Nazi Nick Tenconi and his far right friends outnumbered six to one in Leeds 

‘We can’t let Nazis march on the streets of any British city’

Anti-racists were the clear majority in Leeds city centre last Saturday. 

Around 300 turned out for a demo called by Leeds Stand Up To Racism (SUTR) counter-protest against Nazi Nick Tenconi and his Ukip party.

No more than 50 of Tenconi’s supporters showed up on the day, shipped in from out of town. 

Tenconi himself was a no show for most of the day, arriving late. When he did arrive, he and his supporters were allowed to march. 

When anti-racists tried to prevent this, police arrested several of them. 

The counter-protest was backed by a number of organisations. They included the Leeds TUC federation, local branches of the Bfawu, FBU, NEU, UCU and Unite Community unions.

Bradford Friends of Palestine, Leeds Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Love Music Hate Racism and Women Against The Far Right also backed the counter-protest. 

Tenconi paints himself as a defender of Christianity.

But an organisation called Christian in Leeds, representing a big and broad range of churches in the city, issued a statement signed by over 30 faith leaders. 

“We wish to make it clear that Ukip do not speak for us or for the Christian faith of which we are a part. Please join us in resisting Ukip’s divisive politics,” it said.

Speakers at the counter demo included members of Leeds NEU, Leeds TUC, Women Against The Far Right, and university students from Leeds and Sheffield. 

Imogen, a student at the University of Leeds, helped organise the counter-protest. “The far right wants to attack migrants, people of colour, Muslims, the LGBT+ community,” she said.

“What we need is unity, to stand together to fight fascism, racism and sexism.” 

And a speaker from Leeds TUC called on all to join a march organised by Leeds SUTR and TUC under the banner of “Leeds marching together, love, hope and unity.” The march will be held on May Day, Saturday 2 May, assembling at 11.30am at the Leeds Art Gallery. 

Speakers will include Paul Novak, general secretary of the TUC, Jane Aitchison, president of the Leeds TUC and Richard Burgon, MP for Leeds East.  

Benji, a SUTR supporter, said “We can’t let Nazis march on the streets of Leeds or any other cities in Britain. And we need to be in out in the biggest numbers possible in London on 16 May to oppose Tommy Robinson.”