Somewhere between 300 and 500 gathered by Leeds Art Gallery today (Saturday) to oppose the BNP after their electoral success in Yorkshire and the Humber. Despite the police refusing permission, a march took place in which Anti-Fascists briefly reclaimed the streets of Leeds.
As Unite Against Fascism events go, this wasn't the usual round of dire self-congratulatory speeches that come from trying to build an alliance with the Tories. Disability and LGBT rights activists joined the UAF 'organisers' and Trades Council reps, and a message was read from a local children's author. One speaker began "standing here is like looking at Redwatch", another ran a line of jokes about Monday's "eggsellent" intervention, to which another responded with an out-and-out renunciation of violence. More than one person used the phrase "No Passaran" without explaining the context, alienating fresh enthusiastic campaigners.
The final speaker was the indomitable Weyman Bennet, self-proclaimed hero of UK anti-fascism. His was the first speech to even vaguely mention a march, as he announced that the rally was over and it was time to leave, but best to do it in unity, leaving as a group along the Headrow. With certain people clearly not paying attention, unsuspecting protesters were swept along with those who clearly had been annoyed at previous references to the event as a rally.
Out of the square everyone poured, with the police apparently determined to keep people on the pavement. A few meters along, and the march swarmed into the junction and onwards along the road towards the shopping streets and the bus station. Chants were many and various, with the Revo kids apparently carrying sheets with the words on. Might have been nice to see one, as a few of the chants were so long most people couldn't keep up. And so the march moved forwards at some pace, with the police running to keep up.
At the junction with Briggate, the front of the march took a distinct swing towards the shopping street. A confrontation ensued in which one anarchist-flag waving protester was dragged off to one side and shouted at by an officer holding his hoody by the throat. At least one shopper shouted that the march was a disgrace, but it appears little notice was taken by the marchers, perhaps a good thing for said individual who seemed to think her taxes were being unnecessarily drained by the events (in which case she should have seen the number of vans accompanying the Orange freaks later).
Some less-than-empowering stewarding from UAF ensured the march kept moving on towards the roundabout that marks the end of Headrow, whereupon the police suddenly blocked the march from proceeding. In the confusion which followed, the march headed back the way it had come, then a stand off, and then another reverse, with a police van appearing just in time to stop the traffic on the roundabout.
The protest took the third exit and moved towards the BBC, in full view of the passengers of every bus around the bus station. Chants directed at the BBC's apparent free airtime for the BNP, specifically on the Today program. A few quick megaphone speeches, some total failure to realise the back entrance was open by most of the marchers, and everyone was heading for pubs. Police appeared to follow in the first instance, but clearly got rather bored. For an event which might as easily have been entirely preaching to the choir, the determination to march was admirable, setting a clear trend for future activity.
The final speaker was the indomitable Weyman Bennet, self-proclaimed hero of UK anti-fascism. His was the first speech to even vaguely mention a march, as he announced that the rally was over and it was time to leave, but best to do it in unity, leaving as a group along the Headrow. With certain people clearly not paying attention, unsuspecting protesters were swept along with those who clearly had been annoyed at previous references to the event as a rally.
Out of the square everyone poured, with the police apparently determined to keep people on the pavement. A few meters along, and the march swarmed into the junction and onwards along the road towards the shopping streets and the bus station. Chants were many and various, with the Revo kids apparently carrying sheets with the words on. Might have been nice to see one, as a few of the chants were so long most people couldn't keep up. And so the march moved forwards at some pace, with the police running to keep up.
At the junction with Briggate, the front of the march took a distinct swing towards the shopping street. A confrontation ensued in which one anarchist-flag waving protester was dragged off to one side and shouted at by an officer holding his hoody by the throat. At least one shopper shouted that the march was a disgrace, but it appears little notice was taken by the marchers, perhaps a good thing for said individual who seemed to think her taxes were being unnecessarily drained by the events (in which case she should have seen the number of vans accompanying the Orange freaks later).
Some less-than-empowering stewarding from UAF ensured the march kept moving on towards the roundabout that marks the end of Headrow, whereupon the police suddenly blocked the march from proceeding. In the confusion which followed, the march headed back the way it had come, then a stand off, and then another reverse, with a police van appearing just in time to stop the traffic on the roundabout.
