1979 – Black British Activists Protest Thatcher’s Immigration Laws

On May 10, 1979, Black British and Caribbean activists staged coordinated protests in response to Margaret Thatcher’s harsh immigration rhetoric and policies. During her campaign and early days in office, Thatcher stoked xenophobic fears about Britain being “swamped” by immigrants. These remarks led to a surge in racial violence and emboldened far-right groups like the National Front. In response, community organizations such as the Black People’s Alliance and the Race Today Collective mobilized marches across London and Birmingham. May 10 marked one of the first major public protests against Thatcherism by Black communities. The demonstrations demanded racial equality, legal protections for immigrants, and an end to state racism. These actions helped shape the trajectory of Black British political consciousness, fostering solidarity and resistance that would later culminate in the Brixton Uprising of 1981. The protest signaled the beginning of a new era of militant anti-racist organizing in Britain.