A day of resistance, a day of solidarity, a difficult day for the rump of Britain First losers who attempted to march through Manchester City centre and were several times disrupted by anti-fascists.
At least 2000 anti-fascists came to town, determined this time to actually disrupt Britain First. Paul Golding will claim an attendance in the thousands but in truth it was around 800-1000 and his troops, largely men aged 40 plus, struggled against much younger anti-fascists broken into small groups.
The Britain First demonstration had to be diverted twice after resolute work by anti-fascists blocking the route.
Many of these, still in school and college, stood firm in front of a column of vile, hate-filled fascist thugs.
A huge rally, probably the biggest anti-fascist gathering held in Piccadilly Gardens, welcomed speakers including Jeremy Corbyn and Green Party organisers campaigning for Hannah Spencer in the Gorton and Denton by election.
There was a real festival feel here and it was obvious that this time we would do a much better job of opposing Golding’s thugs.
Groups of auditors, the usual right wing rabble, including a particularly unpleasant toothless specimen from Blackpool, were located in nearby Portland St with other usual suspects including Paul Anderson, one of Britain First’s local lieutenants.
Auditors or Orcs?
The group of so-called auditors (frauditors) sneered and jeered like Orcs from a Tolkein film.
Anti-fascists stood firm, whilst others kept mobile, challenging small groups of fascists who were hiding near the huge numbers of police sent in to keep the peace.
At Sackville Gardens, near the Village, another large group of at least 500 anti-fascists prepared to try and block the BF march.
After an hour of playing cat and mouse with police and fascists, a group of around 75 met the Britain First march head on at the corner of Piccadilly and Portland St.
Confusion reigned and the Britain First march was stopped. After a while they managed to push their way through a single line of police but anti-fascists moved to intercept them across Piccadilly Gardens.
After this, massive police action forced protesters to either side of the street. Police horses ran to and fro, bus drivers honked their horns, car drivers were abused by fascist thugs. But for a while we stopped them.
Bottom line? A huge improvement last time. Our aim was to disrupt the march. And we did, so much so that it was rerouted towards the Chorlton St coach station.
In addition, we learned that a city centre rally had been abandoned and the fascists pushed out to Castlefield, the site of Roman remains. Oh, the irony of fascist marchers rallying on land claimed by migrants from the empire!
At events like this we see the so-called defenders of women and children attacking women and children, some who are just families going shopping.
‘Young Bob’ (real name Thomas Moffitt) was seen engaged in provocative and abusive behaviour in Portland St, trying to provoke a reaction he could denounce as “antifa violence” and monetise online.
‘Brexit Brian’ Stovell, Britain First clown and Alf Garnett lookalike filmed anti-fascists from the safety of a huge line of police. Paul Anderson, Britain First activist, directed abuse at anti fascists.
Working for Searchlight
He seemed to think all of them work for Searchlight. “Why are you taking photos of us,” he asked…while taking photographs of us. Anderson is not exactly out of the top drawer.
One can imagine his garbled conversations with fuhrer Golding. “Antis? Bloody everywhere!” At least two ‘auditors’ had their cameras smashed by police. Hey ho.
To see these specimens up close is to see the British ICE in waiting, the wannabe concentration camp guard who only follows orders from his fascist echo chamber.
One thing is for sure, Police were very heavy handed today, probably because anti-fascists kept mobile, kept them guessing and made life difficult for the Golding contingent.
Asian and black officers protecting the fascists; there’s cognitive dissonance for you.
As a result of kettling, we didn’t make it to the actual Britain First rally. This cannot be helped. But we were able to enjoy, and be moved by, the site of people of all backgrounds carrying on their normal lives, largely ignoring the fascists.
Small time pimp
A Brazilian musical group played their instruments in Market St for charity. Local Muslim activists handed out copies of the Quran in the same place while Buddhists and African Christians proseletised for their faiths.
So, there were beautiful images today and there were unpleasant ones. Fascists are ugly, and none more so than the vile ‘auditor’ and doxxer Lee Scheres/Baylan from Leeds who, dressed like a small time pimp, had a large bin directed at him.
But fascists aren’t all stupid and they have considerable backing. Despite this second march in Manchester, and a difficult day for Golding, his deputy Ashlea Simon and Britain First, the not-so-great leader channelling Oswald Mosley while cowering behind black clad security thugs from his BF Division, we know that this is a Golding/Simon retirement grift.
Naive cash cows
While Reform UK and Restore Britain fight it out, small time operations like Britain First offer little more than willing accomplices for ignorance and hatred, a place for the very lowest of the low within Britain’s fascist movement.
Its supporters are little more than naive cash cows for a kitchen table operation that hasn’t fought an election in months. Not as big or popular, or as good a grifter, as Tommy Robinson, Golding offers nothing.
Gullible troops
Already, just an hour after his gullible troops have left town, the curry houses, pizza joints, Asian restaurants, halal diners and fast food joints offering culinary delights from around the world are thriving.
Foreign-born nurses, shift workers, taxi drivers, delivery drivers and a host of others are paying taxes and helping to maintain a city built on multiracialism. Mixed race couples walk hand in hand. The famous Village thrives. The church bells ring and the mosques continually call the faithful to prayer.
Whose city? Our city!!!
