Anti-fascist demo in Birmingham

THE ENGLISH Defence League, a split off from the BNP, and the linked ‘Casuals United’, said that they would march to the Bullring in Birmingham on Saturday 5 August, ostensibly to protest against “Islamic fundamentalism”. In response around 600 people gathered to show that they could not peddle their racist and fascist filth.

The police threw a cordon round the counter-demonstration. At around 6pm it became clear that there was an outer cordon of police in riot gear. Having let some of the demonstrators through the inner cordon onto New Street the riot police baton charged the demonstrators. There were over 30 arrests and several people injured.

Meanwhile, at the other end of the city centre, 50 to 60 fascists had gathered in Victoria Square, where they were hemmed in by police. They were later allowed to march. Eyewitnesses say the fascists ran down Colmore Row throwing bricks.

Our Socialist Party leaflet was well received by anti-fascist demonstrators and local shoppers.

Birmingham Socialist Party member