Stuart Richardson reports on the counter demonstration to the English Defence League in Stoke
Birmingham Socialist Resistance supporters joined the UAF protest against the English Defence League provocation in Stoke on 23rd January. The BBC has reported 300 at the UAF protest and 1,500 EDL supporters. There were certainly no more than 400 at the UAF protest- one comrade made a 200 estimate. The same individual viewed the EDL crowd from our coach window and estimated about 1,000.
As the Treasurer of the Birmingham Trade Union Council I organised a coach which took comrades from Coventry, Birmingham and West Bromwich to the UAF protest. The coach was full and another 20 people went by car.
The event started with a rally outside the local Afro-Caribbean centre chaired by Weyman Bennett, UAF/SWP, and there were speakers from the teachers unions NASUWT and NUT, UNISON and the local students union. The local conservative candidate was even allowed a platform (!!) However, after I shouted that Tory cuts will only encourage racism this was taken up with general chants of "Tories Out" rapidly ending her speech.
Notable by their absence were both the Labour Party and the Green Party. Many of those present were supporters of far left groups but there did seem to be a fair number of local people.
At the end of the rally a small demonstration arrived from Staffordshire University and there was a short march to the centre of Hanley which again heard speeches and music. Then the march returned to the original venue. A small number of EDL supporters appeared at the side of the UAF march as it returned but there were no incidents. There were no arrests of any UAF supporters and we did not view any significant numbers of EDL supporters until we were leaving by coach.
Socialist Resistance supporters had a stall at the Afro-Caribbean centre, as did the Socialist Party. We were the only organisation to hold a stall at the rally in the centre of Hanley at which we sold a few books and several copies of the latest SR magazine which has major articles opposing the rise of the far right. We gave out over one hundred 100 copies of the free Respect newspaper and also distributed copies of the SR Anti-fascist Bulletin. The Bulletin (available online at: http://xa.yimg.com/kq/groups/7928952/489809822/name/Anti+Fascistbull.pdf ) takes up key questions for the anti-fascist movement- how to build a political alternative to undercut their working class support, the need for mobilisations to physically confront them and not rely on state bans. It also includes an important model resolution for the Unite Against Fascism conference outlining a strategy to strengthen UAF for the new challenges ahead.
The size of the EDL protest indicates they are growing and could be a real force backing the BNP in the forthcoming General Election. In response, in Stoke there exists the longstanding and broadly based North SCARF who have fought a long battle against the rising influence of the BNP in the city.
The EDL are planning a further demonstration in Dudley, West Midlands on Easter Sunday (4th April), it is vital that we mobilise in support of the counter demonstrations.
Stuart Richardson
EDL supporter- apparently a victim of friendly fire according to BBC website
2 comments
amran hussain · 25 January 2010
Dear reader,
the english defence league should be band from doing any protests or marchs because they are nothing but a group of mindless racists, they do not stop to think how many english there are living, working and visiting other countries in the world each year. They try to put across to the uneducated dole dossing slobs at home who have nothing better to do that foriegners are taking there jobs but it is a fact that this country would collapse without foriegn workers.!!
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