BNP 'Red, White and Blue' festival hit by direct action

Thousands of British citizens came together today to blockade the BNP's 'Red, White and Blue' festival. Protesters blocked roads with their bodies, physically stopping BNP card-carriers and possible new recruits from reaching their festival.

The BNP is a Nazi Party - Smash the BNP

Coaches from all over the UK left early to reach Codnor to blockade the roads surrounding the BNP's festival. Word spread quickly that protesters had surrounded the vehicle of French fascist Le Pen, stopping him from reaching the event.

While the biggest anti-BNP protest took place in Codnor town centre, smaller groups of 200-300 people blocked roads leading to the event, making travel there impossible. The festival is said to have been heavily disrupted, with BNP head Nick Griffin making a complaint to the authorities that his followers couldn't reach their festival.

The risk of violent confrontation was reduced by the incredible number of anti-fascist activists present, with BNP supports heavily outnumbered and repeatedly retreating. The protesters were well-organised, linking arms when presented with the risk of attack by neo-Nazis and police.

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See more photos at:

http://photographywithoutborders.org/2009/08/bnp-red-white-blue-uaf-codnor-protest/
______________________________________________________

Josh Jones
Homepage: http://photographywithoutborders.org/

Comments

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reactionary nonsense

16.08.2009 00:09

to join the bnp you can submit an electronic form, what a success "stopping" new recruits.

Well done the UAF for again giving publicity to a lame event.

Well done the UAF to inciting violence from others not within their fluffy group in Birmingham recently, well done the UAF for making EDL, Casuals United a recognised name and for attracting attention and interest to a NON ENTITY.

carry on with your reactionary brigade, blinkered side of events and giving some organisations more credit and attention than they deserve.

i bet the next anti muslim protest in birmingham will be more attended, why? Because your reactions over a thoughtful political stance has prevailed again.

Fluffys with big voices.
'

atom ants

round in circles

16.08.2009 00:20

"The risk of violent confrontation was reduced by the incredible number of anti-fascist activists present, with BNP supports heavily outnumbered and repeatedly retreating. The protesters were well-organised, linking arms when presented with the risk of attack by neo-Nazis and police."

bnp safely inside the festival not wanting to come out and add any fuel to the media by engaging in direct action, locking arms as it was all you could come up with as an idea and i have never seen the swp.. oh i mean UAF ever organised effectively.

I take it you fully supported anyone arrested, not leaving them in vulnerable positions?
if they were on any of your buses, did people check to see if the ones detained are ok to get home etc... or is it the usual tactics of go down and shout from a distance, then distance yourselves from anyone who got themselves in trouble?

i wish you would start thinking a little more politically.
BNP arrested? how many
UAF arrested? probably NONE (it would have been all autonomous individuals that the UAF backed off from).

the tactices of the UAF has become so obselete and boring.

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT THERE IS NOW ONLY HUNDREDS ON THESE DEMOS RATHER THAN THE TENS OF THOUSANDS IN THE 80s/90s?????

UAF IS PART OF THE PROBLEM.

reactionary group who has never learned from experience.

mole

Well done

16.08.2009 00:37

Notice how they are on the defensive :), pathetic!

Gadaga

Get real!

16.08.2009 08:47

The Birmingham episode with the UAF inciting violence by having a gobshite bellowing into a megaphone within earshot of young black and Asian people was simply wrong. Any credibility it may have had went out of the window the moment people witnessed attacks in the street directly because of it. How can becoming what you hate the most help stop intolerance in anyway?

There are thousand ways to disrupt that crass and pathetic Gri££in arse-kissing competition, just use your imagination. Advertising it for shitbag Gri££in with a noisy ineffective march is not one of them; he thrives on this type of action. Before anyone bleats on about how they blocked the road for an hour, I’ll say that although commendable, that Gri££in-fest went on from Friday through till Sunday. Anyone that had travelled to go there with money to spend would not have turned around and gone home because the road was temporally blocked. They would have pulled up somewhere and tried again a short while later; let’s not kid ourselves.

