender Defenders.

We held panel discussions that reflected on the Battle of Cable Street and what it meant for the current struggles our communities face with a wide range of contributors including; Jewish Solidarity Action and Queer Night Pride (reclaiming the streets for LGBT), Yoav Segal (Arts Foundation award-winning film and theatre maker and social-action creative), David Rosenberg (Radical historian and author, of East End Walks) and Saif Osmani (Bengali East End Heritage Society and Save Brick Lane Coalition). Food was also provided by Canvas Café, a local café & basecamp for building change. There was also an anniversary March and Rally at the Cable Street Mural co-chaired by Julie Begum (Swadhinata Trust) and David Rosenberg.

This event wasn’t just about reflecting on the Battle of Cable Street 85 years ago. It served as a reminder that our local heritage is a living part of us and the need to continue the fight and the ongoing struggle for equality. This was an opportunity for local residents to come together to talk and take collaborative action to challenge unfairness, inequality, discrimination and racism and there will be more community led events at Toynbee Hall linking our heritage to current and future challenges over the coming months.

CALL OUT: If you have a personal family connection to the Battle of Cable Street and would like to share your story, we’d love to hear from you. Please contact farha.bi@toynbeehall.org.uk.