The protest took the third exit and moved towards the BBC, in full view of the passengers of every bus around the bus station. Chants directed at the BBC's apparent free airtime for the BNP, specifically on the Today program. A few quick megaphone speeches, some total failure to realise the back entrance was open by most of the marchers, and everyone was heading for pubs. Police appeared to follow in the first instance, but clearly got rather bored. For an event which might as easily have been entirely preaching to the choir, the determination to march was admirable, setting a clear trend for future activity.
Comments
Hide the following 37 comments
2 women arrested
14.06.2009 10:33
no body innit
Move on you lot!
14.06.2009 10:42
Edelweiss Pirate
Cowardice
14.06.2009 11:16
concerned of gipton
If we are going to beat the BNP we are going to have to do a lot better than thi
14.06.2009 11:24
"The final speaker was the indomitable Weyman Bennet, self-proclaimed hero of UK anti-fascism."
Bennet is a total fucking idiot. When he spoke at Leeds Civic Hall he couldn't even get Nick Griffin's name right, and kept referring to a 'Roger Griffiths'!
This was the same old story from the UAF/SWP, they conspired with the cops to allow Orange Loyalists to march by clearing the square for them. They also appeared to be taking a lot of money in their collection buckets, so it was a good day for the SWP.
If we are going to beat the BNP we are going to have to do a lot better than this.
Leeds Antifascist
arrestees
14.06.2009 11:25
heard through the grapevine
its time
14.06.2009 12:51
ballz
Agree Ballz
14.06.2009 15:12
Anti
Leeds demo
14.06.2009 21:34
leeds mick
UAF
14.06.2009 21:43
Stalker
UAF Wankers
14.06.2009 23:05
There is only one area in the country where the BNP do not openly advertise meetings - West Yorkshire - That is because of militant opposition from Antifa, it has nothing to do with the wankers of the UAF hiding behind the cops shouting "Narzi!"
Antifascist
Leeds Mick
14.06.2009 23:21
Well that's bullshit isn't it Mick? The UAF have had numerous opportunities to confront the BNP physically, but they've shat out at every turn, they are quite simply an embarrassment. And how have they opposed them electorally? I'm not aware of the UAF ever standing any candidates. The best you've been able to come up with is 'Respect' (what a joke) or voting for the quasi fascist New Labour Party. No wonder people vote BNP with you idiots as the public face of anti-fascism. The UAF are pathetic.
Leeds John
a little advice
14.06.2009 23:29
Russell's mother
Your mum...
15.06.2009 01:03
I'm FOR stopping the fash gathering / the no platform policy.
DYS?
Russell's Mother's Mum
divide and rule
15.06.2009 07:43
just another humanbeing
so what are we going to actually do then?
15.06.2009 08:08
plain fact is that we need some actual unity - not the SWP organising dull rallies, not [we] anarchists having our fashion parade.
I didn't know about the orange order march... and I don't in a million years expect our beloved comrades in SWP etc. to tell the truth about anything... I should have known... we all should.
there is no harm in voting Green or even Labour to keep the BNP out - Voting Changes Nothing: The Struggle Continues... but not voting lets in the fascists.
By 'any means necessary' sounds well hard... but includes sitting down and working things out, making new organising structures, trudging up and down Keighley leafletting, swallowing your pride and voting for the Liberals! whatever...
the fash now have megabucks to go shmoozing [!] each other up in Europe. We're bickering and collecting £50 in tuppences.
SO WHAT NEXT?
love B
Bridget Riley
Swallowing more than pride
15.06.2009 09:12
With respect Bridget, that's not swallowing your pride, it's swallowing bullshit. The same line will be getting peddled by the mainstream political parties and the likes of the SWP at the next election, so let's not fall for it this time. None of these scum deserve any of our votes. The UAF leaflets I've seen make the BNP look radical, they say nothing to white working-class people. When all they are offering is 'Don't waste your vote' no wonder some people vote for the BNP. We need to get out leafleting, but our leaflets have to have a coherent message, which isn't just bullshit. We need to organise in our communities. But also, we are going to have to take on the BNP physically. The first thing antifascists should be doing though is getting rid of the parasites and party hacks, who steal money and energy from the movement, leading people down blind alleys like electoralism and demos arranged in cahoots with the cops. All these people are really interested in is selling papers and recruiting members - and there may have been coppers in those buckets on Saturday, but there were plenty of notes too - The SWP are currently doing very nicely out of the BNP, but it's about time they were told to fuck off once and for all.
