in the early 1990s the far right, and in particular the british national party (bnp), was resurgent both electorally and in terms of racial attacks (from 4,383 in 1988 to 7,780 three years later). anti-fascist action, the longest established national anti-fascist organisation in the uk at that time, organised well-attended events in october 1991 - a unity carnival in east london attracting 10,000 people and a march through bethnal green attracting 4,000 people - prompting other left-wing groups to launch ant-racist and anti-fascist organisations, including ara in november and the re-launch of the anti-nazi league (anl) by the socialist workers party (swp) two months later.