 Bob Whitehead, Socialist Resistance supporter and member of the Respect National Council offers this eyewitness report and analysis of the events of Saturday:
While those of us that were at the city centre protest will all have our own stories to tell, they must of needs be partial views and the full details may come out over the next few days. Having said that, there is some kind of overall picture, and that is that 50-60 EDL (my estimate from viewing them on the double-decker bus at Lancaster Circus; it was half to three quarters full) came to Birmingham, ignored the agreed police procedures to only use the Old Square and Lancaster Circus and marched up New St with minimal police protection, straight towards the gathering anti-fascist protest. With insufficient numbers on our side at that stage, serious injury could have occurred. In the end, the EDL were put on the defensive and were eventually bundled into and then out of Bennett’s Bar into the bus, escorted down to Lancaster Circus and sent on their way by the police. In the meantime there was chaotic protest, occasional brawls, kettling, missile throwing and arrests. The SWP claimed to have called the protest in their leaflet and were prominent in the middle of the kettled smallish protest group in New St. They put out a leaflet, which is the usual ‘black and white unite and fight, the real enemy is the bosses, expose the EDL/BNP’ etc. but made no mention of the Middle Eastern wars and the Islamophobia whipped up by imperialism to justify these crimes and silence the Muslim community at the same time. The leaflet also attacked the ban on using the Council House, and, while opposing free speech for fascists, said nothing about the UAF, of which they are a leading component, call for a state ban. There is then the question of the Muslim community. Remember how 90 coaches were sent down to London for the anti-Iraq war protest back in 2003? If the community wished to mobilise it could turn out thousands into Birmingham city centre quite easily. It chose not to, and called for a state ban instead. This has been echoed or even led by the Respect leadership. However, a sizeable section of male Muslim youth ignored this passivity and were the leading force in opposing the EDL on the day. Our position is well summed up in the current issue of Birmingham Socialist Bulletin; no to state bans in opposition to mobilisation + build a political party to oppose the fascists and New Labour (which gave the BNP the space to grow in the first place.) The SWP have little or nothing to show on the latter. So, for this week, at the UAF on Tuesday, we will have to counter SWP triumphalism and counter hand-wringing about the police role on Saturday with the need for united mass mobilisation for the next encounter, should it be needed, placing no reliance on the police. This should be organised on a democratic inclusive basis. That brings up the question of self determination for the Muslim community. This is something that Salma is quite angry about “Its us on the receiving end and we decide what’s best”. However, this justifiable feeling is unfortunately tied into the state ban line. We need to call for a mass, united mobilisation in the city centre for any future similar event and we can point out the police’s role last Saturday as evidence that while putting demands on the police to protect you is one thing, reliance on them to defend us against fascism is myopic. Those of us canvassing for Respect this week will be trying to engage some of the activists into conversation on all of this.” Rob Marsden adds: “For a discussion of some of the issues around the call for a ban on EDL ‘marches’ see my article on the SR website http://socialistresistance.org/?p=652 However, this needs to be updated in the light of subsequent developments. I am very pleased to note that, to their credit, the local SWP did distance themselves from the call by UAF for a state ban. Furthermore, albeit late in the day, they put out a public call for a counter demo- in contradiction of the previously stated UAF line that it would not be calling one, as a gesture of ‘good faith’ and in the interests of getting the EDL march banned! As Bob says, a counter-demo would have happened anyway as Asian youth were at the forefront of mobilising against the EDL. However, it is very important that the white left is not seen to abstain when it comes to defending our streets against the fascists and we stand shoulder to shoulder with minority communities. Initiatives like the “Birmingham United” celebration of diversity, unity and multiculturalism do have their place in a broad anti-racist / anti-fascist strategy – if they raise awareness and bring together wide layers of people. However, this must never be seen as an alternative to mobilising the biggest possible opposition to the fascists to physically prevent them from marching and gathering. |
Report from Birmingham demonstration against English Defence League
Bob Whitehead, Socialist Resistance supporter and member of the Respect National Council offers this eyewitness report and analysis of the events of Saturday: While those of us that were at the city centre protest will all have our own stories to tell, they must of needs be partial views and the full details may come…
8 responses to “Report from Birmingham demonstration against English Defence League”
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All this giving credit to the SWP is a bit rich. The SWP have total control/ownership of the UAF. The SWP promoted the state ban and the SWP were therefore responsible for leaving the anti-fascist mobilisation so late in the day.
