Northern Carnival Against the Nazis: 40th Anniversary project launch

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The Northern Carnival against the Nazis – a rally and concert held on 15 July 1978 in Moss Side, Manchester – was a defining moment in establishing anti-racism in the city and beyond. The 15,000 people who marched across town and the 40,000 people who danced in Alexandra Park that day didn’t just make racism no longer respectable. They made it uncool.

Co-organised by Geoff Brown (the Anti-Nazi League) and Bernie Wilcox (Rock Against Racism), the Carnival featured incendiary live performances by Buzzcocks, Steel Pulse and Moss Side reggae band Exodus. They were joined by post-punk bands Gang of Four, Frantic Elevators and others, who played on trucks to accompany the marchers.

To celebrate this pivotal moment in Manchester’s fight against racism, Manchester Digital Music Archive and the Ahmed Iqbal Ullah Education Trust have brought together the original organisers of the Carnival for a panel discussion and all-day event exploring its impact and continuing relevance today.

This event will also be the official launch of our Heritage Lottery-funded project and exhibition celebrating the Carnival. 

Photo: Marchers at Strangeways © John Sturrock 
Photo: Front row action at Alexandra Park © John Sturrock 

Special thanks to Manchester Central Library.

**** FILMS, PERFORMANCES & ACTIVITIES TO BE ANNOUNCED****

PLEASE NOTE: Timings are currently approximate and will be confirmed soon.

12.00 A series of films introduced by Geoff Brown 

13.45 Break

14.15 Poet (TBC)

14.30 Panel Discusion

15.45 Recording memories  – share your memories of the Carnival with our project volunteers

16.45 Close

PANEL

RAMILA PATEL (Bolton Asian Youth Movement)

On July 15th 1978, Ramila Patel of Bolton Asian Youth Movement addressed a crowd of 15,000 anti-racism protesters that had amassed in the car park of Strangeways prison to march across town to Alexandra Park in Moss Side – the main site of the Northern Carinval Against the Nazis. Ramila was asked to give the address by Anti-Nazi League organsier Geoff Brown, following her brave stance against National Front leader Martin Webster at a previous demo, in which she marched alone in defiance of Webster holding a placard saying ‘This man is a Nazi’. Ramila is now Head of Visual Arts at Waterford Kamhlaba United World College of Southern Africa.

BERNIE WILCOX (Rock Against Racism)

Bernie Wilcox was the original organiser of Rock Against Racism in Manchester and was, with Geoff Brown of the Anti Nazi League, one of the instigators and prime movers behind the Northern Carnival Against The Nazis in 1978. Bernie has since forged a successful business career owning specialist recruitment businesses. Anti-racism, socialism and music are still close to his heart.

GEOFF BROWN (Anti-Nazi League)

Geoff became a revolutionary socialist at university in 1968, active in the campaign against the US war in Vietnam. His first arrest was for chalking slogans on his college wall, his second for obstructing a police officer at an anti-National Front protest. Joining the International Socialists (from 1977 the Socialist Workers Party) he moved to Manchester in 1972. When the Anti Nazi League was founded in late 1977 he became its Manchester organiser, helping saturate the city with leaflets, badges and protests and getting fifty coaches and minibuses, about 2,500 people, to the first Anti Nazi League/Rock Against Racism carnival in London in April 1978. Geoff went on to be a union tutor, working with shop stewards and on projects abroad, particularly in Pakistan. He was union branch secretary till he was victimised for his trade union activity, after which he was a part time official for his union, finishing in 2015. He is now active as a historian of Manchester ‘from below’.

Chaired by ABIGAIL WARD (Manchester Digital Music Archive)

Supported by by Heritage Lottery Fund

Thanks to National Lottery players, Heritage Lottery Fund invests money to help people across the UK explore, enjoy and protect the heritage they care about – from the archaeology under our feet to the historic parks and buildings we love, from precious memories and collections to rare wildlife. 

Supported by Futura

Futura are the north’s leading Rec2Rec headhunting specialists. Established in 2001, they provide experienced recruitment professionals to the very best recruitment agencies in the country.