Glasgow 1975: Book Launch & Talk
Launching a new book, Glasgow 1975: the murder of Hector Smith and the battle against the far-right in 1970s Scotland, author Liam Turbett will talk through the events of this turbulent year.
About Glasgow 1975: Book Launch & Talk
Hector Smith, the Kingston Halls Riot & the Battle Against the Far-Right in 1970s Scotland
1975 was a pivotal year for anti-racism in Glasgow. It began with the horrifying murder of Hector Smith, a Jamaican man living in the Woodlands area. Confronted in his home by a violent gang who claim to be raising money for Ulster loyalist paramilitaries, he refuses to pay up. One of the men, a member of the National Front, shoots Hector dead in front of his young family. The shocking story briefly captivates the Scottish media, but is rapidly forgotten.
A few months later, the ascendant National Front are trying to gain a foothold in the city. 76 anti-fascists, including many of Scotland's leading trade unionists, are arrested while the police run riot outside the city’s Kingston Halls, where the NF are attempting to hold a public meeting.
Launching a new book, Glasgow 1975: the murder of Hector Smith and the battle against the far-right in 1970s Scotland, author Liam Turbett will talk through the events of this turbulent year. We will also hear from some of those who were on the frontline of opposition to the NF's attempts to organise in Scotland that year.
The event is free but copies of the book, published in association with the Scottish Labour History Society, will be available on the night for £6.00. Glasgow 1975 will be available in bookshops and online from May, and can be ordered here: https://glasgow1975.bigcartel.com
This event has been organised as part of the Glasgow Trade Union Council May Day Programme 2025.
The venue is on Elmbank Crescent close to Charing Cross railway station. The meeting room is on the first floor of the building, accessible by a lift and stairs.
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