Leicester shows how to defeat the EDL

8/8/2019 Leicester shows how to defeat the EDL

1/5

Leicester shows how to defeat the EDL

Saturday October 9 saw an attempt by the English Defence League to attack Leicesterand divide its people. The attempt was thwarted. And that happened primarilythrough the independent mobilization of people, especially based in theirneighbourhoods, rather than via existing antifascist groups.

But the failure of these groups to present a united front allowed rogue bands of EDLthugs in the city centre to terrorize and attack. These were isolated cases, but theyshow graphically the dangers of ignoring the need for effective antifascist defence. Anhonest assessment of events can help us draw lessons for the ongoing fight against theEDL and for working class unity.

In the lead up to the 9th, various tactics and events were discussed and plans made.These involved discussions within communities and campaign groups, planning andpublic meetings by Unite Against Fascism, as well as the city council and police, andoutside intervention by Hope Not Hate. There was also a coming together ofantifascists coordinated by Leicester trades council.

Out of this came conflicting plans, ranging from Stay away from town on Saturday -events for Friday and Sunday, rather than being seen as ways to mobilize, were

promoted as alternatives to action on the day, the UAF tactic of holding a staticprotest adjacent to but divided from the EDL location, plans for neighbourhooddefence, and the decision by some antifascists to support the UAF mobilization, but tostay free of any attempt to kettle us.

The assembly point at Leicester's Clock Tower, bang in the centre, would have been anideal location to hold. With several streets leading off, all popular for shops and cafs,it was the best place to demonstrate our strength and unity, as well as offeringprotection in numbers for both protesters and public. And the multiple exits make

kettling there very hard.

The UAF plan, however, was to have stewards direct people from the centre downHumberstone Gate to the static protest. Police, meanwhile, had the power to moveyou on or even arrest you if you refused to move. We therefore decided to meet at anearby place an hour earlier than the official start, so that we could assess thesituation as people arrived.

As it happened, protesters were able to occupy the Clock Tower area for about anhour. During this time, the trades council message of Jobs and services, not racism!and of building a broad trade union and community campaign was put across vialeaflets, banners and discussions. But first UAF stewards, then police, cajoled people,

and succeeded in moving most on - though not without resistance.

It has to be said that the numbers were not great anyway. During the protest as awhole, perhaps a thousand attended the static protest, numbering 500-600 at anytime. Clearly, the corrosive stay at home message had taken its toll. Those whopushed that line within progressive circles should be held accountable for that.


2/5

But another factor was the consciousness within Leicester's communities thatneighbourhood defence would be a crucial tactic an instinct that proved to becorrect. However, here too a demobilizing factor was at play. Community 'leaders'apparently cooperated with police in pushing for this defence to be static. As we willsee, this would not have been sufficient to block EDLers who attempted to penetrateinto Highfields.

At people moved off to Humberstone Gate East, rather than risk being kettled, someantifascists withdrew to review options. After some discussion, we agreed to work insmall groups, staying in touch by mobile, thus minimizing the chance of policeattention for 'demonstrating' outside the appointed zone. In fact, this turned out notto be a problem. We were certainly under observation, but no harassment occurred.

During the afternoon, some of us acted as spotters, clocking the groups of EDLers whowere obviously roaming the centre, looking for chances to stage flash 'protests' (ieharass, intimidate and attack). In the event of that, the aim was to alert others,regroup, and mount whatever self-defence proved feasible.

Some attended the UAF static protest, which was not kettled (except briefly followingthe incident described below). Others moved from the town centre to the mainmosque, which is on the edge of Highfields, to offer solidarity with those already thereto guard the building and observe this entry point to one of Leicester's multiculturalneighbourhoods.

UAF's protest included speeches, bands, and plenty of chanting. There was a greatatmosphere, and the diversity of people mirrored Leicester itself. The message to theEDL was clear: theywere the aliens on our streets, and we were united against them.The question of tactics was never absent though. Even over the music some discussedthe pros and cons of self-defence. And this question was almost posed in practicalterms.

The EDL were adjacent to UAF, behind a 'Berlin wall' - literally two fences with policedogs in between. The fascists, desperate to break loose, smashed windows, forcingRadio Leicester reporters to vacate their makeshift observation room. At least onesmoke bomb was detonated. Some succeeded in escaping via a side street, attemptingto circle round and attack the UAF side.

Police blocked this, but antifascist protesters - ignoring appeals from the stage -moved almost as one towards the police line, clearly not intimidated by EDL thugs.The UAF protest was now effectively kettled in for a while.

In the event, the fascists were contained and pushed back by police, but continued

with breakout attempts throughout their near-riot of a 'protest'. Finally, some didbreak out, overcoming the police barrier, and making via Kent Street for Highfields(see below).

It was now clear that the most dangerous time would be during the operation to busthe EDL out. As soon as the kettling eased off, therefore, those of us at the UAFprotest decided to leave, so that we could follow developments, and decide our movesaccordingly.


