Nottingham Stop the EDL march: Useful info and tactics
Skank | 21.11.2009 12:08 | Anti-racism | Repression
Remember that the power lies in the hands of the communities, do not rely on labour councils. Remember that actions speak louder than words, do not be led astray by groups whos aim is entirely political.
Disclaimer: This is not meant to be sectarian and in no way advocates a split in the anti-fascist movement, now more than ever unity must be our watchword, but never forget to check who is pulling the strings and how they use demos such as these to futher their own agendas, not ours!
By many measures the counter Scottish Defence League demo in Glasgow was a roaring success, we outnumbered them around 5 to 1 (roughly 1,000 anti-fash and a measley 200 fash turned out) they weren't allowed to march and were herded out of Glasgow tails between their legs. However there were also areas which needed much improvement!
First of all the Glasgow council had voted to ban the SDL march, in itself a comendable action, but we must ask ourselves to what ends was this action taken and what can it teach us about Nottingham. Well, as with all political actions the motivation is never as simple as it may seem, Nottingham's Labour council are moving to ban the EDL's march and once again this *can* be seen as a victory for anti-fascicm. However what we are seeking is not the political repression of a right wing movement it is mass community mobilisation to show that fascism is not welcome in our towns, to ban them simply justifies in their own minds the persecution that the 'liberal' government and media are subjecting them to, an ulitmatley more useful end is to show by sheer strenght of numbers that they do not represent a 'silent majority' as they so wrongly think. Do not rely on Labour to ban them, we must take responsibility for our own communities rather than allowing a bunch of genocidal war mongers preach to us about how we need them to impose equality on us.
Secondly this demo is about action and not words. In Glasgow we were diverted away from the city, two miles away from the city and the SDL, not by police but by UAF. We were forced to endure the inane ramblings of all manner of middle class 'liberals' and 'socialists' whos party lines and rhetoric bore no relation to what the vast majority of us thought, and in the meantime the police were herding the SDL onto coaches out of town. When we questioned this decision and the choice of speakers UAF stewards threatened to have us arrested. Remember why you are there on the 5th, for action, not words. Do not let UAF, itself just a front for the SWP highjack YOUR demo and use it push their own political agenda.
Chasin out, chasin out, we're chasin out the scum. Chasin out, chasin out and we will never run.
Skank. Antifa Hooligan!
By many measures the counter Scottish Defence League demo in Glasgow was a roaring success, we outnumbered them around 5 to 1 (roughly 1,000 anti-fash and a measley 200 fash turned out) they weren't allowed to march and were herded out of Glasgow tails between their legs. However there were also areas which needed much improvement!
First of all the Glasgow council had voted to ban the SDL march, in itself a comendable action, but we must ask ourselves to what ends was this action taken and what can it teach us about Nottingham. Well, as with all political actions the motivation is never as simple as it may seem, Nottingham's Labour council are moving to ban the EDL's march and once again this *can* be seen as a victory for anti-fascicm. However what we are seeking is not the political repression of a right wing movement it is mass community mobilisation to show that fascism is not welcome in our towns, to ban them simply justifies in their own minds the persecution that the 'liberal' government and media are subjecting them to, an ulitmatley more useful end is to show by sheer strenght of numbers that they do not represent a 'silent majority' as they so wrongly think. Do not rely on Labour to ban them, we must take responsibility for our own communities rather than allowing a bunch of genocidal war mongers preach to us about how we need them to impose equality on us.
Secondly this demo is about action and not words. In Glasgow we were diverted away from the city, two miles away from the city and the SDL, not by police but by UAF. We were forced to endure the inane ramblings of all manner of middle class 'liberals' and 'socialists' whos party lines and rhetoric bore no relation to what the vast majority of us thought, and in the meantime the police were herding the SDL onto coaches out of town. When we questioned this decision and the choice of speakers UAF stewards threatened to have us arrested. Remember why you are there on the 5th, for action, not words. Do not let UAF, itself just a front for the SWP highjack YOUR demo and use it push their own political agenda.
Chasin out, chasin out, we're chasin out the scum. Chasin out, chasin out and we will never run.
Skank. Antifa Hooligan!
Skank
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