Antifascist
strategy to beat BNP
15.06.2009 12:52
Leeds Mick
The SWP/UAF have no strategy to beat the BNP
15.06.2009 19:57
It seems that they didn’t listen to you Mick, or maybe they thought that despite the glossiness of your leaflets you really had nothing to say. Surely it is the WEAKEST anti BNP areas where you should have been concentrating your leafleting, but that is to a large extent besides the point. Working-class people are not going to vote Tory, a few might swing to the Liberals or Greens, but for the vast majority, when you say ‘Don’t waste your vote’ it is tantamount to saying ‘Vote Labour’ (which is of course why New Labour and the unions pumped money into ‘Hope Not Hate’ and why Gordon Brown and the New Labour hierarchy backed them.) That is an insult to the intelligence of ordinary people, people who’ve had to suffer under the New Labour administration. A vote for Labour, Tories, or the Liberals is hardly a vote AGAINST racism is it? With this kind of pathetic message, the same message the SWP/UAF and their ilk have been pushing for years, no wonder people took no notice of you.
What else were you telling them, that “the BNP are a Narzi party”. Certainly there are still neo-Nazis in the BNP, certainly there are still many members with Nazi sympathies. They are a racist certainly, and they are fascists, isn’t that enough? I doubt many new BNP voters vote for them because they support the policies of Adolf Hitler or deny the Holocaust. By continuing to take on the BNP on this level you simply allow them to slip off the hook, by pointing to a member who is Jewish or even Asian.
For all their song and dance, the reality is that the UAF really haven’t done an awful lot to oppose the BNP. Hiding behind police lines waving banners and shouting silly slogans does not amount to a great deal. You simply channel the energy and righteous anger of anti-racists into nice, safe, state-sanctioned activities, where it’s very easy to sell papers, where it’s very easy to collect money, but where you are doing absolutely nothing to oppose the BNP except look stupid. A good example of this was your belated ‘opposition’ to the BNP’s ‘Red, White & Blue’ shindig last year, fucking over your own members in ‘Notts Stop The BNP’ and getting antifascists corralled into an entirely safe space a mile from the site, where all that happened was they got their pictures took by the cops.
Last Saturday, you conspired with the police to allow ‘Loyalist’ bigots and their fascist comrades to march in Leeds. You betrayed antifascism as you have done so often in the past. When the cops arrested people (at least one of whom was out leafleting for you recently incidentally) you turned your backs on them. You behaved as you always do.
The UAF in Leeds is dominated and controlled by the SWP, that is a fact – as it is elsewhere. For the opportunists of the SWP the struggle against fascism is no more than a good marketing opportunity for their boring paper, and a chance to increase their membership and swell the coffers of their party.
It is quite correct that the only area where the BNP do not openly advertise meetings, and are forced to use re-direction points even for their members is West Yorkshire. That is due to the hard work of militant antifascists in the area, who also distributed thousands of anti-BNP leaflets, and fly-posted hundreds of posters in the run-up to the elections – Only we paid for them ourselves, we didn’t take money from Gordon Brown and the racist Labour Party.
The UAF are pathetic, they don’t have a clue how to stop the BNP. They are hopelessly compromised by their SWP leadership and by getting into bed with New Labour and with the cops. They are, at best, a complete waste of time.
Those who genuinely wish to oppose the rise of the BNP need to realise that voting for some other clown, wearing a badge, or waving a placard simply isn’t enough – as was shown by last week’s election result. If you DO want to help stop the rise of fascism in this country visit www.antifa.org.uk Get informed, and then get involved.
No Pasaran!
Clueless UAF
15.06.2009 22:57
But that is exactly what you did do!
@
LMBFHAO
16.06.2009 00:18
UAF is not perfect, but what exactly did the secret squirrels achieve at the Red Wite and Blue last year? 30 arrests, then crying for money in benefit gigs. Pointless nickings.
