Haringey Solidarity Group
Encyclopedia
Haringey Solidarity Group or HSG are a loose collective of anarchists, socialists, and community
activists based in the Borough of Haringey
, London
.
was defeated. "Originally set up to fight the poll tax, they decided to carry on after the tax was defeated." Initial hopes for several groups across the Borough proved to be unsustainable and after three years the groups were combined into one group. "In April 1991 we had the first meeting as Haringey Solidarity Group and by January 1992 we had formed three separate groups around the borough in Tottenham, Green Lanes, and Wood Green. Not being able to sustain three separate groups we all came back together as HSG in September 1994. "
, and Haringey Against ID, anti billboards, anti debt
campaigns, and various other antis. HSG continues to encourage tenants and workers self organisation throughout the borough, and have supported various workers struggles in the Borough of Haringey and beyond, including the 1995 JJ Foods Strike. HSG members are also involved in organising free community festivals, the monthly Haringey Independent Cinema, and many other social events. Dave Morris and Helen Steel of the McLibel case
are both involved with HSG.
Community
The term community has two distinct meanings:*a group of interacting people, possibly living in close proximity, and often refers to a group that shares some common values, and is attributed with social cohesion within a shared geographical location, generally in social units larger than a household...
activists based in the Borough of Haringey
London Borough of Haringey
The London Borough of Haringey is a London borough, in North London, classified by some definitions as part of Inner London, and by others as part of Outer London. It was created in 1965 by the amalgamation of three former boroughs. It shares borders with six other London boroughs...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
Aims
HSG state that "We do not want to just become the new set of leaders!" The group aims to support local community struggles and hopes that other community groups will support them, this is the source of the word solidarity within their name. The group aims to practice, encourage and support self-organised struggles by ordinary people within Haringey, against bosses, local councils, or multi-national corporations. HSG also want to encourage other communities to organise themselves too, and Dave Morris a member of HSG has stated: "I want to see an independent residents' group in every street, a solidarity group in every workplace, and an anti-authoritarian/anti-capitalist organisation in every borough and town"History
HSG were formed out of the remains of the Haringey Anti Poll Tax Union, after the poll taxCommunity Charge
The Community Charge, popularly known as the "poll tax", was a system of taxation introduced in replacement of the rates to part fund local government in Scotland from 1989, and England and Wales from 1990. It provided for a single flat-rate per-capita tax on every adult, at a rate set by the...
was defeated. "Originally set up to fight the poll tax, they decided to carry on after the tax was defeated." Initial hopes for several groups across the Borough proved to be unsustainable and after three years the groups were combined into one group. "In April 1991 we had the first meeting as Haringey Solidarity Group and by January 1992 we had formed three separate groups around the borough in Tottenham, Green Lanes, and Wood Green. Not being able to sustain three separate groups we all came back together as HSG in September 1994. "
Activities
Members of HSG are active in their residents associations , anti-fascismAnti-fascism
Anti-fascism is the opposition to fascist ideologies, groups and individuals, such as that of the resistance movements during World War II. The related term antifa derives from Antifaschismus, which is German for anti-fascism; it refers to individuals and groups on the left of the political...
, and Haringey Against ID, anti billboards, anti debt
Debt
A debt is an obligation owed by one party to a second party, the creditor; usually this refers to assets granted by the creditor to the debtor, but the term can also be used metaphorically to cover moral obligations and other interactions not based on economic value.A debt is created when a...
campaigns, and various other antis. HSG continues to encourage tenants and workers self organisation throughout the borough, and have supported various workers struggles in the Borough of Haringey and beyond, including the 1995 JJ Foods Strike. HSG members are also involved in organising free community festivals, the monthly Haringey Independent Cinema, and many other social events. Dave Morris and Helen Steel of the McLibel case
McLibel case
McDonald's Corporation v Steel & Morris [1997] EWHC QB 366, known as "the McLibel case" was an English lawsuit filed by McDonald's Corporation against environmental activists Helen Steel and David Morris over a pamphlet critical of the company...
are both involved with HSG.