Physical Resistance: A Hundred Years of Anti-Fascism

A history of UK anti-fascist action by D. Hann, updated by Louise Purbrick Large-scale confrontations, disruption of meetings, sabotage and street fighting have been part of the practice of anti-fascism from the early twentieth century until the twenty-first. Rarely endorsed by any political party, the use of collective bodily strength remains a strategy of activists working in alliances and coalitions against fascism. In Physical Resistance famous battles against fascists, from the Olympia arena, Earls Court in 1934 and Cable Street in 1936 to Southall in 1978 and Bradford 2010, are told through the voices of participants. Anarchists, communists and socialists who belonged to a shifting series of anti-fascist organizations relate well-known events alongside many forgotten but significant episodes. Book details: Title: Physical Resistance Subtitle: A Hundred Years of Anti-Fascism Author: Dave Hann Updated and revised by: Louise Purbrick Cover pictures: Guy Smallman Format: A5 paperback, 320 pages Publisher: Active Distribution and Freedom Press Published: February 2025 ISBN: 9781904491484 About the contributors: Dave Hann, anti-fascist activist and writer, pieced together a collective history of anti-fascism that also redefines political activity as the participation in street protests rather than adhering to a party line. Physical Resistance was completed following his death in 2009. Louise Purbrick inherited and edited the original Physical Restistance manuscript has produced this updated edition. Dave Hann’s collective history is extended into the twenty-first century to include the making of the Anti-Fascist Network, the AFN, which organised locally and autonomusly to oppose the English Defence League. The commitment to amplifying the voices of anti-fascists continues across time, from the first draft to this new book. Activists tell their own story.