Two of our comrades decided to attend a hdoting, advertised in the local press and tho Daily Worker, opposing tho Government's colour bar Bill. The mecting, held on the Wednesday 10th January at a school in an area with a very big concentration of West Indians, was to be addressed by John Peck, the Hast liidlands Organiser of the Communist Party.
Our comrades arrived at the exact time the meeting was due to begin —- 7.30-and the first to enter, a West Indian, got a big welcome from John Peck. However, when the second comrade entered the atmosphere changed and so did John * Peck's face. Our comrades sat down and survoyed the room. Apart from John Peck and one C.P.er, who eared to bo the local socretary of the C.P., there was no one else at all. Thy Somenaad had done a lot of work, wo had already noticed as we wont through the school buildings that thoy had chalked arrows and notices, Nocting this way" and stuck up leaflets along the route. Axound the room there wore various posters — "Oppose West German Militarism", "For a Britain Free and Independent", otc.
We had only beon in the room a few minutes when John Peck cleared his throat and said, "I know its public mecting, but wo could have done without you." to our comrades. Secing that “"°Vprovided 100% ef the audience it is difficult to sec how Fuck 'could have done without tho but? °Y4 emored the remark, After buying some literaturo from the other C.P. comrade who by no means adopted the same attitude as John Peck, our comrades sat and waited. They heard John Peck oxplaining to the comrade (behind the blackboard) that they are TROTSKYIT&S. The two C.P. comrades then went on to debate why no one had turned up. It appeared that hundreds of leaflets had been put out in addition to the adverts iB the press. Despito 211 tho work they had done, howover, we sat and waited and’8.00, no ons else having turned up it was docided to pack the mecting up.
The comrades said good night as they left but only the rank and file C.P. mombor replied. And so endod a very interesting experience. Certain things emerge however. Firstly, despite all the revelations of the 22nd Congress, the C.P. bureaucrats haven't dropped their fanatical hatred of our movement. Indvoed it is quits possible that hate us all the more because we have been vindicated and they now find us all the more formidable. Secondly, in Notting ham at least, despite the claims of the C.P. leadership to be gaining membors,etc. morale mst be low. To call a public mveting and not even:get one's member there, this is an extrordinary thing. Our comrades know of C.P. members who live round the corner from where the meoting was held and yet they didn't bother to attond. It is diff icult tc believe that this is a Nottingham phonomena only. Thirdly, despite the fact that large numbors of West Indians living in the areca know about the mecting they didn't come — not oven one. All in all the whole affair underlined the impot= ence of the British C.P. dospite the successes of the workors! states,