Vol. 74/No. 36      September 27, 2010

Counterdemonstrations were organized by Unite Against Fascism (UAF), under the banner “We Are Bradford,” and by Hope Not Hate (HNH), under the banner “Bradford Together.” HNH is a campaign run by the magazine Searchlight, which specializes in exposés of fascist and ultraright groups.

Separately, several hundred opponents of the EDL gathered some yards from where the right-wingers were standing penned in by riot police. Participants in the UAF event, including this reporter, were forced by the police to enter through metal detectors and were not allowed to leave until the event—which consisted of music and speeches—concluded.

An event called “Be Bradford—Peaceful Together” was organized by the local council away from the city center where the EDL demonstration and the UAF counterdemonstration were held.

The EDL action was significantly smaller than the “Big One” predicted by its organizers. Sections of the crowd clashed repeatedly with the police and threw smoke bombs. The next day, EDL blamed infiltration by “Nazi scumbags” for some of these clashes.

Bradford was targeted by the rightists because of the multinational character of the working class here, with a large number of south Asians, particularly of Pakistani descent. Some EDL supporters held placards saying, “No more mosques” or “Britain does not welcome the religion of hatred.”

On its Web site the EDL says it is not racist or fascist but represents “every walk of life, every race, every creed, and every colour; from the working class to middle England.” The right-wing outfit claims, “We have members that represent our culturally rich, ‘patriotic’ and nation-loving populace.” A central leader is a Sikh and there are a tiny number of black supporters. A “Jewish division” was established earlier this year. EDL actions, nevertheless, remain marked by a fascist-like street-gang thug element.

HNH and others campaigned for the government to ban the planned EDL demonstration. HNH leader and Searchlight editor Nick Lowles in an article in the Morning Star, which reflects the views of the Communist Party of Britain, opposed holding a counterprotest.

Responding to Lowles in another article in the Morning Star, UAF joint secretary Sabby Dhalu, while supporting the ban, called for united action by the two groups. Dhalu said “a peaceful celebration of multiculturalism” was necessary in response to the EDL. “This is not a counterdemonstration,” he added.

British nationalism, pacifism, and an exaggeration of the progress made to date by the ultraright in the United Kingdom marked a number of the speeches at the “We Are Bradford” event. UAF leaders talked of defending “our” cities against the EDL.

A November 6 “No to racism, Islamophobia and Fascism” demonstration in London is being organized by the UAF, the Muslim Council of Britain, and Love Music Hate Racism. It has the backing of the Trades Union Congress.  
 
 
Front page (for this issue) | Home | Text-version home