EDL outnumbered in Brighton

Protesting against racists in Brighton last Sunday (Pic: Guy Smallman)

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Hundreds of police swamped Brighton to facilitate an event by the far-right March for England (MFE) last Sunday.

The march attracted up to 100 racists, but they were outnumbered by over 200 counter-protesters from Unite Against Fascism and other local organisations.

Despite MFE’s claim to be separate from other far-right organisations, the racist English Defence League (EDL) formed the biggest contingent in Brighton. Fascist British National Party and National Front members also attended.

Local anti-fascists blocked the route of the march for an hour, but were harassed and kettled by riot police.

Police threatened to arrest them for chanting anti-EDL and anti-racist slogans. But they left the racists alone, even when they shouted Islamophobic and homophobic chants.

Despite police intimidation, the counter-protesters refused to move.

The racists were only able to march because they were surrounded by police and herded through the street.

Some anti-racists managed to break out of the police kettle to line the streets and chant.

A contingent from the local CWU union branch joined the counter-protest.

The racists got little, if any, support in Brighton and counter-protesters were buoyed by the unity created against them.