FASH IN THE PAN

SchNEWS was on the scene for the latest attempt by the English Defence League (See SchNEWS 693) to bring anti-Muslim extremism onto the streets, this time in Manchester.
Although the EDL’s demo wasn’t due to start until 5pm, by midday a small knot of the lardy larger louts - brandishing England flags - had gathered near Piccadilly Gardens in the city centre. Surrounded by lines of police they were confronted by a several hundred strong group from the Unite against Fascism counter-demo.

A game of push and shove followed with the cops eventually using dogs to clear a path for the EDL. Both demos were then cordoned in the centre of Piccadilly Gardens. Factions from both sides avoided the kettle and were moving around the outskirts of the demo. So far, so good but as the afternoon wore on more and more arrived to join the EDL demo. Although they were still outnumbered by counter demonstrators by around three to one, this still made it the EDLs biggest mobilisation yet with around three to four hundred present.

The stand-off inside Picadilly Gardens lasted ‘til 5pm with crowd surges and occasional bottles being lobbed. Outside the cordon the two groups eyed each other up but there were only occasional scuffles and a lot of strange conversations. One anti-fash protester told SchNEWS, “A lot of the EDL types didn’t know why they were there – I heard comments ranging from ‘Islam is a paedophile religion’ to the old NF slogan ‘There ain’t no black in the Union Jack’ What was most surprising was just how young many of them were, there seemed to be a lot of fifteen year lads out”.

Eventually police marched the EDL back to the train stations. Altogether 48 arrests were made for public order offences.

* The EDL bandwagon moves to Wales this week with demos in two cities this month – both to be responded to by counter-demos: The EDL have set up a ‘Welsh Defence League’ to spread the anti-Muslim ignorance west of the border. This Saturday (17th), they’re in Swansea – with the local community holding a counter-demo, meeting 4pm outside the YMCA, St Helen’s Road, Swansea. Then on the 24th it’s off to Newport – meet 1pm at John Frost Square.

See www.twitter.com/NewportCAR www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=158100673713&ref=mf

* Further demos on the EDL calender include October 31st in the Leeds city centre at 1pm; followed by Glasgow city centre on November 14th (not yet confirmed), and Nottingham on December 5th - details of counter-demos to follow.

* For more coverage with footage of last Saturday in Manchester see http://jasonnparkinson.blogspot.com