Classe

This is the face of Andrew Smith, aged 69, who was attacked by EDL thugs on Saturday 28 April.

He was one of two pensioners who were hospitalised when a gang of thugs attacked socialists and antiracist campaigners in Lewisham, south east London.

The EDL thugs began with shouts and racist heckling before laying in more violently.

Quote of the day - “Well who thought it was a good idea to organise these two demonstrations on the same day? Surely it was obvious there would be problems” - random Brighton theatre-goer/by-stander

SchNEWS is far too collectively exhausted to give a a blow by blow account of today’s battle to prevent the March for England on the streets of Brighton – a full account will be filed tomorrow.

Today’s counter-protest against the March for England exceeded all expectations. Although the fascists did march they did so inside a mobile police kettle continuously surrounded and occasionally bombarded by counter-protestors. Last year the police successfully kettled most of the anti-fascists, allowing the MfE free rein through the city. Brighton anti-fascists were determined to avoid a repeat.

Aware that the cops plan was to push the march straight down the road from the railway station to the sea front, the crowd was encouraged to spread themselves thinly along the route. This prevented a pre-emptive kettle.

The March was due to start at midday, but due to the geography of the area no-one had a direct view of the MfEs meet-up point at the station. A strange High-Noon quiet settled over the town centre as the counter-protest shuffled and waited, eyeing up police movements for a clue as to what might happen.

For a while it looked as if the cops were going to throw the towel in and refuse to allow the MfE out of the station. At 12.30 jogging lines of cops and the arrival of horses let everyone know that the fash were on the move. One eyewitness at the station told SchNEWS “From where they were mustered, they could only see a tiny part of the counter-demo, mainly the UAF contingent. They were very cocky. As soon as they turned the corner and saw the opposition their faces fell”. By this point there were around 500 anti-fascists on the streets.

The nationalists had only mustered around 100, a third of what they had predicted. To be fair, the was little if any English Defence League insignia actually on display. However the main body of march consisted of known EDL faces, including virtually all of Brighton and Portsmouth EDL. Despite the presence of a few token women and kids the march was overwhelmingly male, bald and fat.

It didn’t take long before the first few antis were in the road behind a banner and the march became a rugby scrum as the cops used horses, truncheons and pepper spray to force the MfE through. The pressure only intensified as the police decided to abandon the planned high-profile route and try to smuggle the nationalists down the back-streets. Anti-fascists got ahead of the game and running around the side got in front to build barricades. Fascists and police came under attack with bottles. It was at this point that some-one set a bin on fire, irritating everyone, right and left, with the acrid smoke.

Eventually the March, numbering around 100 ended up in their pre-prepared pen, – unfortunately for them so did almost the entire counter-demo. They then had to put up with two hours of being jeered at by the surrounding mob before cops rushed them back to the station to be dispersed. Anti fascists went on to enjoy a pint in the sunshine.

Despite the usual online japery the few EDL who tried to make a stand outside the cordon were quickly seen off. Virtually none of the pubs would serve them and they failed to maintain a presence in town after they were dispersed.

Is this the end of the March for England in Brighton? Big thanks to all who turned out – and watch this space!

Antifascists in Brighton have scored a fantastic success against ‘March for England’ – an outfit with close ties with the English Defence League.

MfE supporters and flags are regularly in evidence at demos organised by the racist and fascist thugs of the EDL. Their Brighton event was also being backed by the EDL-linked racist football hooligan organisation Casuals United, which told supporters not to wear ‘colours’ – EDL or Casuals clothing or insignia.

But it wasn’t a good day for the EDL in disguise.

Around 1,000 antifascists, overwhelmingly local residents, turned out on the streets of the city today, vastly outnumbering up to 120 of the EDL’s mates, who arrived by train.

The antifascist demonstrators were joined by local MP Caroline Lucas as well as some local councillors.

Crowds of antifascists filled Brighton’s streets to block the march by the EDL and their racist mates.

Despite a heavy police escort, the fascists were repeatedly forced to divert from their route into sidestreets. Antifascists even set up a barricade to block one street.

The racist march was surrounded throughout, with its chants drowned out by hundreds of antifascist demonstrators.

The racists were humiliated as Brighton people made clear – in great numbers – their pride in their diverse city.

