William Jarrett, Socialist Party Newcastle
Anti-EDL demo, East London, 7.9.13, photo Paul Mattsson (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)
As groups gathered across European cities on 28 February to demand safe passage for refugees, it came to the attention of Newcastle Socialist Party that the English Defence League (EDL) had gathered at Grey’s Monument in the city centre.
Our regular Saturday campaign stall was to take place elsewhere, until we heard of the far right’s presence. Fast planning resulted in an excellent response and we set up a stall and worked with another left group against the fascist menace.
Crowds quickly gathered as Socialist Party members took to the megaphone, putting forward our programme. Petty divisions and hatred were no match for our demands to undertake a mass council house building project, a £10 an hour minimum wage, and nationalisation.
The atmosphere turned in our favour immediately with over a hundred people clearly on our side.
We remained at the Monument until the 15-20 EDL members folded up their banner and abandoned the city centre in frustration and embarrassment.
By that time, we had sold over 20 copies of the Socialist, raised significant money for the fighting fund and had three young people express an interest in joining the Socialist Party.
