Anti-fascists run EDL out of town.Summary: Far-right thugs planning an anti-Islamic demonstration in Manchester were Far-right thugs planning an anti-Islamic demonstration in Manchester were forced back on Saturday following a mass counter-protest by anti-fascists. The English Defence League (EDL See nonlinear video editing. (language) EDL - 1. Experiment Description Language. 2. Event Description Language. ) was outnumbered by more than three to one by people of all races determined to defend Britain's diverse cultural mix. Unite Against Fascism Unite Against Fascism is a political pressure group in the United Kingdom that campaigns against far right-wing and fascist parties and groups in Britain, primarily the British National Party (BNP), which it identifies as the principal threat. (UAF UAF University of Alaska Fairbanks UAF Unite Against Fascism (UK) UAF University of Arkansas at Fayetteville UAF Union de l'Action Feminine (French) ) said that the 700 EDL activists had been "run out of town" by 2,500 counter-protesters who occupied most of Piccadilly Gardens | Piccadilly Gardens is a green space in Manchester city centre, England, situated at one end of Market Street (a busy shopping area) and on the edge of the Northern Quarter. History Manchester's Piccadilly Gardens was the original site of the Manchester Royal Infirmary. , destroying the organisers' plan to hold a rally and sing the national anthem on the spot. Greater Manchester Greater Manchester, former metropolitan county, 497 sq mi (1,288 sq km), W central England. It comprised ten administrative districts: Bolton, Bury, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, and Wigan. UAF spokesman Mike Gilligan hailed it as a "very successful day for the anti-racist movement" against a far-right march on a scale unseen in the city for decades. "The number of counter-protesters was inspiring, representing a multicultural Manchester," said Mr Gilligan. "Our protesters reflected the energy, particularly of young people, who showed their disgust at the racists trying to group together in Manchester city centre
riot police n → forces fpl de police intervenant en cas d'émeute; hundreds of riot police → which separated the two groups of protesters. They waved banners declaring "Make Britain Safe" and "Extreme Islamists Out." Five hundred police officers attended the scene and police made 48 arrests, around 32 from the EDL ranks. Grounds for arrest included suspicion of public order offences, affray A criminal offense generally defined as the fighting of two or more persons in a public place that disturbs others. The offense originated under the Common Law and in some jurisdictions has become a statutory crime. , possession of an offensive weapon and racially aggravated public order offences. UAF described the police as "heavy-handed," with at least three anti-fascists bitten by police dogs. Fellow activists charged the police with "protecting fascists." One protester was allegedly pushed into a van where a crisp packet had been shoved into the ventilation and the heating turned on full blast. Links between the EDL and groups such as Casuals United and militant white supremacists Racial Force have sparked calls from some anti-fascist activists for increased activity in the struggle to suppress these groups Thousands of anti-fascists are currently organising to neutralise planned far-right rallies in coming weeks by the English, Welsh and Scottish Defence leagues in Swansea, Newport, Leeds and Glasgow. Anti-fascists are also planning to hold a national demonstration to allow the British public to express its opposition to the far right. Source: Morning Star newspaper UK, Front page, Monday 12 October 2009 2009 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com) 2009 Al Bawaba (Albawaba.com) Provided by Syndigate.info an Albawaba.com company |
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