Some things never change

[chickenfeet]

Police arrest anti-fascist demonstrators. cf Cable Street, Brick Lane.

Comments

[knirirr.livejournal.com]

The incident I alluded to was when the National Front planned to demonstrate near where I lived, and in addition to the local protest a large number of outsiders who were clearly looking for trouble turned up.

I've stewarded on a couple of demonstrations and on both occasions the police were very well-behaved and there was no violence. On the other hand, things would tend to kick off when our opponents were the ones demonstrating. On one notable occasion the police agreed to a route on the condition that there was no trouble, but the lead demonstrator gave a speech at the start that sounded very much like an incitement to violence*. The police then changed their minds and diverted the route, and as you might expect a fight broke out. I am not sure who is really to blame in such circumstances.

* "Normally at this time I'd call for a peaceful demonstration, but not this time. I want to see anger. I want to see hatred. &c. &c.", IIRC.

[chickenfeet2003.livejournal.com]

My experience involved the police hemming peaceful demonstrators into a narrow space bordered on one side by a steep bank, the other the sea and at either end aggressive mounted police who made it very clear that any opportunity to ride down the crowd would be welcome. All this to 'protect' a couple of bus loads of fascists.