3/5

Meanwhile, up by the main mosque, the numbers on guard had grown to 100-200, andthe word was that many more were on standby. We therefore decided to join ourcomrades there, staying alert on the way for EDL stragglers.

Up by the train station, some EDL coaches were already moving past towards the exit

road. They had police protection for this, but Asian and other youth were still able togive the fascists a good send off. At least one coach was met with a surge of peopleand pelted with debris as it accelerated past!

The youth were not intimidated by the riot police who poured out of the station. Itwas clear that the determination to rid their city of EDL overcame any fear. Thesituation was very tense but, and the police chased but, as far as we saw, did notattack these protesters.

Having moved via side streets to reach the mosque area, you were presented with themost uplifting scene of the day: 1000-2000 had massed to defend both the mosque andthe entry points to Highfields. These mostly, but not exclusively, Muslim youth and

young men had been mobilized within minutes to stop EDL attempts to infiltrate,attack the mosque and threaten the neighbourhood itself.

This had come from at least two directions: via Kent Street to the north, where someEDLers had broken through from their static 'protest' (see above); and west via ConduitStreet from the nearby station, where the fascists were supposed to be getting theirtrains. A third route, over Swain Street bridge, was blocked by police.

The Kent Street attack was met with immediate resistance, confronting and drivingback the fascists. Police had failed to contain the breakaway EDL mob, and withoutthe mobile and militant action of Highfields youth, these thugs would have burstthrough, threatening the very neighbourhood.

The attempt from the station via Conduit Street was barred by police.

All around the corner of Maidstone Road and Sparkenhoe Street and some way beyond,on the perimeter of Highfields, a crowd of defenders massed for an hour or more incase of further attacks.

When the all clear was given, a steward thanked everyone, Muslim and non-Muslimalike, for the great show of strength and solidarity, and called on people to disperse.Many at this point moved off to reassemble at local mosques to guard against smallerbands of fascists, and stay prepared to remobilize, should the need arise.

A group of us antifascists moved further into Highfields, and packed one comrade'ssmall house for some badly needed tea, to come down from the high of this brilliantdisplay of self-organized antifascist defence, swap stories, and receive reports fromthe still very tense situation in the city centre.

These confirmed predictions that rogue EDL groups would take every opportunity towreak havoc. On Granby Street, for example, fascists had attacked a kebab shop,beating up the workers there, before police could arrive on the scene. Right in the


4/5

centre, others had swarmed into the Lamplighter pub, emerging sporadically to attackblack youth, until the police arrived. Well into the evening, police vehicles remainedparked outside.

In a related incident, a multi-ethnic group of around a hundred school students,hearing what was up, had gone into town to confront the fascists! In a 'daring'

operation, police surrounded these youth, whacking one lad around the head - onlyreleasing them in small groups, and deliberately refusing to release the injured youth,until an onlooker insisted on this. It's probable that only the chance presence of thisobserver who happened also to teach one of the students prevented worse policebehaviour.

These events show a number of things. Absent any organized self-defence, there willalways be cases where the police cannot prevent the EDL's targets becoming theirvictims. What's more, if we do not organize antifascist defence, people includingyoung people with great courage, but little experience will act spontaneously,placing themselves in danger from both fascists and police.

What goes for small scale incidents, applies to neighbourhoods, and to the city as awhole: if we fail to take seriously the matter of antifascist defence, then we will beresponsible if our city and its people suffer worse attacks in the future.

The events of October 9 demonstrate that antifascist self-defence cannot be posed asan abstract slogan. It must be based on two different, but complementary factors: thespontaneous anger and courage, combined with the will to resist, that is sparked bythe EDL's hateful provocation and threats; and conscious organization, well-thoughtout but flexible tactics, also drawing on the resources of existing bodies rooted in ourcommunities, workplaces and colleges our trade unions, community groups, andstudent unions.

Combined with a campaign that challenges the lies and prejudices of racists andfascists, andmobilizes on the streets to block and beat back their riot-like 'protests',this will provide a powerful rebuttal to the EDL. But resistance alone will not do.

Above all, we must address the problems which create the breeding ground for racismand fascism. The crisis in the bosses' capitalist system and the ConDem coalition's'solution' of cuts and austerity is making millions desperate for an alternative. The EDLand BNP stand ready with the scapegoats of Islam and immigration.

In the face of the cuts, we need a to build a massive fight back of workers and youthon all fronts - jobs, pay, services, housing, health, education. A campaign centred onthe broad anti-cuts movement, but linking up with other struggles, can present a real

alternative, cutting the ground from under the fascists and racists.

In place of division, we can build the unity we need to take on and bring down theConDem government, and open up the road to a workers' alternative.

In Leicester, the next big date on the anti-cuts calendar is Saturday 30 October. Onthat day, a Leicestershire Against Cuts demonstration will march from Victoria Park(assemble at 12:00) to the Clock Tower under the slogans: Say No to cuts! Defend jobs


5/5

and services. A massive turn out will strike a blow against austerity, for workers' unity,and against those who want to divide us!

Documents

Leicester shows how to defeat the EDL