Around 300 trade unionists and activists marched in Toxteth, Liverpool, last Saturday for an annual commemoration of the life of Liverpool-born Irish socialist James Larkin.
The theme of this year’s march was anti-racism and anti-fascism, after far-right groups targeted the demonstration and labelled it an “IRA march”.
Members of the British National Party, English Defence League, and National Front, among others, tried to stop and attack the march, resulting in 26 arrests.
The fascists kicked, spat and hurled anti-Irish abuse at marchers. But they failed to stop the march.
Billy Hayes, general secretary of the CWU union, spoke at the final rally. Paul Jenkins of Merseyside Unite Against Fascism told Socialist Worker, “The message was clear—the streets of Liverpool belong to the anti-fascist majority, not the fascists”
Unite Against Fascism campaigners in Bristol are continuing to organise following the successful “We are Bristol” demonstration against the English Defence League two weeks ago.
A meeting last week resolved to defend three local Labour party politicians after they were attacked by Liberal Democrats for supporting the demonstration.
The three are Kerry McCarthy MP, councillor and CWU rep Mike Wollacott and Labour mayoral candidate Marvin Rees.
Around 20 anti-fascists in Fareham, Hampshire stood up to 15 members of the fascist British National Party (BNP) on Friday of last week.
The Nazis were trying to drum up support for Margaret Walker, who was given an antisocial behaviour order at Fareham Magistrates Court for sending racist letters.
BNP leader Nick Griffin was nowhere to be seen, despite having claimed that he would attend.
Griffin also failed to turn up to a BNP protest against halal meat in Sunderland on Thursday of last week. The fascists were outnumbered by counter-protesters from UAF.
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