Britain First leadership was confidently predicting thousands of marchers for its event today in Manchester. It turned out to be considerably less than that with estimates varying between 400 and 700. Only the BBC placed the numbers present at over 1000.
This was certainly more than at its previous recent marches in Nuneaton and Birmingham, but nowhere near the figures they’d hoped for.
However, one thing was absolutely clear – these events now carry the threat of serious attempts to attack anti-fascists, particularly those prominent within the movement.
Hence around a gang of unpleasant characters trying to attack anti-racists as early as 11.15am in Piccadilly Gardens. Police soon intervened and anti-fascists hastily organised effective self-defence. Prominent amongst this group were various fascist “auditors”, trying to provoke clashes they could film and then monetise online.
A large crowd of anti-fascists rallied under the Queen Victoria statue with speakers from SUTR, refugee groups and local trades unions.
The Britain First contingent at the muster point on Fairfield St, numbering around 150, had to endure individuals and small groups of local people telling them exactly where to get off. The police, clearly under pressure and acting rather precipitately, waded in and not for the first time today
Eventually, a massive police escort of dozens of officers, the majority in riot gear, escorted the Britain First march down Portland St towards its rally point at St Peter’s Square.
At one point the police troublingly allowed 100 BF supporters to escape the fenced area they were supposed to be contained within, enabling them to try and attack counter-protesters across the road.
Into this confusion came grifter, far-right ‘auditor’ and opportunist Charlie Veitch with his well-paid thugs. Veitch’s MO is to turn up with cameras and attempt to provoke the opposition into a reaction which he then films and monetises on his YouTube channel.
Ten minutes later, however, he scarpered into Piccadilly Gardens leaving his fan boys mightily disappointed.
Whilst Paul Golding bored the audience to tears with his tedious and semi-factual videos on British history, at least half his audience were looking in the direction of the opposition.
The police allowed a group of fifty to get within metres of anti-fascist lines and were very heavy-handed in their approach. Things were pretty tense on all sides as BF co-leader Ashlea Simon, and the usual suspects, peddled their hatred in public. As ever, a fairly professional big screen and audio system was set up although the sound was poor and few could actually hear it.
Once again, there were more Britain First flags than people and it was clear that Golding has opened the doors to any extremist. The criminal NW Patriots were there as was Clare Walsh’s Uniting Britain.
There were lots of football hooligans singing ‘Tommy Robinson’ chants (Golding must hate that) and they were well-oiled thanks to early morning power drinking sessions in the Piccadilly Tavern and Paramount Wetherspoons.
Fascists are bullies. And today, in a new low, attacked an elderly disabled man in a wheelchair. Searchlight witnessed this and asked the police to arrest the thug responsible, wearing shorts and an AC/DC tee-shirt. If you know who he is please let us know.
The police seemed curiously disinterested in arresting fascists today despite their being plenty of opportunity to do so. Officers prefer to manhandle counter protesters it seems.
One of the increasingly noticeable factors at events such as this is the number of ‘auditors’, fascist video-bloggers , making money on the side.
They were out in force today, perhaps numbering fifty. Like Veitch and Golding, what’s important is money. And only money.
Thanks to the febrile political atmosphere, the massive publicity given by mainstream media, and a friendly press to every sort of anti-migrant meme, business at the moment is good.
So these characters are doing their level best to cause trouble, provoke violence, and then film the results.
Golding, for his part, may feel reasonably happy this evening after a bigger rally than his supposed trial runs in Nuneaton and Birmingham. But 1500 turned up in Waterlooville the other night and large numbers have turned out at other migrant hotels without any help from him.
So these protesters, this militant layer of migrant haters, don’t need him. It’s the other way round. He needs them and he knows it.
Despite his having almost perfect conditions in which to operate, he’s still nowhere near the levels or numbers of recent local migrant protests or Tommy Robinson gatherings. Britain First hasn’t stood in an election for ages and exists only as a vehicle to enrich its leadership duo.
This event marked only the latest chapter in the slow, lingering death of Britain First.
On the anti-fascist side, it’s becoming increasingly clear that static tactics and chanting “Refugees Are Welcome Here” are no longer enough. It’s great to call for unity but when people are assembled what are you going to do then?
It’s fair to say that many anti-fascists are now thinking about how we may need to adopt a much more fluid and flexible approach in future and get our message into the communities where the far right is presently making gains.
No Pasaran!
