Weyman Bennett, a senior member of the UAF, was arrested at the start of the anti-fascist counter demonstration in Bolton and was charged with conspiracy to organise violent disorder.
Weyman said: "Officers came up to me as soon as I arrived and said they would arrest me. I have been to more than 200 demos and never been arrested."
We call on the Home Secreatary to drop these trumped up charges . We call for a labour movement enquiry into the police behaviour instead. Why were the fascists and EDL given a free hand to shout racist abuse whilst peaceful anti-fascists were treated in such a violent way by the police?
A spokesman for the anti-fascists denied there had been any intention to cause violence and said the police had been hostile from the start."They sent riot squads into a peaceful demonstration and that's how the violence happened," he said. "They treated the EDL with kid gloves. We don't accept the police account at all and are very concerned about the nature of the policing and would like to see some kind of investigation."
Of the 74 people arrested during the demonstrations, at least 55 were thought to be anti-fascists , with nine being of EDL supporters. UAF spokesman Anindya Bhattacharyya rejected the suggestion that the group was behind any violence, adding: "The police attacked a peaceful demo. "They sent in squads of riot police to arrest senior UAF figures who were doing nothing wrong."
EDL members could be heard chanting: "E-E-EDL" and "Allah is a paedo" as they held aloft Union flags. A clear incitement to racial hatred but allowed to leave freely by the police. So much for a neutral State.
The police arrested Martin Smith, organiser of Love Music Hate Racism, but later released him with no charge.
World War II veteran Bertie Lois, 89, from Farnworth in Bolton said: "I fought the second world war against these nazis. What did I fight for? We ask the same question. Why does the State allow the fascists to march and attack those who oppose them?
Veteran fighter against fascism Monty Goldman, the Communist Party mayoral candidate for Hackney, called for unity of the anti-fascist movement to develop local campaigning by tenants, trade unionists and all opposed to fascism and racism.
"We should readopt the position of campaigning against the enemy of the people and not using demonstrations to create havoc in the community," he said.
Well the Communist Party needs to clarify and explain such a position as the only havoc being created is by the fascists and the police. Anti-fascist demonstrations must be continued with but tactics need always to be reviewed. We need to ensure the anti-fascists are able to mobilise far more numbers on the streets if we are to deny the fascists an opportunity to mobilise. Yes we must build a united front that campaigns effectively against fascism and racism and that means in the work places, the communities and on the streets.
We say that all charges must be dropped now against Weyman and all anti-fascists arrested by the police in Bolton. Now is the time also for the UAF to convene an emergency AGM to unite anti-fascist forces.