EDL flash demo fails to ignite Liverpool
Word reaches Liverpool Antifascists that the English Defence League made an appearance in Liverpool today.
Witnesses on the ground described the event as not up to much. Nonetheless, it presents a worrying precedent and a reminder to antifascists to remain vigilant.
In the early afternoon, thousands of trade unionists, socialists, and working class activists marched from the Anglican Cathedral to protest at the Liberal Democrat conference, against that party’s support for attacks on the working class. Liverpool Antifascists – as an autonomous group set up and run by ordinary people rather than politicians or bureaucrats – wholeheartedly supports this. Indeed, many of our members were present at the event under different banners.
What we do not support is the message the EDL offered in the same area, just hours later.
We are told that 20-30 EDL activists, including many from the EDL Merseyside Division, unfurled banners for what amounted to a photo op before retreating to the Baltic Fleet for a meeting. According to some who were present, one of the topics for discussion was the formation of a political party to contest elections. Though they didn’t seem optimistic about the political calibre of those present.
Soon enough, antifascists got wind of what was going on, and a few scouted the area to see that the police had them contained and under control. With that in mind, and better things to do, they left them to it.
It is clear that the EDL were just testing the waters today. They want to see if they can “conquer” Liverpool, but we’d advise against it. When they do it for real, so will we.
Whether that’s from the state, from Islamic extremism, or from fascists looking for a fight, Liverpool is a city that can defend itself.
If you don’t like someones politics, then why are you always at their demos? Just fuck off with your commie shit. nobeds
Hahaha. Is that really the most coherent response Merseyside’s EDL can come up with?
We don’t want fascists on our streets. We especially don’t want fascists on our streets to offer division and a racial scapegoat when it’s more important than ever that the working class unite to fight the attacks being visited upon us by those in charge.
Were any of you among the 4,000 demonstrating against the cuts? Are any of you organising your workplaces or your communities to defend themselves against the profit system? Or were you all just on the basis of the idiotic notion that Islam is the only thing we have to worry about and everything is hunky dory?
More likely you have no politics and were just looking for a piss-up and a fight.
@Liam
Hang on, the EDL was set up in response to a demo by a tiny handful of Islamic nutters. Who the hell are you to lecture us?
Now for the real facts as i was one of the speakers at the not flash demo. The fact that we were there for Two days and we were fully aware of the UAF or should i say did not attend.
I have the photographs of your thousands which was by the way less than 10 on Saturday and about 20 on Sunday. We had over 60 people turned back form Manchester and cheshire for flooding and by using the section 60 law covering the railway stations.
Never mind that but the fact that we were invited into the Baltic Fleet where we spent Saturday then returned Sunday due to the fact that it was hammering it down. We were aware of the massive number of UAF in the baltic Fleet we 6 out of the thousands, ye right. Four uaf were in the back room and that was two girls and two lads who made comments but did not realise we were with the edl. So i pointed out to him who we were and the fact that we were serving armed forces vets and if he would like to make a comment to me he was free to do so as that is why we have served in the forces to protect that right. He started to swear as it seems he did not have the ability to use normal words so i had no option but to put him right. A said” if you want to use language like that with me then i will lower my self to your level and take you out side and beat the shit out of you because you are abusive and i find it offencive” I told him he couls say what he wanted to me about the situation and i would discuss it with him. Due to me being elected to political office and getting many others elected i wiped the floor with him and the Liberall Democrat delegates heard every word and stated that i had very good points and they understood why i speak at gatherings. So the fact that you have a man who can and does get people elected yearly and the fact that your comments are far from the truth nor do they have any dealings with the truth i wonder why you bother to post as it is obviouse that you were not present nor were you in attendence at the Baltic fleet. If there were so many UAF in attendence could you please inform me why they missed 30 people marching through the centre of Liverpool right past the UAF location at the gate and the baltic fleet? you cant because you were not there so shut the F..K up
You’re getting yourself mixed up. The 4,000 people were those protesting against the Lib Dem conference. Then there were several hundred people in town challenging the BNP on Saturday.
Once we knew you were just holed up in the pub on Sunday, we decided to leave you to the police.
Oh, and you never fought for my or anybody else’s right to free speech. That – like all the other rights and freedoms we enjoy in this country – comes from working class people organising and fighting against the state, not serving it. The only foreign war where our freedom was at stake was World War II – largely fought by volunteers, including many people who were anti-fascist. But even that came after the working class had asserted their rights to free speech, association, and assembly.
I have to disagree with you, This Fellow who is a vet did fight for our freedoms, Not your trade unions, You people have it easy thanks to gentleman like him.
He may be EDL but damn if he is a vet he deserves everyones respect.
You people have it easy thanks to gentleman like him
Actually, it was because working class people continued to stand up, organise, and fight back no matter how much the police or the army knocked the tar out of them on the orders of the state. Unless you care to explain to me how fighting wars in foreign lands on behalf of the state forced said state to give people rights it (not some foreign enemy) had been denying them?
@mikejfl
My dad’s in the armed forces. He doesn’t keep banging on about it like he’s the best thing since sliced bread. And neither does he use it as an excuse for hanging about with pathetic, lowlife fascist bum chums like the EDL. Get over yourself.
If the EDL do care so much about “Defending England” why are they not all signed up to the armed forces; prefering instead to join an organisation that parades around cities 3,000 miles behind the frontline. If they had an ounce of bravery they would join the troops instead of trying to fight British people in Britain.
Everyone I know in the army thinks the EDL are scumbags. Believe it or not, they don’t want pissed-up thugs and football hooligans on their side.