News

UAF Demonstration

• 29th Aug 2010

Throughout Europe there has been a steady rise of the far-right. Austria gave the first tangible notice of this with the election of Jorg Haider in the year 2000. This is something which is sweeping across Europe as there have been extremists on the right in countries such as Belgium (Bloed, Bodem, Eer en Trouw (Blood, Land, Honour and Faithfulness)), Denmark (DPP), France (Le Penn), Hungary (Jobbik Party), the Netherlands (Geert Wilders) and of course the UK (British National Party) to name but a few.

However, even moderates are aping the extremists. Sarkozy, over the summer introduced legislation to expel Roma immigrants and Switzerland look as though they may support a referendum about deporting immigrants convicted of minor crimes. The good news is that the BNP lost votes in the Barking and eventually finishing third. However, they are picking up seats in the European Parliament.

The anti-Islam organization English (Scottish and Welsh) Defense League have been organizing and meeting in cities around Britain. In attempt to break them, the organization Unite Against Fascism, with help from the Love Music, Hate Racism campaign are launching counter protests and festivals to help defeat those on the violent extreme right wing fringes of British and European politics.

28/08/2010
Today’s demonstration is quite a lot different from the rest, quite a lot different indeed. The first difference it is static rather than moveable, something decided on quite far in advance. Secondly, there is a festival of like minded artists old and new with styles ranging from hip-hop to brass ensembles in what is called We Are Bradford. Despite there being big changes in approach, there is no change in substance.

Martin Smith, facing trial next month, says “It is not just about today in Bradford, it is about everyday in every city, we must not let these [English Defence League] thugs win”. The power to pull large numbers on regular basis is something they have mastered as many return from Newcastle and elsewhere.

People from all over the United Kingdom have come to celebrate all which is good about cultural diversity, but with the beckoning of police sirens elsewhere in the city centre the performances quickly lose their magnetism and as the rain dripped, so did those supporting the cause away from Exchange Square to Market Street, Kirkgate and Cheapside. Where those roads meet is where the UAF would glance at the English Defence League in between the police dressed in riot gear.

Although this was not about to spark for quite a while as the real trouble is on the green grass where the chanting of “EDL, EDL, EDL, EDL” as if the bellowing as if beckoning the threatening skies from above. This sinister air is finally broken when the police try and compact them in to a smaller area behind the steel barricades of the police cordon. The EDL resist this with more force than is really necessary as there is a regular shower of stones and plastic bottles, and the one smokebomb chucked for good measure.

However, they were not the only ones who see red. After heavy kettling of those who came for the peace festival in Kirkgate there is a sudden turn back up the road, like a whip on a wooden top. They charge around unguarded side streets and through a retail park in an attempt to confront those they would wish to “die of cancer” or the “cowards” who slipped through their lines. This fails, as one member shouts for the sake of order “do you want to be arrested? Stand your ground or you will be arrested” and this is echoed by a single police officer through his megaphone. Most people ad-hear to this but a rump carry on with the determination of raging bull to confront those who they disparage. They are still unsuccessful and quickly make their withdrawal.

29/05/2010
The scene in Newcastle is altogether lighter hearted than was the case in Glasgow and other places. Unite Against Fascism are marching to oppose the various forms of nationalist defence leagues. The UAF gather outside the terraces of the black and white seats of Newcastle United FC who play at the park dedicated to the patron saint of justice. There can be no more emotionally bonding starting point for their rally against those who want to separate the stripes.

From the top of the city centre, we crawl through the streets singing, chanting and with the occasional bout of laughter. However, it should be remembered though, this is not a laughing matter. This laughter mainly came from the younger section of the crowd, those with a historical perspective realise the gravity of the matter. It was not just the young who turned out though. People of all ages and backgrounds were there. Teachers, old punks, young Goths and of course radical students all fused together to form the personification of the song, “Black, White, Asian and a Jew”.

