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Leeds AF and the EDL

Makhno | 12.07.2010 13:11 | Anti-racism | Sheffield

Finally (not including the bumbling first attempt that was swiftly ‘hidden’ on Indymedia), at long last, Leeds AF have issued a statement about the incursion of 5 EDL members into a ‘militant antifascist’ meeting they held on July 3rd. Unfortunately, it raises more questions than it answers.

Bearing in mind the importance of this incident, and the acrimony that has surrounded it – the boastful crowing of the EDL, the numerous (around a dozen) ‘hidden’ threads on Indymedia, the derision of other antifascists – not to mention the embarrassment caused, it really is pretty poor that Leeds Anarchist Federation have taken so long to issue this statement.

Obviously, we take all posts and comments by the EDL with a very large handful of salt, but there have been numerous posts and comments on Indymedia, which are clearly made by genuine antifascists, and which do not paint Leeds AF in a flattering light. What we can say about the meeting for certain is as follows:

1) It was not very well advertised.
The only place it was advertised appears to have been Sheffield Indymedia. Since only 10 antifascists apparently turned up, including Leeds AF themselves, it was very clearly not well known about.

2) No other local antifascist groups appear to have been invited.
Leeds has a good reputation for militant antifascism, with an established Antifa group and numerous old AFA members active in the city, but these people were not there. Had they been, things would have been very different. Comments on some of the ‘hidden’ threads appear to indicate that they were not invited.

3) Security for the meeting was very poor.
There was no re-direction for the meeting and it was held at the pre-advertised location. There was no security, either at the venue entrance or at the door of the meeting room itself. Five unknown individuals (who turned out to be the EDL) were ‘buzzed’ into the meeting simultaneously.

4) At some point the EDL announced who they were. They were not confronted physically. Nor were they physically ejected, but left of their own volition after having had their say.

Leeds AF now appear to be trying to sugar-coat this disastrous meeting – badly conceived, badly advertised, badly attended, and badly secured. That does not change what actually occurred, an incident quite shameful for antifascists with pretensions of militancy, which has wider implications for antifascists outside their group. To characterise the EDL incursion as “at most a mild inconvenience” is not only shameful, it is fundamentally dishonest.

It might be regarded as trying to run before they’ve even started walking, but in view of the fact that Leeds AF claim to want to build (or at least ‘head up’) an antifascist coalition in the city, why did they not first of all establish their own antifascist credentials and enter into talks with other antifascists operating within Leeds? Not to have done so smacks of both arrogance and stupidity, not to mention sectarianism. Perhaps the truth is that they simply have SWP-like aspirations for recruitment, and did not want to be ‘shown up’ by the attendance of more experienced antifascists. That said, bearing in mind the numerous dismissive and derogatory comments about Leeds AF on the many ‘hidden’ Indymedia threads, perhaps any approach would have been rebuffed, possibly for good reasons. Why did the AF not at least put some substantial effort into advertising the meeting, beyond a post on an Indymedia site in a different part of Yorkshire? Considering their lack of effort in this regard, they can hardly be taken seriously.

Since this was a meeting called to discuss a militant antifascist response to the EDL, and considering that the EDL have a recent track-record of turning up mob-handed to anti-EDL meetings, not to mention the track-record of West Yorkshire police, it really is inexcusable that security for the meeting was so incredibly lax. Incredibly, Leeds AF are now claiming they “were aware of the EDL’s intention to attack the meeting” prior to it taking place! Yet they still did not employ any proper security measures, thereby endangering anyone who might have turned up. Frankly, their belated claims to ‘preparedness’ sound like bullshit. One wonders what the AF’s response would have been if someone outside the AF (assuming there were actually other antifascists there) had done what they shamefully failed to do themselves, and confronted the EDL. Would they have been backed up, or restrained and even thrown out? More than likely, none of these, they would have simply been ‘on their own’.

