Here’s a funny story for a Friday afternoon…..

Following on from the trouncing EDL received last weekend the Casuals United bloggers have released the following statement:

The police basically kidnapped us for about 5 hours and treated us like animals in order to deter us from doing any more demos. The girls rang the liason officers and were told that this was out of their hands. I reckon they had been given an ultimatum by Muslim Community Leaders to get rid of us or they would riot. They liased for weeks over this demo then broke all their promises from the morning onwards.

It’s clear that extremist groups like casuals united have long ago abandoned any shred of sanity they ever held. There were three hundred EDL tops. There were thousands of locals and antifascists lining up to show the EDL where to go. People pleaded with the police to go home so we could deal with the fascists as a community. All police liason with the EDL would have had to go out of the window as soon as they saw the the scale of the opposition, to a few fat racist drunks stumbling down the road. The police protection was the only thing that allowed the EDL to go home in one piece. you’d think they’d be grateful, we paid for that protection!….it gets better though….

Well done everyone who went through our ordeal in Walthamstow. Legends all of you. Its still a victory. We marched right through their area for over an hour, we stood tall and proud and we stuck together. We will be back there but unannounced and with no liason. NFSE  

“It’s still a victory” – I don’t think even they believe this, no one can be that optimistic unless their on crack, oh, wait…

“we marched right through their area for over an hour” – No, you were escorted by police up until a point where not even the force of the Met could push you through, you did not make the rally point, EDL speakers Tommy and Kev had to be escorted out by police. Your march was diverted through side streets to keep you safe from the opposition.

“we stood tall and proud and we stuck together” – After all the morning beers fights broke out within the EDL crowd, and they even assaulted one of their own stewards, and it’s hard to stand tall when you can barely stand at all! – ha ha!

“we will be back there but unannounced and with no liason.” – They got 200-300 people out for a national demo. Some of them had travelled from the north east, how many can they get out locally?  Not many!! My guess is that if they do turn up without the fuzz to protect them, and unannounced, they may not get off so likely!!….So good luck with that boys and girls of the extreme right, every demo you hold forges links between different groups in communities, so they are prepared when the fascists try to roll in to town.

Happy Weekend!

Today various far right groups (CXF,NWI,NF and BNP) tried to attack a march against racism and fascism starting in Toxteth.

The march was organised by Liverpool Irish Patriots Republican Flute Band, in commemoration of local Trade Unionist James Larkin, the fash stopped a march by this group in February this year, claiming it was IRA.

Obviously the fascists with little understanding of British politics can’t be expected to understand the difference between republicans and IRA or even the various IRA factions and splinter groups and differing opinions to the Good Friday agreement.

The fash attempted to leaflet the local area and claim ‘The IRA are going to try and march through Liverpool’ it was obvious some members of the public believed this hype, what was also obvious was that despite that the fash had pulled from other areas, they had a poor turnout, and antifascists, mingled with the crowd and explained the position to many members of the public.

Large banners made it clear that the march was actually against racism and fascism and many members of the community showed support for the march, despite best efforts of the fascists, they couldn’t stop the march, and so they tried to attack it.

Again these attacks were foiled by militant antifascists on the outsides of the march who quickly dealt with the threat and forced the fascists away from the group. At the end of the march around 200 people made up of UAF, trade unions, the local community and various antifascist groups gathered to hear the speeches, and then went on to a social event, whilst fash went back to defending the boozer under the watchful eye of the police.

One thing that needs to be noted here but I will address soon in a more detailed post is that wearing a vis-vest does not give you any kind of authority over others on their march, and people should not be so quick to do the police’s work for them, one blurt in a jacket in particular removed the hood of a young man who was in a scuffle with police, rather than assist in a successful de-arrest (as had happened several times throughout the day) this traitor took it upon himslef to remove the young man’s hood and then attempt to chastise him from wearing it, before swiftly being told where to go by the de-arresting comrades.

Also on several occassions ‘protesters’ dragged antifascists off fascists and pulled them away, when the antifascists where simply defending themselves (and the march) from fash who had broke through police lines, again this is 100% unacceptable, how can people feel they have the right to interfere and do the police’s job for them? like I said this appears to be a recurring issue and I feel a lengthy post coming up about it.