There is only one way to fuck Gri££in up, and that’s through his pocket; that’s what you do with greedy corrupt egocentric scum. Scrutinise EVERY single penny he claims in Europe and elsewhere, set up a panel under the direction of a legal team that can work quietly and accurately and expose his double dealing at every turn. Present yourselves moderately to ex-bnp that may have evidence about the corruption with guarantees of anonymity. Expose him in the press and then put pressure on to ensure investigation and subsequent prosecution. This would hurt him ten times more than any egg throwing wailing banshee with a megaphone. It may even result in destroying him totally in the eyes of the greater bnp membership and stop people from following him.

I’d love nothing more than to see that scumbag loose everything and then face prosecution for his widespread corruption.

Mike

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oh dear

16.08.2009 08:49

i feel sorry for the people who live there.

Remember that old guy from last year who people were shouting Nazi at, but he actually lived there and had nothing to do with the BNP? What was done about it?

rex

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A Laughing stock

16.08.2009 10:05

This photo is floating around.

http://bayimg.com/image/eadciaace.jpg

Not a good image to betray to the wider public

The UAF are a laughing stock

ToBeFrank

What a good way to piss off local residents

16.08.2009 11:15

I am sure the local resident of Codnor were pleased at being made virtual prisoners in their own homes and being stopped from going about their usual business. Do you ever stop to consider the impact your demonstrations have on locals? The local people of Codnor couldn't give a toss about a BNP festival being held in their area, there are far more important things to worry about.

Local Resident

.. and meanwhile the BNP gets a million votes

16.08.2009 11:19

this stupid stuntism is a total waste of time and has no negative impact on the BNP whatsoever and in fact probably has a positive impact as people fed up with their impotency in the world look for someone to support .. ffs when are these idiot leftists going to realise that the BNP will only be defeated on the doorstep and by actually supporting people in their day to day lives

D02

Ho hum

16.08.2009 12:19

So what exactly are the critics above doing to stop the BNP? Is it a two word answer that begins with 'fuck' and ends with 'all'? All very well to slag off the trots strategy but I don't see anyone organising any alternative action. By blocking roads and holding a march they achieved very little but they did something which is more than the rest of the opposition put together.

All very well but

YOU GUYS ALL SUCK!

16.08.2009 13:16

the UAF were the only group who had the guts to go out and do something. this action was a success and all you pessimist bullshitters are just holding us back. while you sit at your ivory computer screen and insult other peoples efforts we went and prevented a bunch of nazis from europe getting to this festival. maybe you should take a good look at yourselves before judging the UAF so easily.

IVICA

Trolls?

16.08.2009 13:51

"So what exactly are the critics above doing to stop the BNP? Is it a two word answer that begins with 'fuck' and ends with 'all'? All very well to slag off the trots strategy but I don't see anyone organising any alternative action. By blocking roads and holding a march they achieved very little but they did something which is more than the rest of the opposition put together."

"the UAF were the only group who had the guts to go out and do something. this action was a success and all you pessimist bullshitters are just holding us back. while you sit at your ivory computer screen and insult other peoples efforts we went and prevented a bunch of nazis from europe getting to this festival. maybe you should take a good look at yourselves before judging the UAF so easily."

Gotta agree with both those comments. Sit and talk or get off your arse and do something. But if all you're going to do is criticise, fuck off. Well done to everyone who was able to get down to Codnor this weekend.

Of course, there's an outside chance these critics are just fash trolls....