Whatever occurred inside the meeting, and one might be inclined to take both AF and EDL accounts with a large pinch of salt, the AF got off very lightly, and things could have been far worse. However, in view of the fact that no ‘re-direction’ was employed and that the meeting took place in the advertised venue, the possibility that the meeting may have been monitored by the police cannot be discounted.

Nationally, AF policy is supposedly to take on the EDL “head on” – physically – so the belated weasel excuses of Leeds AF for not physically confronting the 5 EDL members who provocatively walked into their meeting sound rather pathetic. Just what kind of ‘militant’ antifascist ‘coalition’ is this?

Judging by the numerous comments of those within the city of Leeds who know members of Leeds AF, the fiasco does not come as a surprise. The group appear to have a poor reputation locally, and so it is perhaps unsurprising that so few antifascists attended their meeting (bearing in mind that the total number was around 10, one wonders how many of those attending were not in the AF.)

Leeds AF may have been able to manipulate Indymedia coverage of the incident, but undoubtedly the truth is out there, and what has occurred has only further damaged the reputation of a group that seems to have been “piss-poor” to begin with. If we are to genuinely confront the EDL, both in terms of what they pass off as ‘politics’, and on the streets, we are going to have to do a lot better than this. Genuine antifascists might well consider looking elsewhere, or working autonomously, before they compromise their security and their personal safety by being taken in by a group with no apparent experience of confronting fascist groups and no idea of how to go about it. Leeds AF appear to be a shortcut to a kicking or a jail cell, and are at best a waste of time.

Makhno

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Leeds antifascist

12.07.2010 13:41

I am an unaffiliated antifascist based in Leeds and I must say that I would have been interested in such a meeting but have only heard about the meeting subsequently on indymedia. I think there are plenty of people who would have been in this same position.

In response to the article, just want to say that beating up 5 EDL members in the Swarthmore centre isnt what I see as militant antifacism, thats just a bit stupid and a not so clever way to get police attention. So many leftists are so set on there theoretical tactics that they leave no room for flexibility in any situation. Is there not a difference between confronting 5 EDL (quite probably not even fascists) in an education centre and fascists when they are mobilising on the streets?

Leeds antifascist

background info

12.07.2010 13:42

the article advertising the meeting is this one:  http://sheffield.indymedia.org.uk/2010/06/454079.html

the statement from leeds afed on the meeting is here:  http://sheffield.indymedia.org.uk/2010/07/455409.html

reader

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Leeds afed

12.07.2010 14:07

I know a few members of leeds afed and they daft as brushes, you wouldn't trust them or do owt serious with them. Maybe there are some others but the 5 I know are mentalists.

Jimbo

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Anti-Islamists are not fascists!

12.07.2010 14:53

Anti-Islamists are not fascists or racists! See this:
 http://barenakedislam.wordpress.com/2009/09/05/english-defense-league-anti-islamists-are-not-fascists-not-racists-not-bnp/

Fight real fascists not the EDL anti-Islamic extremist movement.

Militant antifascism

12.07.2010 15:11

It seems that just as the term 'direct action' was misappropriated and devalued by liberals in the past, so cowards and hypocrites are now attempting to misappropriate the term 'militant antifascism'. Militant antifascists employ a variety of tactics to oppose our enemies, but for a group to advertize a meeting to plan a militant response to the EDL, and then let them waltz unhindered in and out of that meeting, is both cowardly and hypocritical. These were not EDL 'cannon fodder' and there is no excuse for failing to confront them. Leeds AF are a miniscule group who generally do fuck all and who were trying to punch way above their weight here.

Antifascist

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Cowardy custards

12.07.2010 15:24

I know facists are cowards but for the edl to be intimadated by leeds af as they claim the edl would have too be the biggest cowards ever! The whole of leeds af must weigh about 50kg wet thru! Pinch of salt? This report needs a bucketfull!

Rhubarb

Swarthmore centre

12.07.2010 15:50

If it was so important to avoid a punch-up in the Swarthmore centre, why did the af not send out spotters to locate the EDL and head them off, or at least have a competent door team in place to deny them access? Real antifascists would have viewed intel of an EDL 'attack' as a fucking gift.