Today was a definite win for the organised working class in Liverpool, the march went ahead, we outnumbered the fash, any fash attempts at attack were sent packing and as far as im aware (at the time of writing) everyone got home safely.

reproduced via – http://1solutionrevolution.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/saturday-21st-july-working-class-unity.html

Interesting coverage from “The Post” (AKA “the Pest)  of Saturdays march, especially this…

http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/EDL-point-won-t-soon/story-16542404-detail/story.html

well, time will tell, but we’ll be watching ya.

Also ongoing discussions on Bristol Indymedia about the weekend, including a debate about whether or not it was a victory, or fail (why is it either or, surely there where elements of both during the day?)

http://bristol.indymedia.org/article/710367?&condense_comments=false#comment56635

Also if anyone has any footage that can help those arrested, see http://bristol.indymedia.org/article/710375

Solidarity.  Bristol Antifascists.

Bristol Antifascists would like to thank everyone who came yesterday and made sure the EDL got the welcome they deserved. As a local shop keeper said: “Silly bastards!” There was a wide range of tactics shown; we made sure they were hounded all day and that they were driven out of town. Numbers of EDL range from 250-300 according to online reports. Pretty pathetic for what was meant to be one of their biggest demos. Despite a large mobilising effort in Bedminster, the glory days where they could get 1,500 on th e streets have passed. Clearly the EDL’s days are numbered. Another rainy day, but antifascists were out till late monitoring the activities of the cops and the EDL. They were massively outnumbered.

Total of 16 arrests we think, not bad considering the scale of the operation (700 officers). Despite the “exclusion zones” people managed to move around the city with little effort. Burning barricades were erected in Redcliffe as the Police tried to move the EDL out of Queen’s Square. People stood their ground as Police brought out batons, dogs and horse charges to try and disperse the crowd of antifascists. The Police then escorted the EDL back to Temple Meads where they loaded them onto trains and coaches. It was great how folk came together for the solidarity demo outside the cop shop. The police tried it on with a couple more late night arrests in a park when the sound system tried to leave (folks released and NFA).

It’s been pointed out a few times in the last few weeks, and in some lovely graffiti in Easton, but BAF just wants to highlight the ridiculous (shock horror! The filth being out of order?!) “St Pauls Carnival £30,000 cancelled. EDL £500,000 allowed.” Well, actually, this is a conservative estimate and online reports say over £1,000,000. ) We reject fascism and racism in all its forms. We also reject a state-based response. They are all part of the same problem….. For ongoing resistance and solidarity. We are still watching you…. Bristol Antifascists. http://bristol.indymedia.org/ https://antifascistnetwork.wordpress.com 

QUEER KAFF BLOC on Bristol Pride 14th July.. join the march, http://bristol.indymedia.org/article/709833
*Against all oppression. Against the EDL: Anti-racist and Proud bloc at Bristol pride*
On the 14th July,  a group of LGBTQI people will be marching as an Anti-Racist and Proud Block on We are: Proud Pride Parade.This is in response to the far right group the English Defence League’s intenton to march in Bristol on the same day as this year’s Bristol Pride.
*“We believe that having an explicit, and visible anti-racist presence at the pride parade will send a strong message that the EDL are not welcome in Bristol, and not welcome at Bristol pride. We refuse to allow the EDL to mask their message of hatred by falsely claiming to support the LGBTQI community.*” said one organiser.
Participants on the Block will be dressed in Pink and Black, colours of LGBT resistance to racism and fascism. They will carry banners and placards saying “No homophobia, No racism” and “Islamaphobia is Racism in disguise” and “Racist EDL do nothing for Gay Rights”
A woman who will march said *“The EDL claim that by attacking Islam they are defending gay rights, and the rights of women. I will march with this block to challenge this cynical attempt to co-opt our struggles in order to use them as a weapon against Muslims.”*
Participants on the block will walk from Berkeley Square, Clifton, through the streets of Bristol. They will hand out leaflets and engage with other Pride participants about the issue. * “The EDL say that they aren’t racist, and that their problem is with Islam and not Muslims, but islamaphobia has a direct effect on Muslims, the majority of whom are of African and Asian descent. This means Muslims will be targeted, including LGBTQI Muslim people. What they promote is simply racism in the form of islamophobia.”*
Block organisers have said that they support anyone organising counter demonstrations, and that they believe a diversity of tactics is needed in opposition the EDL

