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What happened to antifa?

Redmick | 07.02.2011 10:29

No show from antifa again

Big EDL demo at the Weekend, and surprise, surprise, antifa decide not to show up again, as they do for all EDL demos.
Given that antifa does not seem to be active(maybe they don't exist outside of cyber space).

Is it best they stop attacking the UAF on the Internet, calling them 'fluffy' etc?
Antifa don't seem that keen on backing their mouths up with actions.
UAF, at a lot of risk to themselves, were massively outnumbered by the EDL in Luton.
I was there, I would put UAF numbers at around 150, the EDL 3 to 4 thousand.

The point is, the UAF were there!
Antifa were absent again.
So, stop slagging of the UAF, at least they have the bottle to physically confront the EDL, something antifa won't do.

Redmick

Additions

numbers / dis-information?

07.02.2011 12:46

Since the EDL are known to post to indymedia occasionally, I'd say take all claims with a BIG pinch of salt unless you can be sure they are from a trusted source, or include evidence eg photos/video.

There's a decent aerial shot of the EDL demo here:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/gallery/2011/feb/05/english-defence-league-protest?picture=371461384
...at a rough count it seems to show 1500 or so people, but have a look and make your own mind up. It's possible that this photo doesn't show the whole demo, of course.

The same set of pictures includes one of the UAF rally:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/gallery/2011/feb/05/english-defence-league-protest?picture=371461386
...which seems to show 130-150 people. This photo definitely doesn't seem to cover the whole crowd though.

Of course, a few pictures can be misleading and don't necessarily tell the whole story, so a report from a known and trusted organisation, verified as being written by them (eg hosted on their website) would be useful IMHO.

anon

Comments

Hide the following 8 comments

good points, but...

07.02.2011 10:36

I think you're right to question the practical role of antifa in the anti-fascist movement, especially in light of the rising militancy amongst many in the rank and file (and some in the leadership) of UAF.

Just a quick clarification on numbers - the mainstream press, and reports from the demo seem to put UAF numbers at around 1000 and EDL at 1,500-2000.

(A) Sab

why this might have happened.

07.02.2011 10:53

Perhaps Antifa/people generally willing to confront the EDL got a bit bored of attending demos where UAF stewards hemmed them in, collaborated with the police to get more militant people arrested and then condemned any violence that did happen as 'undermining anti fascist unity' (i.e UAF control of the movement). I can't say this for certain, but i have seen UAF stewards literally grabbing and handing more militant anti fascist people over to the police. After almost every EDL demo so far the more militant bloc (who didn't just want to sit around listening to boring speeches) has been loudly condemned by the UAF. Its a pretty tiresome choice: either you go and get condemned, or you don't go and you get condemned. That said, all credit to the people who did turn up the other day, its good to see people who are going to oppose the EDL.

A possible reason...

why this might have happened.

07.02.2011 10:57

Oh, and did you actually 'confront' the UAF. I don't think that standing about and chanting counts as a confrontation. Again, i think anyone who went deserves credit. I also happen to know that some antifa types did go along, but they aren't morons, and they wouldn't want to get their heads kicked in or arrested for some pointless dick waving contest with the EDL. I would seriously argue whether there were more than 2000 EDL there as well.

a possible reason...

(A sab)

07.02.2011 11:17

Mate, I was there, no way was there 1000 UAF there, I said 150, with maybe numbers a bit higher if you include some of the local Asian youth.
I walked away from the UAF demo, and watched the EDL marched past to their demo point.
Easy 3,000 plus, probably a lot more.

There is a video of the EDL march on the Internet, taken from someone's flat, and you can see the thousands of EDL march past.
Also a picture of the UAF on a road, with around a hundred.
Lying about numbers(I am not saying you are), makes us look like a bunch of twats, and gets the idea out, that the EDL are dead, when they are clearly on the rise.

Again, thanks to the brave women and men of the UAF who turned up, at great risk to themselves.
If it was not for the police, we would have been battered to shit.
They had a lot of angry young men on their side.

Redmick

This is Antifa...

07.02.2011 11:19

http://www.revleft.com/vb/bpp-meeting-attacked-t76779/index.html

They do not wave lollypops.

Tut

Red Mick is clearly an EDL tout...

07.02.2011 11:47

Posts like a three year old hiding under the covers fash..

Tut

The numbers were shit

07.02.2011 11:48

I was at the UAF protest as well. The numbers were more than 150, about 200 I would say, but still small.
The claims of thousands of UAF and anti fascists there, is just bollocks.
EDL was around the 3,500 mark I would guess.

I see we already have a comment from antifa, calling us lollipop wavers.
Did you go mate? No, thought not.
The EDL would have hammered us, if it was not for the cops.
I suggest antifa say nothing, until they get of their arses and do something.
See yuo at the next EDL demo antifa?

Peter

Peter/Red Mick

07.02.2011 12:32

Let you in on a secret, just because you decide to change your name when posting doesn't mean you've actually become another person ;)

The style of writing on your posts is identical.

Operation Cupcake