Categories: protest
Date: 26 May 2010 18:52:07
Unite Against Facism are organising a demo in Newcastle on Saturday. This is acting as a counter demonstration to the English Defence League who are planning to infect the city with their racist lies and s**t stirring on Saturday.
On past form this is not likely to be a family friendly affair, the EDL "supporters" have been known to engage in violent behaviour when they have gathered in the past and UAF have been known to have the odd spikey class war type supporting them. However, this is where I think us fluffies concerned about the EDL's presence and who believe in non-violent action should come out in force and join the majority of peaceable protesters amongst UAF's numbers. Let us be a peaceable presence on the streets on Saturday, refusing to give into anger and resentment!
Besides being bought up to be totally anti-facist (my dad took me to the Rock Against Racism concert when I was 4), one of the reasons I particularly dislike the EDL is their brand of nationalism. I am proud to be English, I am proud to want to wave the flag of St. George as the England team go out to kick some ass in South Africa, but I am not proud if that wish to identify as clearly English and wave that flag is seen as a sign of support for the far right. As Show of Hands said, "it's our flag too and we want it back". Being English to me means living alongside my Asian neighbours and learning from their culture as they learn from mine. It means being part of a nation which is constantly evolving as the mix moves on. It means being part of a country which Nelson Mandela praised as the best example of democracy going. It does not mean being a bigot or giving into the fear and lies which bullies try to sell us.
There have been e-mails going about suggesting there is a public meeting tomorrow night (27th) and a fb group also suggests this, however there seems to be nothing about this on any of the main websites - so posting the fb link but not the details.