Newcastle and the North East are better known for their former industries of coal mining, steel, railways and an integral part of international trade, shipbuilding. Immigration has been a contentious issue since World War I. It would not be hard for the English Defence League to seize the initiative in these times of trouble. Blaming the problems, the lack of money and the lack of jobs on Muslims and anyone else they do not care for. They are radical themselves and are likely to stop at nothing to get what they want, one placard saying: “Our culture is worth dying to protect”. This, remember is a culture where they drink from Stella Artois cans, support a team managed by an Italian and where the husband to the head of state is Greek. The EDL do not welcome anyone who is not of their ilk, one member of the press said “they are not the friendliest of people”, some members of the press experience this.

By the end of the first half the march there is a dark and murky river of police, dogs with muzzles, vans with cells in case of a violent overspill, but no-one really felt like crossing the divide. Kettleing was the order of the day. Speeches from Trade Unionists and other leaders give the march a meaningful edge “when people ask you ‘where were you when the English Defence League came to Newcastle?’ you can say you were here”. Taking the arguments of the BNP and their use history, invoking memories of “my father [who] did not fight the Second World War so that these bigots could march on the streets of Newcastle”. Clearly this is not about themselves, but about something much bigger.

The confrontation is over now and under orders all start to return to from where they came. Following the route taken down to the meeting point the march goes past the entrance to China Town, past the Tyneside Irish Centre back to St. James’ Park.

14/11/2009
This is a strange day, though it should not be, Glasgow has always been a hot bed of radicalism. The weather was typical piss, pouring from the off. Unite Against Fascism march on this occasion and they were marching with against the Scottish Defence League under the umbrella cause of ‘Scotland Unite’. The SDL class themselves as ‘football casuals’ even though the only football match involving the St. Andrews flag was in fact being held in Wales.

It was remarkable to see how the left of Scotland unites around common cause. However, it was left to various grass roots or the more radical organisations to mobilise. The only time the mainstream political figures are seen is at the protest lunch break. They offered the unknown figures, although true to Glasgow and Scotland, if you did not follow politics closely then you probably would not know them. Even the trade unionist is unknown. Very few members of the mainstream were there, no Liberal Democrats, Labour or Conservative party members there in the throng mixing with others, or if they were, they are not seen.

It would be a little inappropriate to call this Scotland United, for it is not just Scotland united, it is more. Many people from Europe, further a field and others from closer to home. Many sing songs of known tunes and well rehearsed words. “We have Black, White, Asian and Jew”, “There are very many more of us than you” (sang to the same tune) as well as the usual anti-chants. At Glasgow Green, there are even drummers trying to turn the sodden into a carnival of people in some far and warm land. It could be they were defining nationality in a welcoming way, a nationalism based on residency not the accident of birth. Although it is more true to call it more a choice between tolerance and exclusivity.

Many people look on as they go through their daily lives. They decided that shopping is a higher priority than marching, even if they did agree with the cause. It would be hard to criticise their decision as many of the protesters are young, radical and probably pissed off with their situation. It is not hard to imagine some of the protesters will one day, be the onlookers shopping for must have electricals, shoes and other desirable products.

From Glasgow Green, people drip slowly away. Hearing news the SDL are in the city centre, people who want to confront them go in the cliques they came in. It is tense as support and patience is dissipating and being allowed to dissipate from the lectures of the speakers of wool rather than politics. Perhaps fitting given the coldness of the atmosphere.

By the time hungry stomachs and rain give way to just a general mull of friendly banter the march finally culminates in George’s Square beneath Nelson’s column. As with all protest locations, they are deliberately chosen for reasons of tactics and poignancy. However, people still have their factious arguments about what the march is about, what they should or should not do. Some let go and did not rise to the fight whilst others just want to continue with divisive reasoning.

Declaring a victory, the defiant mood turned to one of sober thought.
It becomes clear right at the end, with the minute silence, that what the march is really about. It is about some of the placards, “Remember Firsat Dag murdered by racists NEVER AGAIN”.