Contact the network on bristolantifascists [at]riseup.net

Sign up to twitter @stopedl  or #stopedl

Check Bristol Indymedia for updates http://bristol.indymedia.org

and our bustcard is here http://bristol.indymedia.org/article/710077

BrizzBustCardA4

Also we made a lovely display, if you were wondering why you were taking to the streets……

edl display for email acc

See ya there, stay safe, stay mobile.  Line the route. Bring yer mates.

Anybody who knows a little about the English Defence League knows that their claims to be merely against “Islamic extremism” is just a front for their deeper, more sinister agenda. While the EDL may claim to be non-racist and anti-fascist, the core of their movement is made up of fascists and Nazi sympathizers. One example of this is Mickey Bayliss. Mickey recently appeared in the local rag, The Post, presenting himself as a friendly face of the English Defence League. Mickey Bayliss identified himself as one of the organisers of the Bristol demo to take place on Saturday July 14th. Like most people involved in the EDL, Mickey claims that the organisation isn’t racist or homophobic and claims that “any racist chanting, would be identified and reported to the police.”

A quick online search of Mickey Bayliss’s moniker (the oh-so original Mickey English Bayliss) brings you straight to this page (http://edlnews.co.uk/index.php/featured-stories/edl-nazis/310-mickey-english-bayliss) where Mickey’s Nazi saluting photo is presented along with a host of other information.

Mickey Bayliss may be an extreme case of fascism within the English Defence League but if the so-called organiser of the Bristol EDL demo has been photographed giving Nazi salutes at previous demos, what strength does that give to his claims that the EDL are a non-racist, anti-fascist organisation? If Mickey Bayliss is claiming that he will report all “rogue elements” within the march to the Police then he should start with himself! It is up to all of us to oppose the English Defence League when they come to Bristol on July 14th! Bristol Anti-Fascists has already put out a call-out for people to oppose the EDL:

OPPOSE THE EDL MARCH IN BRISTOL
ASSEMBLE: TEMPLE MEADS AREA*
11AM SATURDAY 14TH JULY!
(*Start point may change. Wherever they start, we will stop them! See online for up-to-date info.)

BRISTOL ANTI-FASCISTS SAY: STOP THE EDL…. Let’s defend ourselves against the English Defence League! The EDL are marching in Bristol on the 14th of July. The counter- mobilisation is in full swing, so get involved. There have been alot of posts on Bristol Indymedia about the EDL demo. Now is the time for our call to action.

Come to Templemeads area and line the route at 11am on the 14th to give them the welcome they deserve. Stay alert. Stay mobile. Bring your mates.

There are many many ways to show your opposition to the EDL: don’t let them march, don’t give ’em a lift in your taxi, put posters up in shops, don’t serve them drinks, raise awareness about their farcical attempts to  disguise their homophobia, chat to work colleagues,  decorate the city…. do whatever you feel comfortable with but now is the time to get a crew together and take action against racism in our city. We want to meet them at the station to stop them marching for any distance. We will resist them wherever they turn and we will be watching them.

Let’s defend ourselves against the EDL! Zero tolerance of fascism on our streets. Bristol Anti-fascists is non-hierarchical and is not affiliated to any political party.

PLEASE CONTACT US IF YOU NEED A PLACE TO STAY ON THE FRIDAY OR SATURDAY LEGAL AND MEDIA INFO TO FOLLOW SOON.

For more information email bristolantifascists@riseup.net Or see https://antifascistnetwork.wordpress.com Twitter: @stopedl #stopedl Indymedia posts:http://bristol.indymedia.org/article/709150 http://bristol.indymedia.org/article/708817 Someone else has also set up a facebook page: Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/events/195613943884582/

More info to follow soon….