Sceptic

Are anti-fascists wannabe chocolate soldiers?

12.07.2010 16:40

It seem a big part of being an anti-fascist is wanting and getting into fights within a safe environment.
There is constant talk of mobilising, marching and show strength. These are things the army does except without the real danger.

By their very definition, anti-fascists wouldn't even exist if it wasn't for fascists.
I am 100% sure that your average militant anti-fascist would have to find something else to relieve their boredom if fascism didn't exist. Some equally inane form of pseudo-safe violence like supporting football.

sid

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Dirty tricks

12.07.2010 16:59

See this article has been removed from the 'anti-racism' newswire.

Anti EDL

Sid

12.07.2010 17:21

You obviously know very little about either fascism or antifascism 'Sid'. In my opinion, sniping liberal fence-sitters like you are worse than the EDL.

Antifascist

Come on

12.07.2010 18:06

I agree that it was a tad naive of Leeds AF but using terms like "Real antifascists" or "Genuine Antifascists" weakens the definition. Leeds AF and the AF in the UK ARE Real and Genuine antifascists. Thats NOT the problem. The problem lies in the organisation of the meeting and the lack of a necessary response to prevent the EDL using the meeting as some sort of platform.

As an anarchist involved in many years in London there needs to be a renaissance of militancy but also political organising - not much is around. Whilst groups like Antifa and 635 Group are CLOSED groups where do the rest of the people get involved in. Both those groups have excellent analysis from a working class perpective of how fascism develops and how it can be defeated, so why hide that away.

Maybe Leeds AF is a convenient punch bag of the failures of anarchist antifascist groups, but lets not deflect it for the sake of letting everyone else of the hook. Bad organisation we can deal with and improve upon, but that can't happen if people stand on the side lines and not advise these groups ( no matter how young or physically unable you seem to think they are ). The only way people are going to listen to you if they respect and trust you, "makno" statement may be right but it offers no hand of solidarity or attempt to involve AF in this process.

Its not about whose right or wrong, its about improving a vastly depleted movement with some sense of itself and some unify purpose.

Solidarity from London

London Anarchist

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go to there meetings

12.07.2010 18:12

if as you claim you want to confront the edl why not go to there meetings?? they openly say where there gonna be could the reason be antifahaha are a joke living on past reputations when you bullied half a dozen nazi fools? if five of you clowns walked into an edl meeting unless you were very polite im sure you would get the confrontation you claim to want come on boys and girls of antifahaha talk is cheap get youre asses to an edl meet and back up some of the bollox you spout on here or everyone will just think youre a bunch of middle class wannabe revolutionarys cmon prove what brave class warriors you are obviously wont expect anything for a few weeks what with the schools being on holiday and most of you going back to mummys and daddys for the summer im sure the revolution will wait till september antifahaha about as much use as a chocolate fire guard

antifahaha

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Cheap Talk

12.07.2010 18:27

Talk is indeed cheap troll - you don't say when and where the next Leeds EDL meeting is. How about enlightening us?

Antifascist

"the importance of this incident"

12.07.2010 20:39

"Bearing in mind the importance of this incident, and the acrimony that has surrounded it – the boastful crowing of the EDL, the numerous (around a dozen) ‘hidden’ threads on Indymedia, the derision of other antifascists" - in what way is any of that important? A small group of dickheads turned up to a small and poorly advertised meeting, then an argument happened which ended without anyone getting hit, and then afterwards some people wrote some stuff about it on the internet. It's not exactly the burning of the Reichstag? The only thing this exposes is how quiet life in the anarcho ghetto is, if such a non-event gets played up as a major incident.

Durruti's mate's cousin's babysitter

storm in a teacup

12.07.2010 22:10

This isn't important - no-one really gives a shit.

