(via Brighton Antifascists):
Today is St George’s Day, a day that hold a special place in many a Brightonian Antifascist’s heart. For three years running, in 2012, 2013 and 2014, locals put absolute flight to the far-right “March for England” (MfE), which had paraded in Brighton since 2009.
In 2012, the far-right marchers exited Brighton Station to find themselves vastly outnumbered and their route lined with thousands of antifascists, who hurled abuse (and some other things), and repeatedly tried to block them. Police eventually re-routed them through the laines, where they were blocked again by a strong barricade. They eventually managed to march their foreshortened route, only to find their pen occupied by yet more antifascists. Unable to hold their speeches, and totally surrounded by jeering antifascists, they were marched slowly out of town.
In 2013 the police built them a steel pen on the seafront, but again, their route was lined with antifascists, outnumbering them more than 3-1. Those fascists who avoided the kettle where tracked down and many were forced to be quick on their feet to escape. Some didn’t manage this and had robust exchanges of opinion with some angry antifascists. After the far-right had gone, locals took to the streets in a spontanious antifascist march that made the point very clearly: Brighton is Ours.
In 2014, a much reduced MfE was again marched in a steel box along the seafront, outnumbered by jeering locals. When the police attempted to march the fascists back up to the station, antifascists built a barricade across Queens Road, forcing MfE into the backstreets again.
After this, MfE attempted one further march, moving it to Blackpool in the hope of gaining more support. They were again opposed and again had their march disrupted by antifascists. They haven’t tried anything since. Every further attempt by a far-right group to march in Brighton has been an absolute shit-show. They don’t come here no more.
INGELHEIM REPORTBACK!
Nazis: 20
Antifa: THOUSANDS!!!!