There was a celebratory air among the antifascist demonstrators as it became clear the streets and the day belonged to them.

Antifascists in Brighton are organising against ‘March for England’ – an outfit with close ties to the English Defence League that has announced a march in the city on Sunday 22 April.

MfE supporters and flags are regularly in evidence at demos organised by the racist and fascist thugs of the EDL.

Their Brighton event is also being backed by the EDL-linked racist football hooligan organisation Casuals United, which has told supporters not to wear ‘colours’ – EDL or Casuals clothing or insignia. They want to pretend their racist demo is just a St George’s day event.

Antifascists are determined to expose and oppose these racists. UAF supporters an other antifascists will meet on Queens Road, at the top of Gloucester Road at 11.30am on Sunday 22 April.

pengaling:

above-time:

jarl-ulfric:

pengaling:

The Islamophobic, Racist & Extremist Organisation, English Defence League Are Organising An Anti-Islam Demonstration In Luton on Saturday 5th May 2012.

When the EDL hold their Demonstrations in Towns & Cities across the Country, it usually ends up in Mosques & Innocent Muslims including women & children being physically & verbally attacked, this is why its very important for everyone to come and protect the Town from the Islamophobes & racists.

- Tuesday 5 May 2009, Arson attack on Islamic Centre, Bury Park Road.

- Friday 22 July 2011, the EDL attacked Madinah Masjid, Oak Road, Luton (Bury Park) breaking windows and leaving spraypainted graffiti including a swastika and the initials ‘EDL’.

- Monday 2 April 2012, Bury Park Jamie Masjid, Bury Park Road was attacked. Arsonist pushed two large bins up against a door and set them on fire.

The EDL have been to Luton many times including their protest on Saturday 5th February 2011 where they promised that up to 12,000 supporters will turn up for the demo, but only 2,500 turned up. The EDL also said they will march through Bury Park but they failed because local people with support from all over the UK managed to keep the EDL away.

There is a coach living from London! Message me for details. 

(removed fascist comments for the sake of not letting them polluting my blog)

Oh the fascists have come to play. 

The only good fascist is a dead fascist. Their very existence is an aggression. 

Bash The Fash 

classe: Hey comrades I’ll see you in Luton, we’ll come in a pretty decent number from Brighton, hopefully.
Anyone coming down here to oppose the “March for England” organised by the EDL scum on 22nd April? We need support on this.
 
 

^There is a group of us from Portsmouth coming to Brighton on the 22nd. See ya there comrades!  

classe: cool, if you don’t have any contact in here send me an ask with your email address, I’ll send you the details for the meeting point etc. 

marxandsparks:

pengaling:

above-time:

jarl-ulfric:

pengaling:

The Islamophobic, Racist & Extremist Organisation, English Defence League Are Organising An Anti-Islam Demonstration In Luton on Saturday 5th May 2012.

When the EDL hold their Demonstrations in Towns & Cities across the Country, it usually ends up in Mosques & Innocent Muslims including women & children being physically & verbally attacked, this is why its very important for everyone to come and protect the Town from the Islamophobes & racists.

- Tuesday 5 May 2009, Arson attack on Islamic Centre, Bury Park Road.

- Friday 22 July 2011, the EDL attacked Madinah Masjid, Oak Road, Luton (Bury Park) breaking windows and leaving spraypainted graffiti including a swastika and the initials ‘EDL’.

- Monday 2 April 2012, Bury Park Jamie Masjid, Bury Park Road was attacked. Arsonist pushed two large bins up against a door and set them on fire.

The EDL have been to Luton many times including their protest on Saturday 5th February 2011 where they promised that up to 12,000 supporters will turn up for the demo, but only 2,500 turned up. The EDL also said they will march through Bury Park but they failed because local people with support from all over the UK managed to keep the EDL away.

There is a coach living from London! Message me for details. 

(removed fascist comments for the sake of not letting them polluting my blog)

Oh the fascists have come to play. 

The only good fascist is a dead fascist. Their very existence is an aggression. 

Bash The Fash 

classe: Hey comrades I’ll see you in Luton, we’ll come in a pretty decent number from Brighton, hopefully.
Anyone coming down here to oppose the “March for England” organised by the EDL scum on 22nd April? We need support on this.