Jace
Homepage: http://lancasteruaf.blogspot.com/

to 'all very well but', jace and invica .. you are so wrong

16.08.2009 14:33

look i canlt speak for the others above but most of the conmments sounds fair enough

.. there are thousends of people doing local work of the kind that REALLY undercuts the BNP who are sick and tired of these pointless stunts which the BNP USE for their own purposes ..

every time a load of people demonstrate AGAINST the BNP ... INSTEAD of demonstrating and organising against AGAINST housing shortage, unemployment, soldiers dieing in Afghan, lack of social services, wages issues, pub closures, hospital cuts etc etc etc etc etc

OR instead of CREATING stronger inclusive communities by doing parties, kids football training, estate clean ups, seaside visits, helping the old people, organising youth clubs, organising cheap healthy food clubs, setting up food growing etc, street parties BBQs etc etc etc etc

.. they are publciising the BNP and saying that the left are more interested in attacking 'patriots' ( ye swe knw they are just fascists) than the govt, more interested in being negative than positive

it is the politics of defeat, the politics of the petulant teenager who when they do not get their own way whine and moan shout and sulk .. it is worse than useless

if you want to stop the BNP get involved in your local community .. if you want a row join a boxing gym ..

D02

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Smashed !

16.08.2009 15:06

The nurse and resident who's blue for escort car you smashed up because she had a England symbol on her car registration plate wants to know how she is going to get to work in Nottingham tonight as she is a critical cancer intensive care nurse !
The car was quite handy in getting to work
Thanks a lot UAF

Brummie

Ivory Computer Screens

16.08.2009 15:18

"Gotta agree with both those comments. Sit and talk or get off your arse and do something. But if all you're going to do is criticise, fuck off. Well done to everyone who was able to get down to Codnor this weekend."

So when UAF (the SWP) criticised AntiFa's direct action against the festival last year, that was perfectly fine. I suppose it was fine that all the trot groups criticised the action then?

Or when they went over the heads of the Notts-Againt-The-BNP group's decision to not communicate with the police and effectively organised their own demo, splitting support, and giving the direct action elements of the movement more police to worry about? That's perfectly okay too...

Anon-archist

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Dear Brummie

16.08.2009 15:26

What is a 'critical cancer intensive care nurse?'

From a nurse

Sarah

Nothing ventured, nothing gained

16.08.2009 15:33

A quotation seen on a placard at the rally "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing" make me pleased that good people from many backgrounds turned out on Saturday to do something. It may not have been all they could do, who knows what else thet might do, but at least they got off their asses and did something.

There may have been a mixed reaction from some local people, but much of the organising was instigated by local people, and well done that they did.

No doubt the fashists love the breath of publicity, but better that than to let them fester like a grangenous wound in silence.

Pat

Secondary targets?

16.08.2009 15:40

Does anyone know the detail of any secondary targets relating to the BNP festival? e.g. the land owner, marquee hire, etc.? Names and addresses of these type of companies would be very useful.

anon

doing nothing

16.08.2009 16:09

Well i expected that, critisise the actions of the UAF and you get accused of doing nothing! very judgemental and reactionary, tho thats very much to be expected.

"the UAF were the only group who had the guts to go out and do something. this action was a success and all you pessimist bullshitters are just holding us back. while you sit at your ivory computer screen and insult other peoples efforts we went and prevented a bunch of nazis from europe getting to this festival. maybe you should take a good look at yourselves before judging the UAF so easily."

so you prevented a bunch of nazis from europe from getting to the festival? for how long, what a success that is!

I have had many a good look at myself and the way the UAF operate. Over the last 20 years i have participated and watched different actions. the one thing that many of us seem to do that the UAF doesnt is LEARN from the past. The only people gaining from your actions are the bnp with all the fsantastic publicity that you are giving them.

Ill go back to action at the root of the community. Walking down the street shouting "nazi out", has never worked and will never work.

