Channel 4’s Defiance: Fighting the Far Right is a powerful and inspiring documentary that chronicles the courageous efforts of the South Asian community, especially the youth, to resist racism and fascism in Britain between 1976 and 1981. Spanning three episodes, the series examines seminal events that defined this vital period in the fight against hate and discrimination.
The first episode begins in 1976 with the murder of 18-year-old Gurdip Singh Chaggar by racists in Southall. This devastated his community but was met with indifference by the police and National Front celebrations – with their chairman stating: “One down, one million to go”. This prompted Southall residents to protest, however, they were confronted with far-right aggression and a lack of police protection. Outraged young Asians, alienated by both the authorities and their traditional community leaders, formed grassroots organisations to fight back.
The episode explores the emergence of youth movements, which served as both a symbol and mechanism of their defiance. The groups not only resisted physical attacks, but also organised protests, strikes, and direct action, including the pivotal 1978 demonstration after the murder of Altab Ali.
The second episode examines the 1979 Southall unrest, where a National Front rally, which was heavily protected by the police, sparked peaceful protests which then turned violent. Blair Peach, a white anti-racist teacher, was fatally struck by an officer using an illegal weapon. The police’s far-right sympathies, brutal actions, and failure to deliver justice exposed systemic corruption, deepening activist mistrust. Media representation of protesters as rioters fuelled anger and illustrates the institutional and pervasive nature of racism. The documentary presents Peach’s death as a galvanising moment in the broader anti-racist movement.
The final episode highlights the growing defiance of young Asians as racism escalated and institutions failed to protect them. The 1981 arson attack that killed a South Asian family, which was dismissed without proper investigation, underscored the community’s vulnerability. In response, groups like the Southall Youth Movement mobilised, as seen in the Hambrough Taven clashes where youths defended their community after skinhead attacks on residents and businesses.
Central to the episode is the landmark Bradford 12 case, where activists were arrested for preparing petrol bombs to defend against anticipated National Front attacks. Framed as criminals, they compellingly argued that “self-defence is no offence”, garnering nationwide support from Asian and Black communities, trade unions, and anti-racist groups. The jury’s eventual acquittal of the defendants marked a turning point as it affirmed the legitimacy of self-defence and highlighted the strength of collective resistance to racial injustice. Through these events, the final episode highlights how defiance was no longer a choice, but a necessity.
Through the combination of interviews and historical clips, the documentary presents and popularises these crucial, yet often unknown, events. The personal testimonies from Asian community members demonstrate their fears and the racism they had to deal with and therefore highlights their reasonings for their resistance. The documentary also includes perspectives from police officers involved in managing protests, allowing us to understand the feelings of those on either side.
The documentary resonates strongly with contemporary issues, as through the archival footage of their resistance, striking parallels arise with the protests we see today. For example, the recent demonstrations by our students against the University’s financial ties to companies complicit in the genocide in Palestine and the ‘Reclaim the Night’ marches highlight how the youth of today have adopted this spirit of defiance and continue to be at the forefront of struggles for justice and calls for accountability.
Defiance demonstrates the reason why such overt and violent racism is less common today is due to the brave actions of the youth. However, these stories remain especially relevant because, while it may look different, systemic racism is still very much with us, and it still needs to be opposed through active anti-racist solidarity.
While I watched this due to its relevance for my dissertation, Defiance: Fighting the Far Right is far more than just a history lesson. It is a timely and necessary reminder of the enduring power of defiance in the face of bigotry – something especially important in an increasingly divided world. This series is a must-watch for everyone.
