| ooggetuigenverslag | nn - 21.03.2010 12:32
I just got back from Bolton today. I was with the Scottish contingent kept penned in at Oxford Street, just off the Square.
As others have said, it was a sometimes frustrating day that had a particular inspiring and positive end note.
For our part, we formed a line at the bottom of the street stopping a few EDL, never more in groups of 5 or 6, from getting up the street and into the square. There were about 2 or 3 hundred of us. Most the Scots delegation was white and younger, largely female too, but we had lots of Asian locals, including about a hundred Asian lads who formed another barrier across the street stopping any EDL’ers getting by. We also had a few older, more “experienced” antifascist comrades milling about in front of our lines.
These guys were the ones actually ‘escorting’ any EDL’ers who came by.
There was no “violence” here, though. The Nazis who came by clearly saw the odds were against them.
At about 4, after being on the street since about 10 o’clock, we marched into the square, as described in post 36. We met a large, young, ethnically diverse (including, I might add, more than a few dozen young Afro-Carribean lads) celebrating. It was an excellent moment.
We then marched out of the square, through Bolton city centre. We encountered a few groups of EDL’ers milling about. At one point, even, we saw a group of about 100 or so at the end of a side street. They were quick enough to run though.
And that’s important. These people are bullies, first and foremost. They feed on the passivity and timidity of their victims. The sight of 300 pissed-off Asian lads running towards them, something, given the fact they shat themselves and ran away, they obviously hadn’t encountered before in that way, might give some of them a bit of pause in the future.
As for the critique of the slogans. There was a lot of ‘Nazi Scum off our streets’. I don’t have a problem with this. It’s INTENDED to infuriate the other side. The thing is, we’re not trying to convert EDL’ers to socialism. We’re trying to break the hardened Nazi core (is anyone, even the “grievance mongers”, disputing such a thing exists?) from the bitter young guys who’ve attached themselves. One way to do this is to promote dissension in their ranks.
The idea that because they don’t like being called racists and fascists we shouldn’t call them racists and fascists really does need to be explained in greater depth. Its logic utterly escapes me.
These people are using nationalist rhetoric and racist scapegoating to whip up petty-bourgeois discontents (tell me, how many working class guys can afford Chelsea season tickets?), marginal sections of the working class and young sections of the unemployed and lumpenproletariat for a campaign of physical intimidation and street-fighting.
We need to confront this sensibly, seriously and honestly. I am proud to have been at the demo today. I think it represented a manifestation of a genuine antifascist tradition in Britain and I think its that tradition can ultimately turn the tide. Playing footsie with the cops or shitting yourself because they’re all skinheads isn’t going to help.
Anyway, a long, confusing but ultimately quite satisfying day that most people I think thought ended in a minor, although not overwhelming, victory to our side.
Next Stop Dudley!
NO PASARAN
bron:  http://www.revleft.com/vb/edl-bolton-sunday-t130229/index.html?p=1699000#post1699000
| | articel over de mainstream media en bolton | nn - 21.03.2010 12:38
The battle of Bolton and the media
By admin on March 20th, 2010
Anti-fascist protesters emerged victorious on Saturday after holding Bolton’s central Victoria Square against the racists from the English Defence League.
But mainstream national media reports are presenting it as a contest between two violent groups – and blaming the anti-fascists for the violence.
Anti-fascists faced brutality from police with dogs and on horseback. There were over 60 arrests – 55 Unite Against Fascism and 9 EDL, according to Sky news – including UAF leader Weyman Bennett “on suspicion of conspiracy to commit violent disorder”. The police commander made disgraceful allegations about the protesters.
Video on the Bolton News website makes it clear, however, that the violence was not coming from the anti-fascists. It shows an elderly veteran of World War 2 who had joined the protest, and UAF stewards can be heard urging protestors to stay calm in the face of apparent police efforts to provoke a riot.
The Bolton News had a reporter in Victoria Square who described on Twitter how EDL members had broken away from the square to cause violence: “Number of demonstrators intent on causing disorder have broken away from protest site. Large numbers of officers deployed to address.” The journalist saw “missiles flying” as the EDL tried to get out of its enclosure.
Anti-fascists clearly outnumbered the EDL, yet the BBC on its website and on TV news cited the police estimates that there were 1,500 anti-fascists and 2,000 EDL. The facts suggest otherwise.
The Bolton News reported on Twitter at 3.30pm: “EDL look to have gone from the sq[uare] but more UAF supporters making their way there. Banners from Hull, London, Birmingham among those seen”
Anti-fascists continued to join the protest. Twenty minutes later the Bolton News reported a “large number of asian youths in ashburner street”, just outside Victoria Square
This was the turning point when hundreds of young Asians joined the protests.
Socialist Worker’s reporter described this moment: “Anti-racists in Victoria Square have been buoyed by the arrival of large numbers of young Asians from the town. Shafiq told Socialist Worker, ‘The police tried to stop us getting here by holding us in a side road for hours. Several times we tried to break through their lines, but they held us back. … Its disgusting that the police have allowed the EDL to do what ever they like here, but we’ve been stopped from defending our own town.’”
About the same time, UAF’s twitter feed reported: “Another huge contingent of UAF supporters finally allowed to enter the square”. Hundreds of anti-fascists had been blocked by police from entering the square.
The BBC’s reporting was execrable, quoting the EDL and repeating its claim that “it describes itself as a peaceful, non-political group”. UAF spokespeople were not quoted.
Sky news at 6pm also reported the protest as a violent confrontation, citing the numbers arrested as if they were proof of violence on the UAF side.
bron: http://exposethebnp.com/2010/03/20/the-battle-of-bolton-and-the-media/
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