I wouldn't be surprised if this article was posted by EDL members just seeking to shit-stir.

anon

What is important about this incident

12.07.2010 22:20

For years Leeds was a fascist town and they did what they wanted here; openly sold papers, demonstrated publically, and terrorized anyone who didn't agree with them. Those were hard days for antifascists, but we had the courage to fight back. It took years of hard work, dangerous work, work that led to comrades going to jail, but we took back Leeds from the fascists. We smashed their paper sales and drove them off the streets. Other comrades have continued that work, fighting hard to keep the fascists hiding in their rat-holes. Now some arrogant two bob outfit come along, they've got big ideas and a lot to say for themselves, but can't be bothered to put the proper time and effort into organising themselves properly. They're easy pickings for the fascists, who swan into their meeting unopposed and lord it over them. Emboldened by an easy victory, the fascists are now openly talking about driving antifascists underground. And it will be the job of REAL antifascists to ensure that does not happen, a job made harder because of the arrogance and stupidity of a few cowardly would-be antifascists.

Old Guard

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So its not important then?

12.07.2010 23:02

I think you're overreacting old guard. Things have moved on and no one really gives a shit about being a fascist or anti-fascist. One group is a bunch of chavs and baldies, the other group is a bunch of guardian reading lanky people. Both groups are wankers who enjoy marching, more marching, chanting and being angry. And they both secretly love the kudos of being hard around the police. Yes, running around with giant erections beating off to men in leather - thats what this is really all about.

mug you wot

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Mug

12.07.2010 23:37

What a silly boy.

TrollWatch

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Not up to the job

13.07.2010 09:43

I know Leeds A-Fed and believe that most of them are well-meaning people, but it has to be said that they couldn't organise a pie fight in a bakery. They are always making cock-ups and this is not helped by the attitude and behaviour of a couple of their members who can behave rather childishly. They obviously meant well with this meeting but went about it all wrong and bit off way more than they could chew. When I go out on anti-fascist stuff I want to feel safe and secure as possible. This is not meant to be a slag-off of Leeds A-Fed but their a really young inexperienced group. I know who I'd go out with in Leeds and it wouldn't be A-Fed.

Arthur

i'd be laughing myself silly

13.07.2010 09:59

at the energy the purist antifascists put into attacking the less than perfect- all it takes is a few people to turn up to a small meeting and next thing the antifascist movement are tearing one another apart - and it is all so TEDIOUSLY MACHO - who are the REAL HARD MEN? Pathetic

if i were edl

"Purist" antifascism?!

13.07.2010 10:19

This has absolutely nothing to do with 'pureism' or 'machismo', and frankly these accusations. It is about taking security seriously and organizing effectively. When groups set up meetings of this sort they have a responsibility to do both. To do otherwise is irresponsible.

Black & Red

ANTIFA

13.07.2010 10:41

I think I'm right in saying that while Antifa England groups are 'closed' for security reasons, they still welcome new members. They also encourage autonomous militant antifascist activity and issued a good statement about it a while back. In West Yorks there is the 635 Group, who have a good reputation, their email contact is (I'm pretty sure)  the635group@mail.com

Against the EDL

The meeting

13.07.2010 10:49

I did not know about this meeting but i'd have been really angry if I'd have gone and then the EDL had just been allowed to walk in.

anon

Worth a look

13.07.2010 11:10

For those who care to look, the EDL's account of the meeting is on their forum at - s1.zetaboards.com/EDL_The_Forum/topic/3541077/2/ Obviously it's a Fash site with all the bluster and bullshit, but in my view it's still worth a look as it not only gives a very different perspective, but it helps to put this incident in context. Hopefully the next time the EDL try it on they'll come well and truely unstuck.

B.A.

Pureist antifascism

13.07.2010 11:33

Is that like when you DON'T let a bunch of fash walk into your anti-fash meeting and have a polite chat with them before they go off on their merry way?

Ali Bongo

EDL at the meeting

13.07.2010 11:45

Thats an interesting account compared to the af version, think the truth is probably somewhere in between. Have the EDL commented since the Af issued their statement? I heard a rumour that the edl had a spotter in the meeting before the others came in. Can anyone who was there comment?

