62 Group

The 62 Group was a militant Jewish organisation in the United Kingdom, which was set up largely in response to the creation of Colin Jordan's Nationalist Socialist Movement, in 1962. It self-styled itself as "anti-fascist".

The Group was led by Harry Bidney, a homosexual Soho night club manager and pimp.

Formal membership was only open to those who were Jewish, but the Group worked with people from other communities including many Irish republicans and Black immigrants.

It was modeled after the earlier 43 Group, which had also included Bidney as a member, and which had been associated with Jack 'The Spot' Comer.

The Groups tactics consisted of political violence against those groups it believed were organising violence against minority groups, which sometimes resulted in violent confrontations. This it was claimed was a legitimate response to the violence and intimidation, for example the burning of synagogues, that was certainly taking place at the time, However, it attracted criticism from more moderate groups who shunned violence and advocated challenging "racism" through legislative means, and from members of nationalist groups who accused it of deliberately starting violence.

Another notable member was Gerry Gable, who would later create the magazine Searchlight.

See also

• Communist Party of Great Britain
• Militant anti-fascism

External links

• Article on 62 group from Connections, an ethnic history project.
• Article on 635 Group. Norwich Class War, a far-left group affiliated to Antifa.