I recently went to the 0161 Festival in Moston, Manchester which was a 3 day anti-fascist music event. Really well organised and an all-round great 3 days and 1 night but something struck me. There were a surprising number of RASH (Red and Anarchist Skinheads) at the event and I knew they were around but I was surprised by the number. Nevertheless they seemed to be unconnected and it dawned on me that there could be something very good in this. The fact that there are RASH around is good enough in itself but it could be much better with the formation of a Northern RASH Network made up of individuals and groups across the North. It seemed that at 0161 Festival alone there were sufficient numbers of RASH to justify setting up a network and I know there are more in the North than were at 0161.

The core founding RASH aims and principles are:

• To dispel the myth, in both the media and in mind of the general public, that all skinheads are racist.

• To keep alive and expand the true skinhead subculture through means such as music (Oi!, Ska, Reggae, Soul, Hardcore, Street Punk, etc.), fashion, fanzines, fliers, concerts, dancehalls, and gatherings.

• To create a space for left-wing ideas to exist in the skinhead scene.

• To combat, physically and politically, the existence of far-Right ideas in the skinhead scene.

• To win back the good name of our subculture from the boneheads and racists.

• To articulate the connection between the young, working-class, multi-racial skinhead subculture and left-wing ideas.

• To organize for the physical self-defense of left-wing skinheads from attack by all those who declare themselves our enemies.

• To participate as an active, organized force of anti-racist skinheads in the radical Left and anti-fascist movements.

• To make sure our vision of the anti-fascist radical Left (working-class, multi-racial, street based and militant) continues to exist

How can I justify setting up a Northern RASH Network beyond the numbers? Simply because skinhead culture needs to be reclaimed from the boneheads (Nazi (fake) ‘skinheads’) and to have it’s working-class composition, traditions, history and characteristics preserved. Skinheads need to link up with eachother to be increasingly present on anti-fascist, anti-racist, anti-sexist, anti-homophobe, anti-capitalist etc. events. This will counter prejudice from both the general public and from the left itself (Many of whom still have the ridiculous idea that skinhead means racist). Skinheads (In a Northern RASH Network) can share resources and numbers. Perhaps a Northern RASH Network could even affiliate to the Anti-Fascist Network in order to play a part in the wider antifa scene and also work towards fighting against the grey zone.

If you or your group are interested in being part of the formation of a Northern RASH Network then get in touch at:

obscene-turtle@riseup.net