Leeds anti-racist

Laughing themselves silly

13.07.2010 12:13

It seems that the EDL have already done this - not at this debate but at leeds af! To be fair, I'm sure the af meant well, but anyone who knows any of them (and thats probably a fair few local Indy posters) would also piss themselves at the thought of them standing up to the EDL. Anybody who knows them will know exactly what I'm talking about. Nuff said.

NSG

A true anti fascist alliance

13.07.2010 15:32

First time I've looked on that EDL forum and it makes interesting reading - lnts of stuff about attacking 'the Reds' and driving them underground. Boastful shit but the AF have certainly made them cocky. It would be great to see a proper AFA-style coalition for West Yorkshire, but I don't see the tiny LAF group playing a significant role in one. YAF neither, they couldn't even organise their own launch party properly, and a lot of the worst behaved at that were drunken LAF members.

Anti

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making the efoort

13.07.2010 17:22

if all the people on here made the effort to get to the meeting then the edl wouldnt have been able to take the piss what were we expected to do there was only 20 of us and edl snowy is a man mountain that leaps buildings in a single bound antifahahaha wankers to a man p.s my personal best for having a post deleted is 54 secs dont you lot like the truth i would say see you on the streets but we all know that wont happen unless 10 of you wankers jump 1 lad NO SURRENDER

antifa

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Snowy

13.07.2010 17:37

Why don't you post up the details of your next Leeds meeting gobshite? We're not all AF wankers.

Fuck The EDL

Brief spot of pedantry

13.07.2010 17:53

"It would be great to see a proper AFA-style coalition for West Yorkshire, but I don't see the tiny LAF group playing a significant role in one. YAF neither, they couldn't even organise their own launch party properly, and a lot of the worst behaved at that were drunken LAF members."
At the risk of sounding like the Judean People's Front, I'd just like to say that Yorkshire Anarchist Group is not the same as the AF. Yorkshire AF is just the people in Yorkshire who're in AFed, Yorkshire Anarchist Group is not linked to any national org and doesn't really have a fixed set of principles in the same way. It was YAG who organised that launch party a few months back.

One of Yorks AF

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@fuck the edl

13.07.2010 18:34

couldnt possibly post the details of the next leeds meeting where would it all end rumour has it that if leeds edl meet again the supermen of antifahaha will write letters of protest call for a boycott of the pub or even start a petition we dont want that kind of anarchy (on a serious note i have no idea when leeds edl will be meeting im not from leeds ) why dont the mighty antifahaha and the edl organise a get together maybe 20 a side (antifahaha get 20 ?) and sit down and talk through these issues without any need for violence or do you middle class wankers only want to talk when its 20 to 1

anon

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Leeds EDL

13.07.2010 19:54

Easy to gob off on the internet isn't it Snow White, and to ambush young kids. The offer is there if you want to say where you meet. Leeds EDL have managed to get themselves barred from half a dozen city centre bars all by themselves. They can't be up to much if they have to draft in a gobshite like you to fight their battles.

Fuck The EDL

Green, Green Grass!

13.07.2010 23:14


The EDL is full of grasses. Remember when Tommy Robinson was arrested at Shefield, and after a brief promise made to Special Branch, released without charge, followed by fash-friendly policing in Bolton.

Plenty of those 5000 banning orders to prevent known hooligans attending the World Cup were as a result of Yaxley-Lennon (Tommy Robinson) turning into a trusted police informant.

If Leeds Antifa had acted against the EDL fascists violently, the coppers would have taken sides once again.

That's why they didn't act!

BBC

interesting quote from the EDL forum

13.07.2010 23:17

found this on the EDL forum, which I thought was interesting:
s1.zetaboards.com/EDL_The_Forum/topic/3541077/2/
---------------------
one comment about what preceded the more detailed report (and I can't believe I'm saying this).. but I think it might be a bit unfair to keep railing on about 'Lefties'.

