Method In Our Madness

     On 28th April, the BNP organised a mass
canvassing/leafletting session on the Coxmore Estate in Kirkby,
Ashfield. The Midlands region of AFA organised around 80 people
on the day, with the intention of stopping this event. Due to the
efforts of AFA, the fascists have been unable to organise with
any success in the East Midlands for some time now, and they see
Kirkby as a last stand.
     On the day, BNP scouts were located on the High Street, and
they obligingly led AFA to the main body of leafletters. However,
AFA's way was blocked by a sizable body of police, including dog-
handlers and horses. The police demanded that AFA turn back; AFA
refused and were subsequently baton-charged, leaving one member
with his leg broken in five places and with serious dog-bites.
The police continued to get between AFA and the BNP, but the
fascists insisted in running off, in full view of the local
residents, who were no doubt suitably impressed by this show of
strength.
     Under heavy police guard, the AFA contingent were escorted
to the edge of the estate. When they attempted to make their way
back to the High Street, their way was once again, blocked by
police who, one again, baton-charged, causing several injuries.
The anti-fascists were then held in the middle of the road for
over an hour, blocking all access for local people. Meanwhile,
the BNP were allowed to leaflet the High Street, but, even with
the police guarding them, they were visibly shaken and seemed
very eager to get away, and were not seen again for the rest of
the day.
     Despite AFA being denied the opportunity to get into the BNP
and remove them from the estate, the contact with the local
residents was very positive, and when the local group had
leafletted the High Street on the previous four weekends they had
recieved good responses. The local residents have certainly had
enough of the fascists, their police outriders, and the
subsequent disruption and inconvenience. 
     AFA had a much freer rein in Manchester recently, and the
outcome of the day reflected this. AFA's Northern Region
mobilised to deal with the anticipated loyalist/fascist counter
demonstrations at January's Bloody Sunday march in Manchester.
The police on the day had, unusually, to cope with both
Manchester teams playing at home in the cup - consequently,
limited numbers were deployed to police the march.
     The first contact of the day was made at the Clarence pub,
on the route of the march. A loyalist/fascist mob of approx. 20
had met up there and were trying to whip up some City fans into
having a go at the march. As the march approached, they bowled
out of the boozer, full of the usual Sieg Heils and Rule
Britannias. As it goes, their most ferocious fighting was with
each other as they desperately tried to scramble back through the
door (which their comrades inside tried to slam in their faces)
as they were hit by an AFA pincer movement. Game on. As AFA
stewards dealt with those unfortunate enough to be outside, and
chased the remainder through the boozer and out the back, a flute
band stopped outside, providing a perfect musical accompaniment
to the event. Dave Taylor, Rochdale's top fascist, was nowhere to
be seen when the fighting started. Mention must be made of the
poor soul who jumped over the back fence to escape AFA - right
into the jaws of an angry growler.
     AFA pulled back onto the pavement, expecting the old bill to
intervene - they didn't, so a second wave went through the pub.
More of the same. The fascists fled, the majority of the City
fans inside the pub just stood out of the way, wanting nothing to
do with them. The governor said on the radio that night that 2000
pounds worth of damage had been caused to the pub - I suppose you
could call it an on-the-spot fine.
     After the Clarence, the main AFA group was eventually forced
to disperse by the police. It appears that the fascists saw this
as an opportunity to give it the 'big 'un', so they did,
following the bands, regaling them with the usual taunts and
insults. One of the bandsmen put it well - "It was simply a case
of looking at my watch, and thinking any second now..." What had
he seen that his aggressors hadn't? A third and separate firm of
AFA stewards moving up behind them. As it bounced out of a
sidestreet into them, all they could muster in response was a
terrified "Run!" And they did.
     And so it went on. AFA stewards occupied Albert Square,
ahead of the march, as this was where Sinn Fein's Martin
McGuinness was due to speak, and consequently was a likely focal
point for the opposition. A couple of hapless individuals did
appear, obviously intending to meet up with the rest of their
'boys'. Problem was, their boys had been delayed elsewhere.
Austin Stoneam, Blackburn's BNP organiser, after making a quick
assessment of the situation, demanded that some indifferent
coppers should escort him from the area in a police van. One fool
approached a group of stewards with the immortal opening line,
"Alright? I'm here to get into the reds." He then proudly
produced the St. George's flag he had brought along for the
occasion. As it happens, the flag proved rather useful; it was
soon draped over his unconscious body, providing a wonderful
photo-opportunity for the press.
     These stories are not being repeated simply for their
anecdotal value; there is a method in our madness. Firstly, the
contrasting fortunes of the fascists in Manchester, depending on
whether AFA are in action or not. As reported in issue 70 (Red
Action), the last Manchester Martyrs Commemoration was humiliated
by a mob of 40 fascists/loyalists. AFA were aware that they would
be coming into town (and had warned the Committee of this fact)
but were fulfilling prior commitments in Leeds on the day. The
Martyrs Committee were not physically capable of defending their
own meeting, and had it not been for the police, the Martyrs'
rally would surely have been butchered. Compare this to the
events around the Bloody Sunday march. The day was, from AFA's
point of view, a complete success. Three AFA stewards were
arrested but released with cautions. The fascists weren't able to
gain any momentum, they were denied the opportunity to mob-up and
consolidate their forces. They were out maneouvered and out-
fought.
     The second point concerns the police, the other key player
in this three-cornered fight. At last year's Martyr's rally, the
police presence protected them from the fascists, in contrast to
previous Martyrs events, where the police have been forced to
protect the loyalists. If the fascists/loyalists were hoping for
police protection at the Bloody Sunday march, then they must have
been bitterly disappointed. But even with state protection, as in
Kirkby, the fact that AFA were present and obviously prepared to
confront the police in order to get at the BNP shook them out of
operating as they would have liked.
     Nevertheless the police played a pivotal role and clearly
they have their own agenda. At the Manchester Martyrs'
Commemoration, they prevented violence, but allowed an effective
protest, ie meeting cancelled. On Bloody Sunday, they allowed
protest, but ignored violence - protest crushed. In Kirkby, the
police used violence to prevent effective protest. With even
greater license allowed under the Criminal Justice Act, the route
one approach is likely to become a firm favourite with plod. The
situation has changed and militant anti-fascists need to adapt.

(Source: Red Action #71 - Summer 1995)