All Organisations subcategories:
Committee for a Workers International
Nationalist and National Liberation
Pro capitalist and Imperialist
Left and radical keywords:
International Socialist Resistance (54)
Revolutionary Communist League (1)
Socialist Peoples Party (Denmark) (1)
Unite Against Fascism
Highlight keywords |
Print this article
Search site for keywords: Bradford - Far right - EDL - Police - US - Fascists - Fascist - UAF - English Defence League - Unite Against Fascism
Fighting the far right in Bradford
Chanting against the far right EDL in Bradford, photo Paul Mattsson (Click to enlarge)
ON SATURDAY 28 August, the racist and hooligan English Defence League (EDL) could only muster 700 supporters to their Bradford demonstration for what was meant to be their 'Big One'. The EDL's protest consisted of racist chants, fighting with the police, and amongst themselves.
Several hundred, mainly local youth and some anti-fascists, protested directly opposite where the EDL were being 'kettled'.
Sam Bell, Huddersfield Socialist Party, reports: "The EDL assembled in their designated pen in a building site near Forster Square, with potential missiles littering the ground. They began chanting the usual fascist slogans. Initially small groups of anti-fascists and locals chanted back at them.
Just prior to 2pm the police tried to move us back and forced us downhill, as though pre-empting some activity. A moment later the EDL hurled smoke bombs, rocks and bottles at us, while the police forced us nearer the firing line crushing us between riot shields and a wall. After heated exchanges we were allowed to go further up the road to safety.
Thankfully no one on our side was seriously hurt, and we gathered further up the road still opposite the EDL, shaken but united.
The next few hours were spent exchanging chants with the EDL, our growing numbers being gently shoved around by the police, and generally being quite confused as to what was going on.
EDL static protest in Bradford, kettled by the police, photo Paul Mattsson (Click to enlarge)
Just after the EDL had their static rally, a section of them broke from their pen and ran, followed by some police and a big group of the locals and anti-fascists. Some EDL got kettled by riot police. Some got their just deserts from local youths for trying to stir up trouble.
For the rest of the afternoon the EDL waited to be escorted on to their coaches by police in relative silence - a sombre end to their demo. By keeping them in our sights at all times we gave the police a reason to restrain them and stopped them from intimidating local people. The unity between anti-fascists and locals was inspiring, with no animosity but an understanding that fascist thugs must be stopped."
At the same time, about 500 people attended the Unite Against Fascism (UAF) peaceful celebration of multiculturalism in the city centre about a quarter of a mile away.
Considering the huge opposition to the EDL in Bradford, the anti-fascist mobilisation should have been a lot bigger. That it wasn't was mainly due to the police and the council and community leaders who warned Asian youth against going into the city centre.
They even organised diversionary events, like the 'Bradford Together' cultural festival half a mile outside the city centre. With only 150 turning up, one attendee described it as "more councillors than human beings."
Also, Hope Not Hate (HNH), and most regional trade unions, campaigned for and got the Home Secretary to ban the EDL and all mobile demonstrations including those against the EDL. At the same time they discouraged people from going to protest against the EDL in Bradford city centre.
So it was positive that UAF organised a city centre protest. But instead of a counter-demo they opted for a 'celebration'. This meant that many local people who came to oppose the EDL by-passed the celebration and felt frustrated that those hundreds nearby did not join them.
The EDL will have suffered a setback from their failure at Bradford, but racists can still gain support in an economic recession, so a working-class based opposition around slogans like 'Jobs and Homes, not Racism' is urgently required to confront the far-right both politically and on the streets.
Ian Pattison, Leeds/Bradford Socialist Party
Donate to the Socialist Party
Finance appeal
The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.
The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.
The government has now ripped up its 'austerity' mantra and turned to policies that not long ago were denounced as socialist. But after the corona crisis, it will try to make the working class pay for it, by trying to claw back what has been given.
- The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
- When the health crisis subsides, we must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.
Inevitably, during the crisis we have not been able to sell the Socialist and raise funds in the ways we normally would.
We therefore urgently appeal to all our viewers to donate to our Fighting Fund.
LATEST POSTS
12 May Stop Israeli state brutality
 |
9 May Post-election meetings
15 May Birmingham Socialist Party: How can we fight for socialist change and a new workers' party?
17 May Oxfordshire & Aylesbury Socialist Party: The role of the state
18 May Bristol North Socialist Party: Liverpool - history of socialist struggle
CONTACT US
Phone our national office on 020 8988 8777
Email: [email protected]
Locate your nearest Socialist Party branch Text your name and postcode to 07761 818 206
Regional Socialist Party organisers:
Eastern: 079 8202 1969
East Mids: 077 3797 8057
London: 075 4018 9052
North East: 078 4114 4890
North West 079 5437 6096
South West: 077 5979 6478
Southern: 078 3368 1910
Wales: 079 3539 1947
West Mids: 024 7655 5620
Yorkshire: 078 0983 9793
ABOUT US
ARCHIVE
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999