Thomas Blower

On 15th July 1978, Thomas Blower photographed the Northern Carnival Against the Nazis in Manchester.

Organised by Rock Against Racism and the Anti-Nazi League, the carnival combined political mobilisation with live music in opposition to the National Front. Around 15,000 people marched from Strangeways, accompanied by bands performing from lorries. At Alexandra Park they joined a further 25,000 people for performances by Steel Pulse, Buzzcocks, China Street and the Moss Side reggae band Exodus, later known as X-O-Dus.

Blower photographed police lines outside Strangeways, marchers along the route and the crowd gathered in the park. 

British Culture Archive first published the series in 2021, more than forty years after the photographs were made.