Reactionary attitude from the UAF, no political or long term thought put into these actions. No wonder so many groups wont work with the SWP, erm i mean UAF.

congratulations on promoting teh BNP yet again...

oh and i hope you made sure all the arrested were ok etc. then again theres a bad record of supporting comrades on actions........... try using your brains instead of shouting the same drivel that has been said for 20 or 30 years.

atom ant

cas united

16.08.2009 16:15

Do you recognise that thanks to the UAF, that the EDL and Casuals United is now a recognisable name and will attract more people to their next demos?

a non entity made given credibility by the hysterics of the swappies.

atom ant

placard waver

16.08.2009 16:25

"The main body of demonstrators, monitored by a camera mounted on a drone, gathered in Codnor's Market Place, chanting "Nazi scum, off our streets" and waving placards from UAF and other trade union groups."

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/21/20090816/tuk-four-charged-over-bnp-event-demo-6323e80.html

That will show them pesky nazis! :) Yhe SWP/UAF should review their actions over the last 20 years, as the tactics don't seem to be changing.

Never worked in the past and they won't work now. Why do you think your protest numbers so few people?

Del

To UAF

16.08.2009 16:44

Why is it that the UAF support the police, Labour Party, x-y-z sell out Trade Union? And you expect people to support the UAF? People who are fucked over by the same institutions that UAF so blindly and willingly support. The march on the RWB did NOTHING for revolutionary antifascism, it solely allowed the LEFT with the UAF banner to defend the status quo.

For all those serious about fighting fascists - anarchists, socialists and rank and file workers, its time to congregate unders a new movement. The UAF are political and strategically corrupt. The UAF will cause another Bradford style riot with its hysterical propaganda and will get alot of young asian and black youth banged up with no political support. The UAF leadership should be DEPOSED as the leadership of the anti-fascist movement and a more open, non-hierarchical and anti-authoritarian movement needs to be formed. The far-right have recomposed, sections of the army along with social networks are organising under the banners of Casuals United and EDL. Do you honestly think the UAF have what it takes to defeat this threat and create a revolutionary working class movement?

Del

16.08.2009 17:42

"Do you honestly think the UAF have what it takes to defeat this threat and create a revolutionary working class movement? "

absolutely not, after they whip up hatred and more support for the EDL/CU on the streets, they will leave it to other groups to physically engage when required. Meanwhile they will be tucked up on their coaches back to mummys house before college on monday. Or in a meeting with police protesting their members innocence, hysterical non-thought out nonsense once again.

How they cannot see the benefits that the bnp etc recieve after every one of their actions beggars belief.

what has the UAF achieved?

to @

@ Jace

16.08.2009 18:58

Of course, there's an outside chance these critics are just fash trolls....

These types of demos have been tried in the past, pulling numbers of upto 90 000 at one that i attended in the early 90s. The UAF/SWP action pulled about 1500 people, there are more people than "fash trolls" critical of the uaf actions.

atom ant

a few things

16.08.2009 19:50

those who were arrested, had accomodation provided for in derby, if they couldnt get home that night.

people were applauding the demonstrators as we marched through codnor

tom b
mail e-mail: tgkbrook@googlemail.com

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So where were Antifa?

16.08.2009 21:00

To the four antifa idiots who bothered to turn up and have now retreated to their age-old indymedia hiding place for a wank-fest. Grow up, get some politics.

To local resident, if you are a local resident, when we (UAF) marched back from the road we had blockaded all morning, how exactly do you explain those of your neighbours who were out in the streets to cheer us on and clap and tank us for our presence? In fact, during our blockade there was a guy who was even kind enough to let us use his toilet for christ's sake.
Personally, what made the whole day worthwhile for me, was when I saw a young girl waving from her window at the marchers with her mother and two sisters. Given the colour of her skin, quite simply it would not have been safe for her to walk the streets of her own town during the BNP's festival. There were pairs of BNP snatch-squads (they'd walked past our blockade all morning giving right-arm salutes) prowling the streets. Imagine how she would have felt if no one had bothered to turn up.

To those who couldn't be bothered to turn out: I guess you'll just never have the experience of standing with 50 other comrades in front of a line of cars filled with fascists, watching them brood, get all hot and bothered in their BMWs, and then fuck off after then minutes once they'd finally realised they weren't going to pass.