Or the last time the BNP had an event in Notts, at least UAF got the right COUNTY while others ran off to Derbyshire cos they thought they saw a fascist. Give them their due, they did eventually arrive 90 minutes late - all 3 of them - and then refused to take any part. Credit where it's due - they did give people lifts home from the middle of nowhere.
Let's assume that you're always right and UAF always wrong, just for a moment. Why is it then that I see the same old faces of the "militant anti-fascist" living on past glories from the 70's, telling us all how dangerous it is, and that we can't go to Ilkeston cos it's full of nazis? Meantime, off UAF go and get a job done.
Why is it then that if you've got all the correct answers, you seem to have such difficulty convincing other people of that? Let me guess - I'm either too stupid to see it, too ideologically brainwashed, or too liberal? Guess that must also include the 63,000,000 people that DIDN'T vote BNP then too? Seems a little elitist to me? Sorry, I forgot. You can't be an effective antifascist unless you agree with the particular ideology of the organisation in question.
Fine, we don't agree on tactics. You don't have to. Go off and do your own thing, get nicked, get beat, and get the wrong county.
Alternatively, at least STFU.
Mika Salo
ANTIFASCIST
16.06.2009 08:19
We will continue to fight them politically, and physically, will you?
UAF champion
More Lies From the UAF
16.06.2009 10:10
The UAF's response to the BNP's 'RWB' last year - Wankers
“Let me guess - I'm either too stupid to see it, too ideologically brainwashed, or too liberal?”
It’s a lot simpler than that Mika, you’re talking shit. What are you on about, you seem to be confusing Antifa with some other group or organisation? Antifa did not hold any benefit gigs following last year’s RWB, not a single one, we didn’t need them as none of our members was charged with anything. What did we achieve? The Derbyshire farmer who hosts the RWB is selling his farm and moving away for a quieter life – See for example
Wasn’t it the UAF that were telling people they couldn’t go near the RWB site? Because they were scared shitless, because they were entirely in league with the cops, and because there was a better paper-selling opportunity elsewhere? Utter cowards. Then big-mouth Weyman Bennett elbows his way past the local residents to take part in a staged ‘march’ down the road, heavily protected by the cops. While the poor mugs the UAF had conned had to stay in their pen a mile away. The only ‘job’ the UAF got done was sabotaging what could have been a good action, pissing off local antiracists by their eliteism and arrogance, and stabbing their own local members in Notts Stop The BNP (who incidentally are nothing to do with Antifa) in the back.
Don’t claim to speak for the 63,000,000 people who didn’t vote BNP. They hardly listened to the UAF did they, otherwise they’d have voted New Labour.
‘UAF Champion’, with respect ‘mate’, just what planet are you on? Where were we at the RWB?! Well not hiding behind the cops anyway. The UAF haven’t earned respect from ANYONE for their disgraceful behaviour in terms of the RWB, not even from local liberal antiracist groups. You don’t combat the BNP politically at all, nor do you confront them physically either. What are you on about?!
Antifa don’t publicise all our actions, because we are a militant organisation rather than one that works hand in glove with the cops. We are organised, active, and open to new members. Check out our website to see what we’re up to, and our Contacts section to get in touch with your nearest group.
Antifascist
Homepage:
http://www.antifa.org.uk
no pasaran
16.06.2009 10:29
leeds Mick
"No Pasaran"? - The UAF are disgrace to antifascism
16.06.2009 11:04
Perhaps you should get out a bit more then Mick.
“You'll find we don't latch onto your activities and events”
The last thing we’d want there is the SWP/UAF and their police minders. You keep on printing your glossy leaflets, saying nothing, bowing and scraping to the cops, and pushing people further into the arms of the BNP. We’ll keep on getting the job done, and we neither need nor welcome your consent or approval.
Antifascist
Unity?
16.06.2009 12:07
moon23
anitfascist
16.06.2009 12:33
Amongst other things.
UAF Champion
Saturday and beyond
16.06.2009 12:38
A reasonable turn-out considering the fact that the UAF kept changing the start time and venue. A shame some of the hand-picked speakers were rather dire and others were inaudible. A shame for the 2 lasses who got nicked only to be abandoned by their UAF comrades. But most of all a shame that, thanks to the UAF, the Orange bigots and their fascist friends were allowed to openly march on the streets of Leeds for the first time in years.
