#OTD 1959. In Hampstead, Labour's Dr David Pitt has election hustings interrupted by a White Defence League protest
They shout ‘Keep England White’ and ‘We don’t want England a dumping ground for n******s’ for over 20 minutes before a brawl breaks out
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They shout ‘Keep England White’ and ‘We don’t want England a dumping ground for n******s’ for over 20 minutes before a brawl breaks out
Thread 👇
In 1959 Pitt became the first person of African descent to stand for Parliament for Labour in Hampstead
When he was selected as the candidate in 1957 he received threatening letters telling him not to stand.
When he was selected as the candidate in 1957 he received threatening letters telling him not to stand.
As the election kicked off in September 1959, he received a continuous stream of threatening phone calls to his campaign HQ.
Pitt told The Times:
“A man said that if I valued my life I would withdraw my candidature. If I did not do that ‘We will get you and your family"
“A man said that if I valued my life I would withdraw my candidature. If I did not do that ‘We will get you and your family"
Pitt brushed off the abuse:
“I do not worry about these things too much. They are hooligans”
“I do not worry about these things too much. They are hooligans”
The Guardian reported that a sample call was “N****r why don’t you go back where you came from?”
Pitt also reported that he had received hate mail from people in the south of the United States.
One night the Labour Party committee rooms at Broadhurst Gardens were plastered with posters stating”
“Don’t vote for any supporters of coloured immigration”
“Don’t vote for any supporters of coloured immigration”
Labour HQ was also defaced with graffiti saying “Send the Black Home”
Kenneth Robinson, the Labour candidate in St Pancreas North reported that his posters had been defaced with the slogan
“Vote Robinson: For a N****r Britain”
Kenneth Robinson, the Labour candidate in St Pancreas North reported that his posters had been defaced with the slogan
“Vote Robinson: For a N****r Britain”
As the campaign continued, Labour grew in confidence. In Preston, Leader Hugh Gaitskell remarked that it was ‘Hotting Up’ in the party’s favour.
But in Hampstead, on the same night, Pitt was forced to deal with a series of protests.
But in Hampstead, on the same night, Pitt was forced to deal with a series of protests.
Trouble began when Pitt began his election address. Members of the White Defence League stood up and waved their fists in the air.
After around twenty minutes of heckling, fighting broke out between groups of people with up to 12 different fist fights going on.
Chairs were thrown while other men were seen ‘trampled on the floor’.
An old water colour of Hampstead was smashed up
Chairs were thrown while other men were seen ‘trampled on the floor’.
An old water colour of Hampstead was smashed up
Labour Party Stewards threw out one protestor but fighting soon started again.
The Mirror reported that ‘police were called to help stewards deal with a disturbance caused by ten members of the White Defence League’
The Mirror reported that ‘police were called to help stewards deal with a disturbance caused by ten members of the White Defence League’
All the while Pitt appealed for calm.
The High and Ham local newspaper claimed that Pitt remained ‘calm and smiling throughout the melee’
The High and Ham local newspaper claimed that Pitt remained ‘calm and smiling throughout the melee’
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