The fascist English Defence League attacked Mosques and Hindu temples indiscriminately at the weekend, but with resistance from the Muslim community. With the EDL set to march in Bradford on 28 August, the Left needs to prepare says Dan Edwards
On July 17, between 500 and 1000 members of the fascist EDL took to the streets of Dudley in yet another violent rampage against local Muslims. What started off as a static protest turned into a series of running battles and a near race-riot as around 300 fascists broke through police lines and escaped the car park they were being kettled in.
The fascists managed to tear down metal barriers containing them and used bricks and bottles to keep the police at bay while their members ran through an unguarded exit into town, marking the beginning of their violent onslaught. Some EDL-ers attempted to stop them, worrying that this violent racist mob would tarnish their image. A few bricks and beatings from their fellow members was the thanks they got, revealing the tensions which run through this fascist street-movement.
This breakaway group of EDL attempted to march towards the smaller of Dudley’s mosques, hurling missiles at anti-fascists and using torn-off bits of drainpipe to attack local Asians. Local Asian-owned businesses and cars came under attack, with Balti houses and mini-cabs getting their windows smashed by far-right rioters. Failing to reach the mosque, some of the fascists took out their anger on a local Hindu temple (apparently nobody had told them the EDL is only against ‘Islamic extremism’) and directed violence towards any nearby minorities, including a small group of Gujurati Hindu women.
Meanwhile the anti-fascist response was disappointing. Around 200 people attended a demo called by UAF where a mood of apprehension was notable.
However, this was not the only anti-fascist presence on the day. Local black and Asian youth came out to defend their communities from fascist violence, facing considerable police harassment for doing so. Police attempted to keep Muslims inside the ghettoised estates and those who went into town faced baton attacks. Many hung around the Dudley Mosque, which has been repeatedly threatened by the far-right. Others, despite the cops’ presence, managed to organise groups to patrol the town and chase out fascists wherever they raised their heads.
As inspiring as this example was from the local community, it was not enough to prevent the fascists from using their protest as a base to organise and launch their attempted pogrom.
To avoid these kinds of violent racist riots in the future, we need better communication and organisation of all those who want to stop the EDL from marching and defend communities. Stewards should be democratically elected and prepared for the task of defending demonstrations and communities from EDL violence.
The EDL are marching in Bradford on 28 August. In the run up to the protest antifascists in the North should organise democratic antifascist committee meetings of activists, antifascist networks and trade unionists, aiming to involve local communities. In doing so we could work to build the largest possible antifascist mobilisation in Bradford, and organise self-defence of our demonstration and working class areas in Bradford likely to be targeted by the EDL. Antifascist groupings must work together to achieve this, and avoid the needless splitting of the movement that was seen when the EDL marched in Newcastle a few months ago.
Help us build for a huge demonstration against the EDL in Bradford. Email info@worldrevolution.org.uk
About Dan Edwards