For translations of the call out in Farsi, Arabic, Somali and Polish see belowمتوقف کردن گروهاتحادیه انگلیس

                                          >تظاهرات در  بریستول تاریخ 14/06/12                                         >گروه اتحادیه انگلیس است یک گروه ضد اسلامی و هدفشان  گسترش نفرت و تفرقه اندازی در جامعه است.                                                                                             در طولسال گذشتهبهتنهایی،این گروه برگزار کرده بیشتر از 20 تظاهرات یا اعتراضات ساکن،وهدف از این تلاش برای مختل کردن جلساتضد نژادپرستانه و کنسرتهای              خیرخواهانه بوده است.وهر جا که این گروه رفته ، ضد فاشیست همواره مخالفت بوده،وانها را مورد انتقاد قرار دادهاست. گروه اتحادیه انگلیس همواره گفته که انها هستند مخالف شریعت    قانون و استفاده از این تهدید برای ترویج دیدگاه های فاشیستی خود.و ادعا  میکنند که نژاد پرست نیستند و هیچ تبییعضی بین افراد قایل نیستند.و این دروغهای انها،منحرف کرده است مردم را از مشکل واقعی و همچنین شرکتها و سیاستمداران. ضدفاشیست در بریستولبسیج شدند برای متوقف کردن این گروه.منابع تان را به اشتراک بگذارید وارائه دهید خدمات حقوقی.ما        میخواهیم که همه با هم کار بکنیم برای شکست دادن فاشیست و سازمان هاینژادپرستی.جلوگیری و متوقف کنید از راهپیمای انها در بریستول در تاریخ فوق.دفاع کنید ازمنطقه خود و  اجازه ندهید که این گروه  گسترش بدهند نفرتشان را و هموار کنند مسیرشان را ، در گذشته این گروه تلاش کرده برای حمله بهمساجد ومغازه ها.اجازه دهید کار کنیم با هم برای مبارزه با این گروه و چیزهای که انها نشان و وانمود میکنند.  بیاید با هم باشیم واجازه دهید که نشان بدهیم به انها  نه طرفداری و نه جای در بریستول دارند. شبکه های ضد فاشیستی ندارند هیچ سلسله مراتبی(هیچ مافوقی ندارند) انها هیچ گاه کار نکردند با پلیس وهرگز وابسته نبودند به هیچ گروه سیاسی   bristolantifascists@riseup.net https://antifascistnetwork.wordpress.com/ مظاهرة ضد عصبة الدفاع الانجليزي برستول ١٤ يوليو عصبة الدفاع الانجليزي منظمةٌ معادية للاسلام و هي مصممة على نشر الكراهية وتقسيم المجتمعات. خلال العام الماضي وحده عقدت عصبة الدفاع الانجليزي ما يصل الى ٢٠ من  المظاهرات والاحتجاجات كما حاولت تعطيل الاجتمعات والحفلات الخيرية المضادة للعنصرية وكذلك كانت قد حاولت ان تهاجم المساجد والمحلات. وتقول عصبة الدفاع الانجليزي انها تكافح تطبيق الشريعة في انجلترا وتستخدم هذا التهديد  كما تسميه لتعزيز آراءها الفاشية ولنشرها. يزعم أعضاء العصبة بانهم ليسوا عنصريين. أكاذيبهم تصرف النظر عن المشكلة الحقيقية وهي الساسة والشركات الكبيرة. تُعارَض عصبة الدفاع الانكليزي من قِبل الجماعات المضادة للفاشية أينما وُجدت وتتحرك جماعة برستول ضد الفاشية لوقف عصبة الدفاع الانجليزي ولاشتراك الموارد ولتقديم الدعم القانوني. نريد ان نعمل مع الجميع لنتغلب على الفاشية وعلى العنصرية المنظمة. دعينا ندفع عن منطقتنا المحلية ولا نسمح بوجود عاملو الكراهية في مجتمعاتنا. لنعمل مع الجميع للتحدي عصبة الدفاع الانجليزي وكل ما تمثلها. لا نرحّب بوجود عصبة الدفاع الانكليزي في برستول. لنقف مظاهرة عصبة الدفاع الانكليزي في برستول ١٤ يوليو/ شهر سادس. شبكة مكافحة الفاشية تعمل بطريقة افقية وليست هرمية. لا تعمل مع البوليس مطلقاً ولا تنتمي إلى أي حزب سياسي. bristolantifascists@riseup.net https://antifascistnetwork.wordpress.com/