That they eventually changed their minds and turned up to the event isn’t really anything to be proud about or to be credited with.
And of course selt determination of the Muslim community is fine and tood – plenty of Muslim youth from what I gather showed their self determination on the day – but what Salma Yaqoob means is that the middle class respectable leaders like herself, who favour state bans and co-operation with the cops have a veto over control of the anti-fascist movement.
Unfortunately for her, the SWP and UAF, the state is racist and doesn’t want to play.LikeLike
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So the main task is to combat SWP triumphalism? Is this not the acme of ultra-leftism? As is this attempt to polarise different sections of the anti-fascist movement (I’m speaking of Bill above). Its disapointing to see Socialist Resistance focusing on this in this narrow way. If you are having difficulties in Respect picking fights in this way is not the way to overcome them. We in the SWP have obviously made similar kinds of mistakes but on the question of anti-fascism this should not be an issue. I can see the space for an argument about state bans. But turning it into the occassion for yet another faction fight in the left is surely not what is needed right now. Its clear that there is mass opposition to the fascists turning up in Birmingham on a number of different fronts. Its the job of the left to try and build on this feeling not divide it.
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Bill, this is way too simplistic. UAF is not entirely in the pocket of the SWP- there are and were disagreements and ultimately the SWP called a counter demo in its own name, with its own leaflet, not as UAF.
The call for a ban, coming from UAF, was not, I believe agreed on locally nor was it issued by an SWP member.
Clearly, there was also a sharp internal debate in the local SWP. I think the more experienced comrades, opposed to caling for a state ban and in favour of mobilising against the EDL won out.LikeLike
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No John, it is not the main task to counter SWP triumphalism- I disagree with Bob and i think they will be on their very best behaviour. We might even have to pick some of them off their knees and stop them scoffing all the humble pie.
i’ll let you know on Wednesday morning.LikeLike
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As I said I can see a space for a debate about state bans but I really think its irresponsible to adopt a tone which encourages a hostile atmosphere within what is essentially the same camp on the anti-fascist front. I just get a whiff of an attempt to score points rather then resolve the issue in the leaflet above. Using that method in relationship to this would just rebound (and I say this being unaware of what the SWP might have to say). A large head of steam seems to be building up in Birmingham about these thugs and exposing them on a national scale is important. Lets not forget that side of the picture. We’re not yet at 1977 and we’re still trying to get there in terms of turning anti-fascism into a mass movement.
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Let’s be honest about it, if it wasn’t an SWPer who moved the demand for a state ban, that was only because they found someone else to do it for them.
The SWP organiser in Luton called for a state ban. Weyman Bennett called for a state ban from the BBC in response to QT. It is there policy and they’ve done it many times before.
We also all know how they co-operate with the police on demos and so on. And i’ve seen it myself many times as indeed I know has everyone else.
John G doesn’t want to debate it. Well that’s not surprising either. He supported the SWP line in favour of a state ban before the demo, and then found that those of us who had opposed it were entirely vindicated when it was the counter demo banned not the EDL.
OK so at the last minute the local SWP did a volte face. And some of them went on the demos.
You might say that that is better than nothing. Its certainly not credit worthy.
As for countering SWP triumphalism I wasn’t aware there was any. And really couldn’t care less if there was.LikeLike
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I don’t see any ‘debacle’ to be honest. I stand by what I said before. I see some disagreements about how best to build the growing mood in Birmingham that people don’t want a bunch of fascist thugs marauding through their city under the protection of the police. Thats a good mood. Not a bad one. And its a step fowards not a step backwards.
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It is a step forwards not backwards. In spite of the UAF not because of them.
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Liam redux 
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