Thirty-three demonstrators protesting against a British National Party festival have been arrested following clashes with police.

Riot police were called in after 40 anti-fascist protesters dressed in black tried to barricade a road to prevent BNP members reaching their annual Red, White and Blue festival.

They pelted riot police with stones before officers, armed with batons and supported by dogs moved in to quell the violence.

The outbreak took place close to a farmer's field in Denby, Derbyshire, where about 2,500 BNP members had gathered for their annual festival.

Derbyshire Constabulary said they arrested six people for violent disorder at the scene. Further arrests were made later in nearby Heanor.

There were no serious casualties although one officer suffered minor injuries.

Peter Goodman, assistant chief constable of Derbyshire Constabulary, said 250 officers were used in the operation: "A small number of people who were not part of the main group seemed intent on causing problems."

The main rally against the BNP took place in the nearby village of Codnor.

It was organised by Unite Against Fascism and included members of the TUC and Unison.

Bob Crow, general secretary of the RMT, was also at the rally, which police said was attended by 400 people.

Mr Crow said: "We have thrown our weight behind this because we think there's a difference between free speech and free expression and attacking someone for the colour of their skin or their sexual orientation."

During this weekend's festival, members of the BNP will be addressed by Far Right leaders, including Petra Endelmannova who is the leader of the Nationalist Party in the Czech Republic.

Nick Griffin, leader of the BNP, said: "I didn't see the demonstration myself. We prefer to keep out of the way.

"Our position is that they are absolutely entitled to make their feelings known but they are not entitled to use threats or intimidation or violence. They have used all three."

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the only "discussion" to be had with fascists is ASKING THEM JUST HOW DEEP THE KAHNTS WANT TO BE BURIED!

DIMITRI

btw: for anyone feeling sorry for the "i'm-only-doin'-me-jobbbers":

REMEMBER BLAIR PEACH - died 23iv79 - murdered by state forces, while fighting against fascism

ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam dílis

Blair Peach will not be forgotten: Listened to Linton Kwesi Johnson's "Reggae fi Peach" yesterday...

Quote:

REMEMBER BLAIR PEACH - died 23iv79 - murdered by state forces, while fighting against fascism

Well said Dimitri, never forget Blair Peach! Or Cable Street or Jarama.
My fear is that the BNP are still coming out with this bullshit that... they are no longer nazis but in actual fact a mainstream political party. Worryingly, the anti-islamic patter seems to be playing very well with all the people in my work who read The Sun.

To be honest, most of my own ideas and reference points on Anti-Fascism were formed in the early 90's around the AFA/Red Action scene. I don't know how it is now but back then the policy was strictly "No Platform for Fascists by any means necessary" (Unless you were in the ANL) Back then I remember seeing real, tough fighting squads who could face down the likes of C18. I am not sure if this is still the case, perhaps someone could enlighten me?

Is this what we need now, should we physically stop them holding these events? Certainly they are slowly getting bolder, even here on the streets of Glasgow. Or does this policy no longer work, does it play into the hands of the BNP by letting them play the "party of law and order " card?

As Trotsky says "Nothing increases the insolence of the fascists so much as 'flabby pacifism on the part of the workers' organisations" On a positive note I see that lots of kids around here are getting into Oi! and the Skinhead scene without becoming Fascists. I think this has to do with the resurgence of the SHARP /RASH Movement. Maybe our work should be around stopping working class kids drifting into right-wing politics?

I agree with you,there is no point discussing their politics or trying to get a big demonstration going with loads of banners and slogans.If you dont like them or any of their Ilk its got to be direct action.AND dont make yourself a target to get nicked.

well said.

i was active in AFA and RA back in the day(`80s/90`s) and try to keep an eye on things although not any kind of `activist`these days. Glad that there are still plenty of people out there having a go..
of course if push came to shove it would be game on if you know what i mean!

I think that any dialogue with the facists serves as a view that we in someway consider their views to be 'legitimate'. As has been previously posted, the biggest enemy we potentially face is the working class youth becoming apathetic towards protest. This though is the very problem with capitalism. People are brainwashed into thinking that if they are offered the opportunity to purchase a cheap 'freeview' box then everything is right with the world. This is oppression disguised as success and it is sick, twisted and wrong!

What worries me is that there were 2500 BNP members there. Rising up against these parasites to show them that their views have no place in our world.

Hi everyone by the way.

dimitri wrote:

the only "discussion" to be had with fascists is ASKING THEM JUST HOW DEEP THE KAHNTS WANT TO BE BURIED! DIMITRI btw: for anyone feeling sorry for the "i'm-only-doin'-me-jobbbers": REMEMBER BLAIR PEACH - died 23iv79 - murdered by state forces, while fighting against fascism ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam dílis

a art teacher at my school was good freinds with him I remember he used to get really upset when talking about the southall riots.

vegan-fc wrote:

well said. i was active in AFA and RA back in the day(`80s/90`s) and try to keep an eye on things although not any kind of `activist`these days. Glad that there are still plenty of people out there having a go.. of course if push came to shove it would be game on if you know what i mean!

It's still going on. Antifa England are continuing the fight here,

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Just reading No Retreat and Bash the Fash, very good stuff. Inspirational stuff back in the 80s and 90s comrade.

Oh, and on a related note, I believe the court cases for those arrested are happening in November.

Solidarity!

This action showed that despite what some have said there IS still a militant antifascist presence in the UK. It also showed that the police are still massively over the top in the way that they deal with this presence and still side with the fash whenever the opportunity arises.

The problem I heard came out of this action however is that there seems to have been a difference between the tactics and motivations of some of the participants - generally a split between those with experience in black block tactics and strategy who are keen on achieving specific targets (one of which is sticking together as much as possible and resisting any attempts by the police to intimidate, dearresting, etc) and those who are just keen on what someone called "football hooligan glorified violence", being seen to have it with the police but split at the first sign of trouble, are satisfied with a bit of an off but dont really think to doing things ie barricading, pushing forward, disrupting access routes and working together as a large unified block.

Something that no doubt will have to be discussed in real life and not here on the internet........

Solidarity with those with court cases pending.