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Fascists NOT WELCOME in Reading - or anywhere else! Demo report.

Antifa | 24.02.2007 00:18 | Anti-racism | Social Struggles | London | Oxford

On Monday 19th February, the local Reading press reported that BNP leader Nick Griffin, was gonna pay our town a visit on the Wednesday. The BNP's regional organiser reckons they've got "a lot of members (in Reading) but no organiser" and that if they could be organised, they could field candidates in the local elections, maybe up to 4.








So, of course, we wanted to welcome them with a message to fuck right off. But only two days notice... Leaflets and emails went round activists and unions and the town was flyposted - well, a bit. "Anti-BNP demo, 7.30pm, outside the Town Hall". Bollocks, its the same time as the Capdown gig, oh well, sure they'd understand.

We rang the press, Griffin was meant to be coming in by train at midday on Wednesday. Ok. Were they gonna report on it? No? Good. Anti-fascists are going to hold a demo, will they come and report on that? Yeh? Great! So, a few anti-fascists hung out at the train station for three hours, water balloons in hand, but he gave us the slip. Oh well, we hear he didnt get away so easily in Horsam. Hope the fucker likes his pies - he sure looks like it!

So, anyway, basically it was great to get to the Townhall and be greeted by a crowd of about 30 people - a big turnout for Reading! Masks were on and a banner was unfurled:

"BNP IS NO SOLUTION! PEOPLE UNITE, FOR DIRECT ACTION!"

We reckon it'll send the right message to any local Hitler wannabe's when it hits the Reading papers next week. After a few photos, the statue of Queen Victoria was left holding a placard* - "Bog off, Nazi Pillocks!" - while the rest of us went for a little march through the town centre giving out a load of Fashwatch and Antifa flyers. Everything left was put on Capdown's merch stall, and apparently was all taken very quickly by the punx.

Following this demo, there are plans afoot for an 'anti-fascist front' coalition to form, aiming to scupper the plans of the BNP and their mates, so - whilst we hope there's no need - we are sure there's more anti-fascist mobilisation on the horizon, likely face-to-face...

But, while capitalism exists, so will the fash, so its no alternative to solving our problems collectively ourselves through direct-action and anti-capitalism.
Big thanks to all who turned out for the demo, see ya soon.

* Oh, and Queen Vicky is still holding her placard three days later! Who'd have thought she'd ever join Antifa?!

Antifa
- Homepage: http://www.fashwatch.org

Comments

Hide the following 9 comments

Waste of time

24.02.2007 14:24

This sounds like a complete waste of time.

Micky

Haha

24.02.2007 16:35

Well maybe but we couldnt think of much better to do.

If ONLY I had thought of posting comments on websites, critisising others instead of doing stuff myself and sure to be ignored by everyone else! Damn, Im fuckin kicking myself now...

But, now Im doing it, its a bit boring too. Oh well... back to the activism...



Bored

Middle-class

24.02.2007 17:07

This is typical middle-class student posturing! Lets get a silly poster and make some water bombs etc etc Bet the BNP are scared of you lot !

Mick

Nice one!

24.02.2007 18:25

Don't listen to people like Micky, people like him are the fash's greatest weapon. In fact, maybe he is fash.

Anyway, great action, great report, keep up the agitation!

Neon Black
- Homepage: http://dreaming-neon-black.blogspot.com

berkshire bnp

25.02.2007 14:48

Berkshire antifascists will hopefully know BNP fighting 2 wards in Newbury, and 1 in Windsor (Clewer North Ward)

Happy hunting,.....

JimPage

Waste of Time?

25.02.2007 15:49

Annoying the BNP is always a productive use of time and resources. Nick G is a fascist, and as such it is the duty of everyone to make his life a living hell, until he stops trying to do the same to anyone who's the wrong colour.

Gitboy

Well done, For direct - action !

25.02.2007 19:32


From the pictures the protest looked worth it definitely something to build on .... especially the capdown gig and stuff.

Well you was hanging about at the train station, well not surprised he didnt turn up, he would have been bashed if Griffin and his motley crew was about, more so if was there, NEXT TIME FIND WHERE THE MEETING IS AND STORM IT WITH BASEBALL BATS !

BNP beware !

Antifa in the area !


Mirage Warrior

Kill the fash?

02.03.2007 13:27

Ummm mate you really wanna go and smash ordinary peoples heads in with baseball bats just because they happen to have been fooled by the likes of Griffin?

I think perhaps your moral compass is malfunctioning, mass mobilisations and community information campaigns are the way to stop the fash. Not a small bunch of thugs beating up old people who are sadly misguided.

James

Having a laugh.

06.03.2007 03:17

You children are having a laugh with your waterbombs. Go back to school. Anyone seeing you will be encouraged to vote BNP.

John Miller