The term "
Redskin" is an abbreviation of "
Red Skinhead", it is used by
anti-fascist skinheads to differentiate themselves from
racist boneheads and non-political
skinheads. Before being a movement associated to
skinheads, punks, and the alternative scene, the term
redskin referred to the British soul-rock group The
Redskins (1979-1986), several of whom belonged to the Socialist Workers Party.
Redskins are often associated with
communism, but many anarchists and anarcho-
communists identify themselves as
Redskins. The
Redskins are a branch of the
revolutionary left as well as an activist branch of the skinhead movement. This movement was born in
radical opposition to the violence of
racist… Read more boneheads whose scene and groups were developing during the same period. Marked on the left and on the far left, the
Redskin movement is politically oriented towards
radical and street anti-
fascism, anti-
imperialism, anti-
authoritarianism,
anti-sexism and
revolutionary anti-capitalism.
Its members are often actors of
different Marxist, anarchist, anarcho-
communist or
syndicalist-
revolutionary organizations and alternative scenes of which they use the tools, such as concerts, fanzines, radio broadcasts, sound-systems, etc. They are more broadly linked to the
SHARP (
Skinheads Against Racial Prejudice) and above all RASH (Red and Anarchist
Skinheads) movements, which they are largely behind the establishment in
Europe. Even if the appearance of the first
redskins was roughly similar to that of
skinheads, it was differentiated - especially in
France - by the wearing of red laces and badges and/or patches relating to
communism,
anarchism and social struggles. One of the french
redskins bands of the 1980s made a name for themselves as the Red Warriors. The symbol of this band was the sickle and the
baseball bat, a diversion from the
communist symbol of the sickle and the hammer. This band, made up of a hard core of about fifteen people, attacked
racist boneheads around concert halls and in the streets of Paris, sometimes accompanied by other
bands or
anti-fascist groups.
The Red And Anarchist
Skinheads (RASH) is a global movement of
communist and/or anarchist
skinheads who
fight against
fascism,
racism, and capitalism. Far-left
skinheads value
anarchism, libertarian
communism, anti-
nationalism, anti-
patriotism, anti-
fascism,
anti-racism, and alter-mondialism, in many ways ranging from street action to
armed struggle and
direct action
Skinheads who stand up against
racists include traditional
skinheads,
trojan skinheads, typically known as
Skinheads Against Racial Prejudices (
SHARP)
Printed in USA