I've done it myself, more than once, but we risk alienating decent people if we keep bundling them all together. I consider myself on the Right, but though I do struggle to understand the Left at times (and many others on the 'Right' of course) there's no reason why we can't be on the same side against radical Islam

Some of the Left are unpleasant (as are some of the Right no doubt), but once confronted (as Charles, Snowy, and others have done), there's a chance that they could switch sides.

I think we risk undoing that good work if we continually attack 'the Left' - we're not simply a Right wing group.

Left and Right Unite! (and all that)
------------------------

anon

another quote from the EDL forum

14.07.2010 00:47

This is a bit long but I think it's an interesting insight into where at least some EDL are coming from.
 http://s1.zetaboards.com/EDL_The_Forum/topic/3541077/2/

It's funny how "prolier than thou" they are - usually an attribute of some lefties!

It reminds me of the kind of ideology that was associated with the mainstream Oi movement (not the fascist Ois) in the 70s and 80s - anti-establishment to a degree, not overtly racist but not really into challenging the system or the people who hold the real power. There is certainly some potential there for progressive thinking if the hardcore fascists don't get them.

I'm not sure where the fixation on Islam comes from. Certainly it is unpleasant, like all religions, but does it really have that much of an impact on their lives? Is it an after-effect of events like 9/11 and 7/7? Is it encouraged by anti-Islamic interests like Israel?

----- begin quote -----------
You have to laugh at them, Charles and I may be close but not that close we are the same person.
Working class lmao the guy chairing the meeting was only working class in his dreams tbh most of the lefties if not all of them looked like they came from a much better back ground then I ever did. Thats the problem in this country the liberial left thinking they represent the working class man, when they have no clue what we want or what our fears are. How do uni students understand the struggles of growing up with none or little money when daddy pays for everything, having hand me down clothes, mum butchering your hair cos she couldn't afford to take you barbers, Dad working all day, doing jobs on a night and a weekend just so he can provide for his family. No luxuries, no foreign holidays (except when I was in my teens when they both cashed in their life assurance to send us aboard to visit family), no fancy car etc he worked hard for us but we hardly ever saw him as kids and to this day we are still quite distant. Especially now a days cos he can't see what his so called working class party has done to this country and Mr University had the cheek to blame the current Tory government, how can they actually believe and say the state of the country is down to someone thats been in power about 2 months, when we all know who fcuk us and this country over big time.

Charles have covered most of it very well but I will try to recall the full convo to the best of my knowledge.

