Red Action

For the Croatian group, see Red Action (Croatia).

Red Action was a small British radical leftist political group formed in 1981. It became known for violently confronting fascist opponents on the streets, and for being the main organisational force behind Anti-Fascist Action. In 1995, The Independent estimated that it had between 20 and 30 branches with 10-15 activists in each, and the paper stated that the group "enthusiastically espouses the use of violence"; it also set out links between Red Action and the Irish republican movement, and stated that members operate primarily in large cities such as London, Manchester, Leeds and Glasgow.

The group was formed by activists who had been expelled from the Socialist Workers Party (SWP) for their involvement in squadism (violent actions against far right racist groups). The expelled activists regrouped around a paper named Red Action. After several years, the group became more interested in the electoral process, and it joined the Red Front electoral alliance in 1987 and the Socialist Alliance in England and Wales in 1999. Red Action members then left this organisation, along with the Socialist Party, citing the domination of the SWP over the organisation. Some Red Action members went on to found the Independent Working Class Association.

It has been claimed that members of Red Action were involved in an IRA bombing in Warrington in 1993.

External links

• Red Action archive
• "Left Wing Political Pariah": history of Red Action by Mark Hayes
• Red Action material at Libcom
• As Soon As This Pub Closes - Red Action section satirical profile by John Sullivan