The Battle of Lewisham Mural in New Cross commemorates the events of 1977 when the National Front, a Neo-Nazi organisation attempted march into Lewisham, a predominantly black, multi-ethnic community in south-east London. This caused them to clash with anti-fascist protestors which ‘initiated the decline of the far right’ (Townsend, 2017) in 1977. This mural is of particular significance now more than ever as far-right ideologies have begun to rise worldwide and are becoming ever more present. The sharp rise in reports of xenophobic attacks after Britain voted to leave the European Union in 2014 is an example of this, along with the mass support of Donald Trump’s anti-immigration rhetoric. Through the visible figure of Darcus Howe - a former community activist, the mural cements this significant event within the community, where
BLACK BRITS ARE REMINDED
DAILY OF THEIR LOCAL HISTORY
AND ITS LEGACY.
Reflecting on the visual language of murals and the ways in which they provide empowerment and visibility within a specific location, I wanted to explore how this can also be created through public monuments.