Anti-fascists angry at police handling of racist protest

Anger is growing in Preston over the police’s handling of a planned march by the racist English Defence League (EDL) this Saturday. Preston Unite Against Fascism (UAF) and the Trades Council called a counter-protest and booked the Flag Market in the city centre as soon as the EDL announced their plans.

But police intervention has meant that the EDL have been allocated this site—close to where the majority of Preston's Asian community live. The police have also been conducting a widespread campaign to stop local people from joining the counter-protest.

A number of community leaders have challenged the behaviour and decisions of the police. Imam Farook Kazi, director of Al-Ansaar Welfare & Education in Preston, said, “The Muslim community in Preston has enjoyed excellent relations with all sections of the wider community for the past 40 plus years, and I hope and pray this will always be the case. I was born in this city and I am proud to be a Prestonian.

"Although the official statement from Preston City Council is extremely supportive and clearly rejects the ideology of groups such as the EDL. But the Flag Market being given to the EDL despite a previous booking [by UAF] undermines this statement and actually gives 'credibility' to the EDL. I strongly feel that this matter should be thoroughly investigated, as it could set precedence for future events.”

John Browne, Labour councillor for Preston's Brookfield ward, has also criticised the decision saying that he is “angry” that a sizeable part of the population will be unable to use the town centre. He added, “The fact that this week is also Inter- Faith week compounds the disgrace.”

Mukhtar Master, a Muslim community representative, said, “I am delighted by the anti-racist support offered to the community. However, I am puzzled and perplexed as to why Lancashire police have given the EDL the most prominent site for their divisive demonstration. The decision effectively showcases the EDL in our city.”

Activists are mobilising for the largest possible turnout on the counter-protest. Students from the University of Central Lancashire have organised a feeder march from the university to join it.

"We've had an excellent response from university and college students and there will be a good turnout on the day," said Paul Jenkins, a UAF organiser. “Anti-fascists from across the north west of England are traveling to Preston to join us.”

Michael Lavalette, the independent socialist councillor for Preston's Town Centre Ward, said, "It is an outrage that a racist demonstration has been given access to the Flag Market and that our anti-racist assembly has been relegated to Birley Street. It is vital that we have as big a turnout as possible. We want to show the real, multicultural and anti-racist face of Preston on Saturday. The EDL are not welcome here."

Socialist Worker Online

Thanks to NewsHound for the heads-up

Four nazis arrested at anti-BNP protest

The image is blurry but you can still see these nazi twats sieg-heiling

North West UAF held a vibrant and noisy protest outside the BNP's 'Victory Rally' today. Exactly how many of their party attended the rally is unclear. But it is interesting that there was no sign of them at the hotel windows, no display of numbers or any celebration.

Just over 100 people from around the region took part in the protest; which was great, given that there were only a few days in which to organise and publicise it. Banners included those from Blackpool Trades Council; Blackpool and Fylde College UCU; Greater Manchester UAF and the local PCS.

Several speakers addressed the crowd and onlookers on the promenade. Points made included: why we say 'no platform for Nazis'; the fact that they are virulently homophobic as well as racist; the level of misogyny within the party and ended with a promise to Griffin that wherever he tries to appear publicly in the North West, we will be there too. Speakers talked about the fact that anti-fascists represent the majority and that UAF will organise protests to outnumber and oppose the Nazi BNP wherever they try to organise.

Andrew Wheatley, from Blackpool Trades Council, emphasised that, despite Griffin winning the North West seat, the BNP do not represent the majority of people in the area. Pete Marsden, of Blackpool UNISON, speaking in a personal capacity, criticised the “British Jobs for British Workers” slogan which had benefited the BNP.

Jain Gawn, of Blackpool and Fleetwood Unite Against Fascism, talked of the legacy of fighting Fascism in Britain, including the Battle of Cable Street and the International Brigades in the Spanish Civil War. Jain also cited the recent attacks in Belfast as an example of where racism leads. Other speakers included Dione Bough of UNISON, Independent Socialist Councillor Michael Lavalette, and others.

Weyman Bennett, joint-national secretary of UAF, called for people to attend the demonstration against the Nazis’ “Red, White and Blue” event in August, while Dave Sewell of Manchester University Students Union spoke about the need to continue a No Platform position against the BNP.

Off to the clink we go...

There was anti-nazi representation from across the North-West, with protestors from Blackpool and Fleetwood, Lancaster, Wigan, Preston, Liverpool, Kendal, Manchester, Barrow, and elsewhere, and representation from the North West’s LGBT community.

A letter was read out from the two Blackpool MP’s, Joan Humble and Gordon Marsden, which had been sent to the New Kimberley Hotel, opposing the Hotel’s hosting of BNP events, stating “The Nazis too deceived, frightened and scapegoated people – just the same as the BNP try to do. Perhaps it’s no surprise then that many BNP activists try to deny the Holocaust.”

Unfortunately, the rally was not entirely free from Nazis. Several of them came out of the hotel to harass people. This is a new development for BNP gatherings in Blackpool and was obviously born out of a new confidence they've gained since the elections. We will have to make sure that that confidence is short lived. While many of their thugs lolling around in gangs were dressed in suits, a small group of skins sauntered over in ‘nationalist’ t-shirts and started sieg-heiling at the crowd (with a wall and cops in between, to protect themselves, obviously). Whilst this was met with fury and much shouting, no on attempted to physically attack them. Instead we slowly moved them on along the prom.

It was quite obvious that the episode was orchestrated purely to provoke us into a violent response. When the old Nazi salute didn't cause anyone to loose control and attack them, they started chanting the names of concentration camps, as a taunt. As they descended into a tirade of racial abuse the police intervened and four of them were arrested. It would be hard to find a clearer example of the fact that the BNP is a haven for hardcore, unreconstructed, Nazis.

Some of the crowd at the demo

As time went on we noticed small groups of thugs strategically positioned down the promenade. Like vultures they were gathering in order to pick people off as they left the protest. It was agreed that the best way to avoid anyone getting hurt was to leave the area outside the hotel together as a group. With the numbers involved, this became a demonstration in its own right. We marched down the prom singing and chanting.

While it was depressing to see them so confident and closer to our demo than in other years it is important to bear the following in mind: anti-fascists are by far the majority; it looks like we had far more people outside that hotel than they had inside it and while we can march through the streets, they can't. It is going to be a long, hard summer making sure that this remains the case. They've got their seats in Europe, but that does not mean we have to allow them the chance to take over our public places. As their 'Victory Rally' was such a flop, they’re likely to try again at the Red, White and Blue gathering. We need to make sure they have nothing to celebrate when they get there!