To those who blame UAF for what happened in Birmingham: perhaps you should watch this to see who really incited the violence:

http://www.counterfire.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=402:video-nazis-routed-in-birmingham&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=53

Well done comrades.

UAF mobster

Reason for collapse in numbers

16.08.2009 21:31

The reason why numbers on demonstrations have declined is that the left has collapsed over the last 20 years or so; there just aren't nearly as many members, militants, branches etc. This is reflected also in dismal election results, such as the fact that the left received fewer votes than the BNP in the Euro elections (less than half) and in the London mayoral election. The left is probably at its lowest ebb since the First World War.

The real issue is how this long-term decline can be reversed or whether the left (and I mean the left broadly, not just the Marxist organisations) will simply carry on in the same old way, and become more and more irrelevant in the same old way. As it is it seems like a long march into oblivion.

@ D02

16.08.2009 21:43

"organising AGAINST housing shortage, unemployment, soldiers dieing in Afghan, lack of social services, wages issues, pub closures, hospital cuts etc etc etc etc etc "

Agreed. But the two things are not mutually exclusive are they? It is possible to blockade in Codnor and knock/leaflet doors when the BNP pose an electoral threat. So why not do both? I disagree that it gives the BNP positive publicity. In fact, this coverage, from Reuters of all places, is just exactly what we need to show them up for what they really are:

http://uk.reuters.com/news/pictures/articleslideshow?articleId=UKTRE57E1H720090815&channelName=topNews#a=5

Yes, that is Reuters News Agency spotting a fascist. Strange isn't it. But had we not been there, nor would the media. Had we not pissed that twat off so much, he might not have revealed his fascist core in public, unwittingly in the presence of a photographer. A good photo, no? Does a good job of showing the BNP's true colours, no? Distributed by a mass-media organisation, no? Capitalist scum they remain. Those contributors with sour grapes: eat them. UAF did good work yesterday. Where were you?

Organised socialist

@ To Be Frank

16.08.2009 22:20

Look exactly where the photo you posted is doing the rounds:

http://british-nationalist.org.uk/2009/08/red-white-and-blue-report/#comments

Sorry for posting up this link. But it's the fascists using the photo to smear UAF: why shouldn't the guy be supporting us. Do you not like the look of him ToBeFrank? Do you have issues with him and the way he looks? Or are you just a FashTroll?

Fash Trolls Exposed

BNP chat

16.08.2009 22:32

An interesting bit of 'chat' from the British Nationalist newspaper link above:

"What has happened at RWB, the egging of Nick Griffin and other sordid acts of communist violence show that the time is now for the BNP to start a more militant security branch, the British Guard, somewhat like the very successful Hungarian Guard. The police are polticized and they are not hitting these bastards back where it counts. We need to protect our own"

Shows the BNP membership looking to their fascist co-Nazis across Europe for inspiration, and then this, presumably from a higher-up:

"I don't think the BNP should purposefully set out to create a militant security branch as that goves the press more ammunition to say we are creating "Stormtroopers" etc etc. That wouldn't look good at all.

I'd prefer if various "activist" organisations such as NF started morphing into different organisations and constantly changed their name so the press could never properly identify them and the public would start beliving they were ordinary people rising up. The same 100 people being active in different towns and cities using different names could lead people to believe a popular uprising was beginning to take place."

Sheds a lot of light on the English Defence League and Casuals United doesn't it just. Openly advocated the use of front groups to create the illusion of a popular uprising. But we already know of Chris Renton's involvement.

The article also shows the BNP are savvy enough to try to manipulate the media. The 'father and daughter' who 'went for a stroll' have their picture printed here by Reuters:

http://uk.reuters.com/news/pictures/articleslideshow?articleId=UKTRE57E1H720090815&channelName=topNews#a=6

Look at that gurn! My can't she make a face. They then wandered off to join the hate-fest at RWB. But Reuters fell for it, surprise surprise.

