On the streets of Manchester opposing the fascists
Anti-fascists outnumbered Britain First by three to one in Manchester last Saturday.
The fascist group had planned to march from Piccadilly Station for a rally in St Peter’s Square, but met substantial resistance throughout the day.
At the start of the day some 500 anti-fascists assembled in Piccadilly Gardens, ready to confront Paul Golding’s group as they arrived from out of town.
The anti-fascists attempted to march towards Piccadilly Station, but were met with heavy handed policing.
Some 500 officers were deployed on the day from across the north of England.
The cops pepper sprayed several on the anti-fascist side, with reports of up to 14 people needing first aid treatment. But the cops allowed Britain First, who never numbered more than 350, to march on to St Peter’s Square.
The anti-fascists were not to be deterred and pushed around police lines.
They marched through the city centre, picking up hundreds more supporters.
Women Against The Far Right was prominent at the head of a militant and radical march.
In the end, more than 1,000 anti-racists were there to welcome a demoralised rump of fascists to St Peter’s Square.
Golding tried to go ahead with the rally as planned, but was drowned out by the drums of Palestine activists.
The few fascists that were left struggled to hear a small number of speeches, silenced by choruses of “Bella, ciao” and “There are many, many more of us than you.”
Racism first developed as a justification for enslavement