Sectarianism is a falling out of comrades, and while I'm sure there are many good people in the UAF rank and file, the UAF-SWP leadership are certainly no comrades of mine. I can see what you're saying about unity mate, the SWP have for years exploited that one, but the only unity they're interested in is complete control. Only by examining the state of the anti-fascist movement and of the liberal and radical Left can we hope to understand the rise of the BNP. Only by proper analysis can we hope to come up with any form of coherent strategy. The UAF offer very simplistic solutions, very simplistic politics which appeal to those who mean well but are either inexperienced or haven't given the matter a lot of thought. The BNP will not be stopped however as long as the leadership of the UAF are allowed to promote themselves as the be all and end all of anti-fascism. Committed anti-fascists need to look elsewhere, perhaps to Antifa, or just organising autonomously, but toeing the same tired old party line, and mouthing the same empty slogans ("The BNP are a narzeee party") is no way forward.
Against the BNP
Now the UAF are street-fighters!
16.06.2009 12:58
Are you claiming that was done by the UAF? Because so far, nobody, not even the UAF leadership has done that. If a UAF member or anyone else at that demo had been seen with eggs by a UAF steward they'd have been grassed up. If some UAF members did get stuck in, all well and good, obviously they're seeing through the liberal shite that their leadership keeps spouting, just as Red Action and many other SWP members saw through the lies of the SWP membership in the past. Hopefully what people will have learned from that episode is that genuinely having a go at the BNP is a lot more effective than just hiding behind the cops whining tired slogans.
"Amongst other things."
Like what?
Antifascist
ANTIFA
16.06.2009 13:35
No I am not claiming that the UAF did it as such, but I believe that there was a couple of UAF supporters was there that just went along for the BNP.
It doesn't matter what else the UAF has done, I will not say on a public posting like here, but some have had enough of the BNP and want more action thats all I'm saying.
I have a lot of respect for Antifa, but there quiet at the moe, and certainly are not the force they use to be..
TO TONY WHITE..
You are a shit head and a coward, I have seen you before, and when I walked past you you looked at me, I stopped and glared at you and you shit out and scurried away like the rat you are, Leeds is camera up to fuck, so I let you off this time, but next time I see you I will bash the fuck out of you, and I will film it, good job your wife was there, I wont hit another man even a facsist in front of his family, but you will be on your own 1 day,
UAF Champion
UNITY
16.06.2009 13:40
UAF Champion
Get on
16.06.2009 14:21
Stop hiding behind names and get a spine.
Unite!
UAF Champion
UAF Champion
16.06.2009 15:30
That's good to hear, and I wish those of you who really are prepared to get your hands dirty well. I would certainly be very careful about letting the UAF leadership know if you get up to anything though, because I think they will grass you up. Antifa remain as active as ever. When you've had enough of the UAF look us up.
Good luck to all those taking a genuinely militant stand against antifascism.
Antifascist
seconded
16.06.2009 16:25
ananrchist
Ant fascist
17.06.2009 13:29
Leeds Mick
Ant fascist
17.06.2009 13:46
Leeds Mick
Leeds Mick
18.06.2009 11:25
As for your claim that Leeds UAF aren't led and controlled by the SWP, I don't believe you're that stupid, so I guess we can just put it down to bullshit. You’ll be trying to tell us that the SWP’s Weyman Bennett is UAF leader because of his intelligence and charisma next!
While 'Loyalists' were burning out Romanian families in Belfast at the weekend, the UAF were busy conspiring with the cops to let their brethren in the Orange Order (as well as others from openly fascist parties) march virtually unopposed through the streets of Leeds. Go on Mick, tell us the UAF didn't know about the Orange Order march, and I doubt I'll be the only one calling you a liar. I'd be surprised if even you would be that brazen, but many antifascists in Leeds won't forget that the UAF not only changed their schedule to accommodate the bigots and fascists, not only helped to keep their presence in the city quiet, but cleared the square of 500 antifascists so that the OO march could assemble there. Are the words 'cowards', 'traitors', and 'scum' too strong? Personally I don’t think they are.
Antifascist
Homepage:
http://www.antifa.org.uk
my experience
04.01.2010 14:29
at least antifa act
steve scum
e-mail:
swellbelly@hotmail.co.uk