Snowy "hi we are antifascists from Wakefield and want to know how we are going to bash the Fascists?"
Silence worried faces everywhere
Snowy "Come on what were the success's at Newcastle, how do you intend to stop the EDL?"
Mr Uni " Who are you again"
I decide to take a seat as one of them got up to stand near the door
Snowy "You know who we are, how do you intend to stop us?" (whoops force of habbit find it so hard to talk about EDL as third person)
Silence
Snowy "You know who we are, we are EDL and want to know how you intend to stop us?"
Mr Uni "can you leave please"
Snowy "no and shut up, you stated on your website that you want to militantly fight the EDL and we want to know how you intend to do that, militantly fight not debate so you are thinking of using violence, we could quite easily brought 50 lads today and just smashed you"
Big norweign lad tries to leave to have a cig
Snowy "where the fcuk you think you are going, no one leaves here you'll only phone ob" Charles blocks his path and tells him to stay put, he just stand there shaking don't know why as we have not at anytime threatened anyone
I then picked up an labour leaflet about milliband
Mr Uni "what you doing with that"
Snowy "having a look thanks and how are you working class then"
Mr Uni " I worked 20 years in steel industry (I put my house on it that it wasn't on the shop floor)"
Snowy "what do you do now"
Mr Uni "I work in the university sector"
Snowy " that explains it all, I was brought up by a shop steward and taught that labour was a working class party voted for them in 97 and then Tony Blair lied to us and took us to an illegal war never voted for them since"
Silence with the odd nod of aggrement
Mr Uni "what about the loss of jobs and this Tory government
Snowy "we are a single issue group and labour fcuked this country"
Mr Uni "can you leave you are just a bunch of racists, Tommy has been outed as being a member of the BNP"
Snowy "firstly if that is him it actually says former member, well I'm a former crackhead burglar but as you can see I ain't anymore"
Mr Uni "can you leave please we are having a meeting, how would you like it if i came to one of yours"
Charles "shut up sit down he's talking" lol
Snowy " Not a problem we have one wednesday I'll pick you up at top of M606 and take you with me and you can speak to our lads as we believe in free speech thats why we've come for a debate"
Mr Uni " Its ok just tell me where it is I'll make my own way"
Snowy laughs "yes course you will more like phone ob to stop it"
At this point I decided to ignore Mr Uni completely as it was like talking to a brick wall, so I just addressed the others
Snowy "So you all want to over throw the government and make this country into a communist state"
Various "we don't want that"
Snowy "Of course not but some of the left do, I would be stupid to say you all do yet you all believe the propoganda that we are all racists, yes we have racists who attach themselves to us but we are weeding them out and will continue to do so. If you examine the BBC staff list you would find racists there the same with most big organisations. If it turned out EDL was a racist organisation then I and thousands of others would leave, not just because they trust me for what I have done but also cos its what they believe in, if you don't believe me go on to exposing racism on facebook and ask Darcy Jones if she thinks Snowy is a racist, one of my best mates in EDL has a mixed race partner and kids, the lad that has gone outside has a mixed race family so how can they be racist, I don't care what colour someone is, I just want to live in a free country. Please don't listen to the propoganda open you minds and see whats going on we have to stop the extremists no matter which side they are from, I have never been a football hooligan I'm just a working class lad that is worried about the future of this country I don't want to live under sharia law"
Mr Uni "it will never happen" he was now irrelevant so I just ignore him
Snowy "All I ask is you look at this with an open mind and not believe all the propoganda, have we been aggressive or attacked you in any way no, we could of easily just waited outside and attack you when you left but we only want to debate with you"
Has I said at the start I have remembered this too the best of my knowledge, I may have the odd word wrong and missed bits out. Basically I chaired their meeting for a good 10/15 mins and those that know me once I start its hard to get a word in edge ways lol I will say some of them did have the decency to listen. I offered my hand to Mr Uni and Ten men but both declined, I also only took one photo while in there of Ten men as he seems the sort that will be trying to use violence against our supporters.
I did also notice that one of our brothers had sat amongst them at the other side of the room and had been involved in a convo with them what was said I don't know but at no time did any of them seem threaten by his presence in fact they seem to listen to what we had to say which Mr Uni didn't like at all. For the record the most attractive female in the room was of mixed race hardly the thoughts of a nazi racist. We left as we arrived in a orderly fashion thanking them for they time.
If that is the sum of people they can gather together as a coalition of antifascists we really don't have anything to worry about.
For the lefties reading this no matter what you do we will always be a thorn in your side and I will do whatever is necessary to stop you brain washing the youth of this country and you my have the uni's of this country due to the fact you use fascist style methods ie only allowing one point of view put to the students but when they leave and have lived in the rat race then the majority will realise the lies they have been fed and drop you like a bad habbit. You are also going to see a shift in the future as the next generations leave school cos EDL is already spreading to the youth and they are our future not yours.
Socialism is something most people grow out of EDL is for life, fighting a losing battle is pointless and we all know you will stand side by side with radical Islam rather then admit you are wrong well you have been warned if they get their way and introduce the Sharia into British law do you really think you will be treated better than the rest of us. Wake up before its too late they are the real fascists and tbh your point blank refusal to listen to anything but your propoganda makes you no different from the fascists you say you are against.
Regards Snowy
NO SURRENDER
-------------------

anon

EDL

14.07.2010 10:25

In some ways I think the EDL can be compared to the German (pre Nazi) SA and Mussolini's Italian fascists. The bastard offspring of New Labour, the middle-class Left, and fawning liberal 'multiculturalism', they are a dangerous phenomenom and need to be challenged both ideologically and physically. They are all the more dangerous because some of what they say is right. In many ways the EDL iotervention was a classic fascist attack, both relying upon and exposing the weakness and division of their enemies and openly humiliating them. For fascists to flourish they must have street presence, something AFA understood, and which the AF clearly doesn't.

