Sam Morden, Tyne and Wear Socialist Party
Coinciding with a Ukip march calling for ‘mass deportations’, far-right Tommy Robinson was launching his Advance Party, both in Newcastle on 27 September. Unfortunately, the antifascist and anti-far right counter-demonstration was split in two, led by different organisations.
One was at Grey’s Monument in the city centre, organised by Newcastle Unites. Hundreds also gathered near the Quayside, directly confronting the far right, this was run by a coalition of parties and organisations, and seemed to rely on police protection. However, this protest did manage to prevent the far right from taking their initial marching route.
At the Monument, 2,000 joined the larger anti-racist demo. However, there was confusion over the start time, as the organisers complied with the police desire to start the demo early, in order to have the Monument free for the far right. But anti-racist protesters did not go willingly, and so held the Monument.
At the Monument, police allowed people clearly aligned with the far right into the crowd. There was insufficient stewarding on the anti-racist protest. This resulted in one of our Socialist Party members being hit by a member of the far right, as they grabbed a Palestine flag from a counter-protester.
After marchers down at the Quayside successfully stopped the far right from taking their intended route, the far right instead headed for a local hotel housing asylum seekers. A properly organised and stewarded protest could have successfully challenged the far right when they tried to march to the hotel.
On the anti-racist demonstration, we put forward the necessity of trade unions organising against the far right – including organising stewarding. Our Socialist Party placards – ‘Smash racism – jobs and homes for all’ were well received, with people approaching us wanting a photo.
Geordies were proud to send a resounding message, that racists are not welcome here.
