Stand up to the Fascists

IT TOOK just 15 minutes for the police to quick-march 30 or so National Front (NF) fascist thugs up Margate seafront on Saturday. About 50 anti-fascists were hugely outnumbered by the police, who completely fenced off the march route, effectively closing the seafront for the day.

By a Kent anti-fascist

So we had to protest from the sidelines. Day trippers and local shopkeepers were angry that the seafront was closed again, the third time in three weeks for such a pathetic display.

Local people are really pissed off with the NF marches; at present they’re having nothing to do with them. Passive opposition to the NF was reflected in our paper sales before the march, many people signed our petition against the march with conviction.

I didn’t hear any comments on bogus refugees, maybe people are put off these ideas because it’s the NF to the fore in scapegoating refugees in Margate.

Three people joined YRE and took leaflets for friends. Police and locals gave the impression that if the National Front were allowed to march this time they wouldn’t be back. Sadly that won’t be the case.

Unless there is local opposition to these marches they will be back, maybe wanting police protection for meetings, rallies, paper sales, etc. Two anti-fascists were arrested.

Hinkley

THIS SATURDAY, Socialist Party members and other anti-fascists are holding a protest and leafleting event in Hinckley, Leicestershire.

The fascist NF have made threats against the Unity against Prejudice (UAP) campaign and also Socialist Party members Steve Score and Josie Nicholls.

UAP, a broad campaign set up after the Leicester Mardi Gras Gay Pride festival was cancelled due to right-wing threats of violence, is holding a march and festival against prejudice on 29 July in Leicester.

The NF threaten a counter demo and say they “cannot guarantee the safety” of UAP marchers/ festival goers!

One organisation supporting the event is Leicester City NUT branch. In their recent newsletter to members, they acknowledge the role that Socialist Party members have played.

“A colleague, who was a leading campaigner against the secondary review (school closures), a member of Wycliffe Action Group and supported the NUT’s campaign against the EAZ (Education Action Zone) in Leicester, has been threatened by the NF. He has been told that he is on a ‘top ten’ NF hit list”

UAP have also had donations and support from two UNISON branches, Leicester University students union and Leicester College students union.

The Leics NF are getting far too confident. We’re not prepared to let them intimidate anyone. The few members they have appear to be in Hinckley, the PO Box they use is in Hinckley. We plan to enlist Hinckley people’s support to isolate these Nazis.

The Socialist says:

§ Defend the right of asylum.
§ Scrap the Asylum and Immigration Act and all other racist laws.
§ Stand up to racism and fascism.
§ Join the fightback against the job-cutters and service-wreckers.
§ Bulld a united community campaign for proper funding of all public services.