Dangermouse

I'm not racist but........ I hate p*kis

14.07.2010 10:26

I'm not racist because "one of my best mates in EDL has a mixed race partner and kids"......

The oldest trick of self-deception in the book.

I feel sorry for the lack of intelligence in the EDL ranks if having a handful of uncletoms in the ranks lead EDLers to convince themselves they are not racist.

Even PW Botha of Apartheid South Africa had subservient mixed-race ("coloured") people he knew, but this didn't stop him being a murderous racist.

Worse still, didn't Adolf Hitler call Jewish composer Johan Strauss "an honoury Aryan", while murdering 6 million people in the Holocaust.

EDL, ROT IN HELL!!!

Uncle Tom Hater

I'm not racist cos....

14.07.2010 10:37

one of my best mates in EDL has a mixed race partner and kids

LOL

SELF-DELUSION AT ITS WORST!

EDL = RACIST SCUM

bloo

Correct

14.07.2010 11:03

These sort of contradictions have always existed. All it proves is that racists are ignorant and hypocrites, and that stupidity is not confined to the white race.

Dangermouse

Posturing Sectarian Bullshit

03.08.2010 23:56

Hi

I was actually this infamous meeting after being invited by Leeds AFED along with many others on the left. That only us trots from AWL took up the tells you more about the sectarian state of the left in Leeds.

I just want to let you know some facts to cut against the macho postring and sectarian crap in the posts above-
1, The entire point of LAFN is to get away from both the class collaborationist cretinism of UAF/HnH and the clandestine macho posing of non existent anarchoid groups. As far as I can see based on the idea they wanted an open call out to all working class fascists the Leeds AFed people naively did this on the internet. Yes this was an error but a understandable one.
2, The so called text of the conversation between "snowy" and my comrade is mostly bullshit. At all times they were banging on about how peaceful they where and that they where not up for a fight. I confronted some of them about the cuts and stuff and they came across as politically confused working class guys not hardened fascists. Snowy on the other hand came across as a tiresome Tory dullard.
3, Why did we not beat them up- many reasons:
a, At no point where they physically threatening us. I for one could not physically attack someone who is merely trying to talk to you (whatever bullshit they are saying)
b, militant anti fascism for me does not mean starting on EDLers. It means the use of force and self defence as one of many political tool in the wider campaign to defeat organized fascism and racism.Violence is not a principle.
c, One of the aims of working class anti-racism has got to be to win working class people away from the EDL by offering a alternative programme or analysis. It is not often you get to argue with green rank and file EDLrs (which apart from Snowy they all where).


They left, we stayed and continued the meeting. Lessons have been learn't and we have continued to organise. If genuine proletarian anti fascists want to get involved they can. Just email  leeds@workersliberty.org

POUMist
mail e-mail: revolutiondave@gmail.com

Grow some opposable digits

05.08.2010 09:55

The comment that some sums up this thread is 'antfascist''s comment that liberal fence sitters are worse than the edl.
Dont you see that this is why the left is a joke to most people?
Have you watched 'life of brian'?
Go play fight somewhere else dickhead.

Herm

Antifa documentary

09.02.2012 12:28

I am a film student in Leeds and I am wanting to make a documentary about the anti fascist movement. The idea is to show what is being done by EDL/BNP etc and how the anti fascists
deal with that, their views and the actual people. Anyone in the area who would be willing to talk to me or know anyone who would be willing to, I would massively appreciate it if you could email me at  chris_gibson_93@hotmail.com - also I can assure you that I will give you complete anonymity.

Chris
mail e-mail: chris_gibson_93@hotmail.com

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