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Local Legends
The stories behind some of the East End's famous people and
events
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| Moseley had organised his British Union of Fascists, who were anti-Jew, to march through Stepney. This alarmed a lot of people as Stepney was mostly Jewish. 100,000 people signed a petition to ban the march, but the Government said that a ban was undemocratic, so allowed it to go on.
Many local people, and the Communist Party gathered on the streets to stop the fascists marching. 6000 police went there to stop any fights, but ended up fighting the people who wanted to stop the march. It was reported that there were between 310,000 and half a million people there. The police could not clear the streets of all these people.
The Blackshirts decided to march down Cable Street, as this street was mainly Jewish. The crowd of anti-fascists overturned a lorry to form a barricade, and pelted the police, who were trying to allow the march, with fruit and bottles. Many police and anti-fascists were injured.
Eventually the Police Commissioner called off the march. The three thousand Blackshirts had to turn around and march through the deserted streets of the City of London where they dispersed. That night there was dancing in the pubs and side streets of the East End to celebrate their victory.
Resources From SLS: The Battle of Cable St” [942.15 CAB]
Image can be seen in "Stepney, Bethnal Green and Poplar", by Rosemary Taylor, page 76.
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Assembly and classroom exhibitions available for use
by Tower Hamlets Schools from Schools Library Service:
Maria Dickin and the Peoples Dispensary for Sick Animals of the Poor.
Clara Grant, the Bundle Women of Bow, and the story of the Fern St. Settlement.
Pheobe Hessel, the Amazon of Stepney.
Levina Teerlinc, Gentlewoman of the Queen.
Sylvia Pankhurst, the Suffragettes, and Votes for Women.
Hannah Billig, the Angel of Stepney.
These exhibitions were developed by young people in Tower Hamlets
with Rosemary Taylor and Doreen Kendall of East London History Society and Maggie Hewitt of Oxford House for Women’s History Week.
Contact the SLS on 020 7364 6428
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