Fash Trolls

anon

17.08.2009 00:10

"Does anyone know the detail of any secondary targets relating to the BNP festival? e.g. the land owner, marquee hire, etc.? Names and addresses of these type of companies would be very useful."

It's all well and good stopping cars for a bit and enjoying some direct action (for a change), it slows down fascists getting to the festival, but one thing it doesn't do is stop the event.

Anyone got any details on any associated companies??

i'm with this person

@ UAF mobster ..

17.08.2009 07:51

mate you are missing teh point .. the BNP got 1 million votes at the last elections following a series of demos like this ( i remember UAF crowing over the demos outside of Griffins court appearences a few years back and yet now we have a Yorkshire BNP MEP. These demos utterly misunderstand hwo the BNP operate, which is not from outside communities, as do you and the left, parachuting in from one issue to another, but from within. IF you genuinely wish to defeat the BNP, instead of just either being up for a row or just doing the typical trot bullshit of using issues to recruit students to build the party for some far distant revolution, you you too need to get involved where the BNP do. THAT is the only way the will be undercut .. oh and the election of a right wing tory govt .. shades of '79?? ;)

to organised socialist, sorry but i do believe these things contradict each other. The BNP put a lot of publicity into attacking the left for not being interested in ordinary people, and they are right for the most. Most left USE disputes to party build as that is the key element of their ideology. Anti fascism should ONLY be part of local defence campaigns. When people neglect local work to run off to demonstarte against events like this they are simply falling head first into the BNP trap

For the RWB people could and simply should have supported the NOTTs campaign which the BNP would have had difficulty in attacking,

D02

landowner

17.08.2009 07:54

the landowner's name is Alan Warner = BNP member, if you search through posts from last years rwb shitefest you'll find a lot of info, plus some other Antifa posts, he's regularly hassled.

Info on other companies involved i.e. taxi firms, transport companies, caterers, etc would be good, try to put them off from helping the fascists next year might help fuck things for them.

anon +I'm with this person

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A laughing stock?

17.08.2009 15:07

"The UAF are a laughing stock"

You'd better believe it...the dwarf in bondage gear, and his lycra clad 'friend', Tara the whining trannie, the portly bloke running the UAF. What a joke! And then there's all you would be Commies. You haven't a clue. Still, you can only push people so far...

Meanwhile, the march of Islam moves ever onward..enjoy it.

mike

No point in demonstrating????

17.08.2009 16:53

I read this article and comments as someone who is not part of any of what appears to be feuding parties, but as someone who instinctively opposes the BNP/NF/BM/Nazis (what ever they are called now). Indymedia is one of the only places this stuff gets reported.

I have sympathy with the people who went to the demo and made the effort. I think making a stand is important even if it appears to be a token, ok the gathering was not shut down, Griffin was not given a good kicking. That doesn’t mean nothing was achieved. The demos are a reminder that despite the BNPs best efforts they are not a regular political party, it is important that this is shown every time they rear their ugly heads.

I would liken it to the Anti-Apartheid outside the SA embassy in the late 70s, early 80s. At the time the regime appeared to be gaining some acceptance, the demos of the early 70s had died down, Thatcher all but supported the regime. Although often only 2 or 3 people attended the vigil, it acted as a reminder to everyone that this was not normal, not acceptable.

Bystander

video on sf

17.08.2009 22:42

i wont link to it but have you seen on stormfront that the uaf are a laughing stock after some nazis got a free lift to the nazi fest? i thought it was bollocks but theres a video taken on the coach. good god. WHA PRICE SECURITY??????

wtf

@ Bystander

18.08.2009 18:46

Bystander .. is that really you ?

Deep bow, Sir. You're right about Indymedia being the only place this stuff gets reported but have a care, educated erudite commentary will, inter alia, have you marked as Fash.

Can it be ?

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