KA JOOJI ENGLISH DEFENCE LEAGUE INAY BRISTOL Banaanbax ka sameeyaan 14ka July.
English Defence League (EDL) waa urur kasoo horjeeda diinta
islaamka mowqifkooduna yahay inay naceyb faafiyaan bulshadana kala
dhantaalaan. Sanadkii lasoo dhaafay kaliya EDL waxay qabatay
banaanbaxyo gaaraya illaa iyo 20 waxayna dhowr jeer isku dayeen inay
banadaan kulamo looga hadlayay in la joojiyo midabtakoorka iyo kulamo
lacag deeq ah lagu aruurniyay.
Dhaq-dhaqaaqa kasoo horjeeda fajiistayaasha waxay diidanyihiin EDL meel
walboo ay tagaan. EDL waxay sheegeen inay kasoo horjeedaan ‘Shareecada
Islaamka’ waxayna doonayaan inay hanjabaad ku socodsiiyaan aragtidooda
fajiistenimada ah. Waxay sheegtaan inaysan aheyn cunsudhi, beentooduna
waxay bulshada ka maahisaa dhibaatada dhabta ah. siyaasidiinta iyo
taliyeyaasha.
Ururka kasoo horjeedka fajiistenimada ee Bristol waxay abaabulayaan
joojinta EDL, nala wadaag dhaqdhaqaaqa ama nasii taakuleyn sharciga ku
saleysan. Waxaan dooneynaa inay cid walba iskaashato si looga guuleysto
fajiisteyaasha iyo cunsudhiyaasha. KA JOOJI EDL inay banaanbax ku
sameyso Bristol 14ka July, difaac deegaankaaga, difaac deegaankaaga
hana u ogolaan naceyb wadayaasha inay guuleystaan. EDL waxay hore isugu
dayday inay weerar ku qaadaan masaajidda iyo dukaamada. Aan wada
shaqeyno kana soo horjeesano EDL iyo wax walba oo ay matalaan. Aynu
tusno inay Bristol tahay magaalo aan laga dooneyn oo aan lagu soo
dhoweyn.

bristolantifascists@riseup.net
antifascistnetwork.wordpress.com

Zatrzymać demonstrację English Defence League w Bristolu   14 lipca English Defence League (EDL) jest antyislamską organizacją,  której celem jest szerzenie nienawiści i dzielenie społeczności. Tylko w ostatnim roku EDL odbyło około   20 marszy lub pikiet i próbowało zakłocać antyrasistowskie  spotkania i koncerty benefitowe. Antyfaszyści stawiali opór   EDL wszędzie, gdzie tylko się ta organizacja pojawiała. EDL twierdzi, że są przeiciwko prawie Szariatu i używaja tego „zagrożenia” do promowania swoich faszystowskich poglądów. Twierdza , że nie są rasistami. Ich kłamstwa odciągaja ludzi od prawdziwych  problemów: polityków i korporacji. Bristol Antifascists mobilizują się, aby zatrzymać EDL,   dzielić się zasobami i zapewniac pomoc prawną. Chcemy, aby wszyscy pracowali razem w celu pokonania   faszyzmu i zorganizowanego rasizmu. Zatrzymaj marsz EDL w Bristolu 14 lipca. Broń swojego lokalnego rejonu I nie pozwól głosicielom  nienawiści na osiągnięcie sukcesu. W przeszlości EDL póbowało atakować meczety i sklepy.  Działajmy razem, aby rzucić EDL I wszytkiemu, co oni  reprezentują wyzwanie. Pokażmy im, że nie są mile widziani w Bristolu. Anti-Fascist Network (Siec antyfaszystowska)  jest niehierarchiczną grupą, nigdy nie współpracujemy z policja i nie jesteśmy związani z żadna partia polityczną. bristolantifascists@riseup.net antifascistnetwork.wordpress.com