Anti-Fascist Network

From Brighton Antifascists

Thousands of Tommy fans attended Stephen Yaxley-Lennon’s march on Saturday the 1st of June. The event was allegedly a protest against ‘two tier policing’ – that well-known bias that cops have against right-wing white men and their habit of favouring Muslims and pro-Palestine demonstrators. Although the largest far-right mobilisation in a number of years, the 4,000 marchers were less than anticipated or indeed claimed by Yaxley-Lennon. The numbers who stayed on at Parliament Square to watch his boring endless film were significantly lower, due to a large contingent being stationed in pubs in the surrounding area or having gone home.

The crowd seemed to be a disjointed mix of Tommy fanboy ex-EDL football lads, a significant contingent of serious and older street-based fascists, and other assorted racists including UKIP/Reform types. There was no mistaking the actual football fans in London for the Champions League final, thousands of whom were colourfully and joyfully filling the streets all day, with the dour anonymously-dressed casuals around for the racist demo. We saw a handful of Israeli flags rather than a large number of Zionists, which would have been a worrying development. While there was a sprinkling of conspiracy theorists, Tommy mostly seems to have lost the anti-lockdown crowd that had at one point appeared to be gravitating towards him.

The prevalent attitude was not of cocaine, beer and fighting with the police that we have come to expect from the ‘Free Tommy’ and associated movements. Comparatively the atmosphere was sombre and subdued. Part of this was down to Yaxley-Lennon’s repeated pleas for a clean day out (though similar requests have been ignored in the past!). Another factor was the large presence of those whose minds were more focussed on attacking the Left and Muslims. It felt like a sad old fascists’ reunion more than a fresh movement capturing a zeitgeist.

The day passed broadly without incident, although there were reports of a black woman being racially abused and an officer ‘assaulted’. Despite the subdued mood, the far-right did still manage the traditional fight amongst themselves, and apparently one of them also managed to give himself a heart attack from too much white powder. The police were concentrated around Whitehall due to the small demonstration of anti-fascists from Stand Up To Racism who had gathered there. SUTR brought around 100 people out, who commendably stood strong whilst being vastly outnumbered. It is a blot on our record that the wider organised left was not willing to arrange our own counter protest.

The need for counter protests is paramount: there were next to no police at Victoria station with thousands of intimidating racists roaming unchecked. Even a small number of counter-protesters at their meeting point would have forced the police to handle them differently; offering a buffer to the hundreds of Muslims and other minorities, who pass through Victoria hourly.

The anti-fascist movement nationally needs to awaken from our slumbers: attitudes at the demonstration and leaked messages point to a very real threat that the street fascist types will begin attacking smaller Palestine solidarity demonstrations and student encampments. Yaxley isn’t the General he once was, more intent on clicks and donations than building a street movement, so this wing is currently leaderless. However judging by the number of burner phones spotted on the day, there is experienced organisation occurring between fascist groups. If this contingent find the wherewithal to organise themselves outside of the increasingly boring Tommy marches and movies, we should be prepared for violence.

The next far-right Tommy rally is due to be held on the 27th of July, which will be after Labour are likely to be in power. Ideally the far-right won’t have the streets unopposed. No doubt the racists will get drunk, fight with each other and generally fuck up their own fledgling movement at some point, but better for us to give them a helping hand.

The common refrain that central London isn’t home to working class communities has an element of truth. Central London may not be our preferred terrain, but the people who pass through it on a typical Saturday don’t deserve to be exposed to fascist violence. The families from around the world, hijabi friends out shopping, LGBT+ shop workers, activists for Palestine and other causes, etc. might disagree that the space is not worth defending.

See you on the streets. No Pasaran!