Poor showing against the EDL today
Simon | 03.09.2011 19:19 | Anti-racism | Culture | Migration
So, the EDL didn't reach Tower Hamlets and had a lower than expected turnout of only around 1200 attend their "big one" demo but, despite the UAF/SWP's bragging it was hardly a great day for Antifascists either. Battle of Cable Street this wasn't...
First the UAF managed to get not only the EDL march banned but their own counter demo and any protest in London in the next 30 days including a planned march against the cuts. Nice work UAF!
As for the turnout today, I was disapointed. I'd say around 1500 UAF/SWP at the main site, a third of which seemed to be locals, the rest of which seemed to be from outside of London. This, wasn't good. Especially for all the bragging by Antifascist groups that they were going to "smash" the UAF and this would be the "second battle of Cable Street"
Fact is the turnout was poor. The local Asian youth were largely nowhere to be seen, bizarrely only emerging in force once the EDL had all gotten back on their buses and left London in order to fight with the Police in Stepney.
Then there's the UAF/SWP/Antifa who in the 70s could muster thousands against the NF. Now, we could barely scrape 1500 together :(
Basically, it was the Police who stopped the EDL today, not Antifascists. We had a poor turnout, spent most of the time penned at the demo sight and did very little to stop the fascists hurling abuse at tourists, attacking Asians and from marching in London.
I only expected better, at least 3000 from Antifa, SWP and UAF alone with similar numbers from the local Asians.
It was disapointing and in future, we really need to do better.
As for the turnout today, I was disapointed. I'd say around 1500 UAF/SWP at the main site, a third of which seemed to be locals, the rest of which seemed to be from outside of London. This, wasn't good. Especially for all the bragging by Antifascist groups that they were going to "smash" the UAF and this would be the "second battle of Cable Street"
Fact is the turnout was poor. The local Asian youth were largely nowhere to be seen, bizarrely only emerging in force once the EDL had all gotten back on their buses and left London in order to fight with the Police in Stepney.
Then there's the UAF/SWP/Antifa who in the 70s could muster thousands against the NF. Now, we could barely scrape 1500 together :(
Basically, it was the Police who stopped the EDL today, not Antifascists. We had a poor turnout, spent most of the time penned at the demo sight and did very little to stop the fascists hurling abuse at tourists, attacking Asians and from marching in London.
I only expected better, at least 3000 from Antifa, SWP and UAF alone with similar numbers from the local Asians.
It was disapointing and in future, we really need to do better.
Simon
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