In the 20th century, Liverpool became an arena for large-scale political protests that exposed the festering wounds of a troubled British society. Powerful waves of labour, racist, and anti-racist strikes, as well as anti-war demonstrations, echoed the voices of people seeking justice as they understood it. These events laid the groundwork for modern movements that oppose the division of people into black and white, rich and poor. Exploring this topic on liverpoolyes.com, we will attempt to connect with the emotions behind the protests and understand their impact on our present day.
The 1919 Race Riots
From January to August 1919, violent race riots erupted in seven British ports, including, of course, Liverpool. These were the most prolonged periods of civil unrest in the country during the 20th century. The targets of the attacks were Black people, their property, and their businesses. When the newspapers of the time covered the events, their articles were often hostile and overtly racist in tone.
The race riots were fuelled by the growth of the city’s Black community. White residents resented that people of African descent were taking their jobs. Seamen’s unions opposed the hiring of Black sailors when white crews were available. Some also felt cheated out of their post-war benefits.
After the demobilisation of the armed forces, the number of Black residents in Liverpool grew to around 5,000, most of whom were unemployed. Black workers were being laid off in large numbers because white people refused to work alongside them. The streets of Liverpool became a scene of violence, orchestrated by numerous gangs that hunted down Black men, their businesses, and their homes.
On 13 May 1919, a delegation of Afro-Britons approached the Liverpool Echo newspaper with a statement expressing their outrage at the situation. Many of them were former soldiers and sailors who had lost their jobs because of their race. They called for fair treatment. The protests and riots peaked on 9-10 June, when gangs of white youths rampaged through the streets, attacking any Black person they encountered. The events were grimly reminiscent of the 1938 Kristallnacht in Germany, which targeted Jews.
The motives of the rioters could hardly be described as noble. The consequences were horrific: physical violence, the development of a surveillance system for Black citizens, and the introduction of a discriminatory registration card system. The British government even devised a plan to repatriate people of African descent to their countries of origin. In this revealing story of racial tension in Liverpool, it was the white citizens who showed their worst side, tarnishing the city’s reputation.
The Aftermath: The 1959 Nigerian Seamen’s Resistance
A racial barrier did indeed exist in Liverpool, and politics played a significant role in it. Although racial segregation was not as explicit as the Jim Crow laws in the United States, it was, to some extent, implicitly supported by the authorities. Nevertheless, Black communities found ways to navigate these difficulties by creating their own support organisations.
The long history of activism among Liverpool’s Black communities began with the events known as the Nigerian seamen’s strike of 1959. Of course, resistance to oppression had started much earlier; records show instances of enslaved Africans escaping as far back as 1756, according to research by Laurence Westgaph. But in the 20th century, such movements, rallies, and protests became more organised. The activism of Black organisations and individuals was aimed at bringing about political or social change.
What Happened
The resistance of Black people in Liverpool culminated in the 1959 strike. The protests arose from disputes over the wages and working conditions of Nigerian seamen employed by British shipping companies. The events took place against the backdrop of Nigeria’s preparations for independence, scheduled for 1960. The sailors demanded better pay and improved working conditions, as their European colleagues enjoyed more favourable terms.
The strike paralysed operations in many key ports, including Liverpool, as Nigerian seamen refused to work on ships operated by the Elder Dempster Lines. In Liverpool, this caused delays and disruptions at the docks, which negatively affected the local economy and highlighted the vulnerability of the city’s maritime industry.
Consequences and Significance
The strike led to negotiations that resulted in new agreements. Although the seamen did not achieve all their goals, they successfully drew attention to the issue of fair treatment and managed to secure some improvements in their working conditions. It also helped establish the Nigerian Union of Seamen as a significant force. Furthermore, the strike highlighted the complexities of labour relations during the era of decolonisation and served as a prelude to more organised labour movements in Nigeria, which fought against economic exploitation under colonial rule.
Around that period, against the backdrop of such events, the right to strike was recognised internationally and enshrined in international conventions and treaties. The concept of this right gradually evolved and gained widespread acceptance among nations. The International Labour Organisation later formulated principles under which a strike could be considered legitimate.
The 1981 Toxteth Riots
The Toxteth riots in 1981 were another major event that reflected the social and economic problems in Liverpool. This occurred amid a period of severe decline, as the city faced the closure of its industrial enterprises. Between 1972 and 1982 alone, Liverpool lost over 80,000 jobs.
The political climate was also influenced by the policies of Margaret Thatcher, who aimed to control inflation by cutting public spending and social welfare. These measures sparked discontent and protest movements in working-class areas. As a result, the influence of far-left movements, notably the Militant Tendency, grew stronger in the city. This group, which originated from the Trotskyist Revolutionary Socialist League, was active within the Labour Party. Its members were elected to key positions on Liverpool City Council, promoting radical socialist ideas such as the nationalisation of industries and large-scale public construction programmes.
Social problems, such as deteriorating housing conditions and rising crime rates, created a sense of hopelessness among residents. The conflict was intensified by incidents of police brutality, which became the catalyst for protests that eventually erupted into riots. The unrest captured national attention, sparking discussions about race, class, and government policy, and prompted a debate on the need for reform.
21st Century: Black Lives Matter
In June 2020, Liverpool hosted a mass anti-racism protest in support of the Black Lives Matter movement following the death of George Floyd in the US. The demonstration brought together hundreds of people who spoke out against racism and highlighted the city’s historical ties to the transatlantic slave trade. (In the 18th and 19th centuries, Liverpool was the largest European port involved in transporting enslaved people). Protesters called for changing street names linked to slave traders and for tackling inequality in modern society. The mayor of Liverpool at the time, Joe Anderson, stressed that the problem was not just about artefacts or names, but about deeper, structural issues.