Witnesses to last weekend’s demonstration against the English Defence League in Bolton reported deeply disturbing police operational tactics. Greater Manchester Police sought to stymie the Unite Against Fascism counter-demonstration with aggression and brutality, whilst allowing the racist EDL to rally without constraint.
It may be that we have grown so accustomed to police violence on demonstrations [...]
The following is the eye-witness testimony of an NUJ member who joined the anti-fascist protest in Bolton on Saturday
I was one of three stewards on a UAF coach from north London that went to Bolton. We ran through the spiel on where we were assembling; how we expected the day to pan out; that we [...]
BOLTON, UNITED KINGDOM -
20.03.10. An anti-fascist campaigner is arrested as the far right English Defence League congregate in Bolton on Saturday 10 March 2010 in Lancashire, England. Police in full riot gear used the controversial tacit of ‘kettling’ along with dogs, horses and riot police snatch squads to control the demonstration organised by Unite Against [...]
The following is the eye-witness testimony of an NUJ member who joined the anti-fascist protest in Bolton on Saturday.
On arriving in Bolton at 10.30am, the group from the East London coach walked to Victoria Square, where we assembled on the north side of the square, opposite the eastern corner of the town hall.
We had only [...]
The following is the eye-witness testimony of an NUJ member who joined the anti-fascist protest in Bolton on Saturday
My first and only face-to-face encounter with the EDL on Saturday wasn’t even in Bolton. It was at the motorway services in Newport Pagnell.
My coach, which had left central London at 6.15am, had stopped to pick up [...]
Anti-fascist protesters emerged victorious on Saturday after holding Bolton’s central Victoria Square against the racists from the English Defence League.
But mainstream national media reports are presenting it as a contest between two violent groups – and blaming the anti-fascists for the violence.
Anti-fascists faced brutality from police with dogs and on horseback. There were over 60 [...]
