Anti-fascists saw off the far right at Honor Oak pub in Lewisham, south London
Anti-fascists mobilised for the third time outside Honor Oak pub in south London on Saturday against far right group Turning Point UK.
Up to 500 anti-fascists, LGBT+ activists and people from the local area outnumbered 70 far right and fascist bigots, who’d mobilised against a drag queen storytelling event at the pub. Turning Point UK was joined by a solid core of known Nazi football hooligans.
Billie and Kate attended the protest. “I live in the area and it’s not nice to know there’s hate on our streets and taking up space to attack drag queens,” Billie said.
“We have to stand against these people,” Kate added. “They’ve got inspiration from the far right in the US and they’re trying to build against LGBT+ people here. If they come back we’ll be back—and we’ll be bigger and have more of us than them. We’re getting better at organising among ourselves too.”
Protesters chanted, “Police protect the Nazis,” “There are many more of us than you,” and, “Whose streets? Our streets.” A heavy police presence held the anti-fascists back at every opportunity, with cops hitting and pushing protesters while letting the far right spread out.
Micki, a local NEU education union member and Stand Up To Racism (SUTR) activist, told Socialist Worker, “It was another impressive mobilisation for the third time. We had trade unionists, in particular in the NEU, faith groups and community groups showing there’s a determination in Lewisham.
“We’re here to push the fascists and far right back when they try to make gains, and defend LGBT+ rights. But the cops changed the dynamics with their heavy handed tactics and made it dangerous.”
Eleanor Davies is the district secretary of Lewisham NEU. “Today was really good. Our objective was to stop them standing outside the pub,” she told Socialist Worker. “But as teachers ours was to defend Dalmain primary school opposite the pub—we achieved that.”
“As district secretary, I represent people who work here. It’s important because Lewisham is an inclusive borough and in our school we promote education for LGBT+ inclusivity. These people aren’t—they’re racist and homophobic and don’t care about children.
“But we were also shoved against the wall by the police—they’re clearly not here to protect us.”
Protester Jane told Socialist Worker, “It’s so important we continue to stand against them, especially when they attack drag queens and children. They use fear and misinformation to grow.”
With the NEU on strike at the moment, Eleanor said it’s even more important that teachers are involved in protests like today.
“Our fight is their fight and their fight is our fight,” she said. “It’s the government cracking down on us and on people’s rights.
“We’ve had no pay rises and cuts to our funding, which affects the education we give. Teachers have been told by the government that if children speak to us about their identities we have to ‘out’ them to their parents.”
Anti-fascists organised the protest for 9am. But some arrived at 8am at the same time as the far right. By 12pm, the far right had crawled off.
As they left, protesters cheered and shouted, “You never even got near the pub.” Activists in south London are determined to confront them whenever they appear.
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