Hats off to anti fascists and anti-racists in Manchester, who at the weekend, well outnumbered and humbled the Football Lads Alliance (FLA), Unite Against Fascism wrote on 20 May. Last October, up to 15 000 supported the FLA on their London demonstration. Saturday saw only 300 attend their national event. The FLA had cynically tried to create further islamophobia as the anniversary of the appalling Manchester Arena bombing approaches. They failed, miserably, as Mancunians rejected their far right poison.
In contrast, over 500 anti racists joined a brilliant, spirited, Manchester Stand Up To Racism (SUTR) and Unite Against Fascism (UAF) rally and march. Where those on the SUTR/UAF mobilisation were confident and determined, FLA followers were dispirited and demoralised.
The day started with an excellent rally in St Peter’s Square, by SUTR/UAF.
Dan Hett, brother of Martyn Hett, killed in the Arena terror attack, made a particularly powerful speech, saying he was proud to be on the anti racist demo. ‘The FLA don’t care about the victims of the bombing, they only want to spread race hate. We will resist them with all the unity and organisation we have shown today’. Dan had overnight, again received appalling abuse and hate from FLA supporters, and other far right, bigots. It is to his immense credit that he spoke and marched with anti racists, honouring his brother.
A mix of multicultural Manchester saw a number of trade union banners present. Union members came from the following unions; the CWU postal workers union, the civil service PCS union, the two largest unions in the UK, Unison and Unite, the fire brigades union, the FBU, the GMB, lecturers union, UCU, USDAW, the teachers union, the NEU. and the rail union, the RMT. A large delegation of Spanish students brought the message of No Pasaran to the demo!
This fantastic cross union gathering was the product of weeks of intensive work, at a local and national level. The hard work paid off handsomely and much credit must go to local SUTR members and organisers. Manchester is a great example for how to build and create a well rooted, broad and strong, united front.
The sun shone whilst anti racists rallied and heard from a variety of national speakers from unions and the local community eg muslim representatives from Manchester. A minutes silence was held for the victims of the Arena bombing. In a moving occasion, local councillors read out the names of all those killed at the Arena, last year.
Those who showed no respect for the victims and their relatives such as Dan Hett, were FLA members. Small groups of the FLA tried and failed to intimidate anti racists, and had to skulk away. The strength and size of our rally clearly unnerved them. FLA coaches from Newcastle and Yorkshire had been cancelled in the week, indicating that the FLA turnout was not to be impressive.
The FLA held an underwhelming rally, with only 3 speeches. The FLA had misled their members by saying before Saturday that they were to march. SUTR/UAF strongly suspected this was not to be the case, and when FLA supporters were told they were just having a rally, tempers in their rally flared.
FLA members openly argued with each other about why they were not the size organisers had promised. Many traipsed off to bars, missing the speeches and took to online denunciations of FLA organisers such as Pamela Brannigan.
Rows raged overnight attacking the ex EDL members who now run the FLA. Indeed, the likes of ex BNP and EDL organiser, Chris Renton who stayed in a pub with other former EDL members, are wondering if the FLA has a future. (Perhaps a quarter of the FLA support were ex BNP and EDL followers. 50 or so stayed in 2 pubs, clearly downcast. Anne Marie Waters For Britain members, were also present).
Paul Holborow
In the campaign against the National Front, Searchlight provided a rich and utterly reliable basis for much ANL propaganda – particularly with reference to the two leading NF figures, John Tyndall and Martin Webster. The appearance of Tyndall in full nazi uniform, drawn from the archives of Searchlight, was a key part of ANL propaganda, coupled with deeply damaging nazi quotes from Webster.
Paul Nowak
The essence of trade unionism is solidarity, fairness and equality – for all workers – from all backgrounds. That’s why our fight against the far-right has always been part of our movement’s DNA. Searchlight is an incredibly important resource for trade unions and members to understand the contemporary tactics of far-right activity. Their work and intelligence gathering over the years have been incredibly insightful for the work we do, and how we fight the scourge of fascism.
Alf Dubs
Searchlight’s voice is more important than ever, and I am delighted that it will now be available to a wider audience than ever before in its new incarnation online. Searchlight has been extremely helpful over the years in exposing the far right, corruption, criminality and the murky links between organised crime and powerful interests in the UK and abroad. I wish Searchlight the very best.
Peter Hain
British Jews have been persecuted over the centuries; British blacks since the Windrush generation of the 1950s; British Muslims, especially after the Islamist 9/11 and then 7/7 terrorist attacks in New York 2001 and London 2005. But until the last few years there has not been a simultaneous threat against all three British communities of Jewish, Black and Muslim Britons – meaning the need for Searchlight has never been greater.
Professor Colin Holmes
Nick Davies
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