Bristol Antifascists

Reports & Updates

  • Bristol Anti-Fascists Statement on 17th May UKIP and Patriots of Britain Counter Demo

    On Saturday 17th May, antifascist activists including Bristol Antifascists, South West Antifascist Action, Bristol Against Hate, trade unionists, and regular members of the public outraged by UKIP’s presence surrounded the Cenotaph in Bristol City Centre prior to UKIP’s planned rally at the monument. UKIP leader, Nick Tenconi, had been calling for the far right to protest demanding “mass deportations” of migrants and asylum-seekers, and to “reclaim” Bristol from “left-wing extremists” in the weeks building up to the rally.

    A black bloc of approximately 50 people arrived at 11.30am, shortly growing to around 80, with numbers of the counter-demonstration as a whole swelling to around 300 by the time of UKIP’s announced protest start time at 1pm. In total, UKIP’s protest did not consist of more than around 50 people at any one time.

    A police line formed after a small group of UKIP supporters and Patriots of Britain members attempted to approach the Cenotaph and were confronted by antifascists. Police almost immediately used batons and PAVA (pepper) spray indisciminately against antifascists in an ineffective attempt to intimidate us. They specifically targeted a Black comrade for arrest under suspicion of theft on the say-so of UKIP supporters, using physical violence, kneeling on them and holding them prone on the ground, and using a dangerous hold on their neck. In total, 5 antifascists were arrested throughout the day. All were released without charge or further action.

    While police attempted to create a static line between both UKIP and antifascists, they did not have the manpower, strategic planning, or flexibility to effectively hold the space. Anti-fascists used their mobility and adaptibility to repeatedly work around and spread thin police lines, and eventually managed to surround police, UKIP supporters and Patriots of Britain, despite facing batons, PAVA spray, police dogs and horses. Any fascists that ventured outside the police cordon were swiftly dealt with by the black bloc, and Essex-based fascist Dave Oldershaw’s complaints to the police that he had been stabbed fell on deaf ears, having in fact been filmed from multiple angles tripping over a curb when pushed by antifascists.

    Trapped in the middle of police and anti-fascists, Tenconi delivered a bizarre, angry and incoherent rant to his small group of scared and panicked supporters, in which he claimed that he planned to deport not only migrants and asylum-seekers, but also “communists” and “Leftists”. His claims that his rally was an historic victory fell completely flat.

    Tenconi also chose to insult the memory of George Floyd, whose murder at the hands of the US police in 2020 sparked riots across the US and the international Black Lives Matter movement, calling him a criminal who “deserved what he got”. Alone, this comment would have been an overt display of racism. However, in the context of a Black comrade getting pinned to the ground by the neck earlier that day, this enraged the counter-protest, and rightfully so. That anger is an expression of the clear injustice that happened both this Saturday, and on 25th May, 2020. Bristol has a proud history of leading anti-racist struggles, and Tenconi would be well-advised to look to the now empty Colston plinth that he was stood in front of, as a reminder of how Bristolians responded to the murder of George Floyd.

    However, his speech did not last long, and went unheard by anyone outside his protest. UKIP and Patriots of Britain, embarassed, panicked, and alone in Bristol City Centre, were packed into police vans for their own protection, and driven back to the train station.

    Thank you to everyone who came out and joined us, each person was important and necessary. We are proud to be part of a community that repeatedly shows fascists are not and never will be welcome here.

    Bristol is Antifascist!

    Photo credit: @FieldsOfLightPhotography

  • Oppose UKIP – Black Bloc – 11:30am Saturday 17th May, The Cenotaph, City Centre

    UKIP’s leader Nick Tenconi, has called a protest in Bristol to demand “mass deportations” of migrants and asylum seekers. We will not allow this to happen unopposed.

    When racists attacked migrant housing in Redcliffe last summer, we proved that direct mass community opposition to the far right is the best way to keep everyone safe: either the cops can’t do it, or won’t.

    Don’t let UKIP and Nick Tenconi bring their hate and violence to our city. Stand with us to oppose their racism.

    Bring food and water, wear black and a mask – it protects others as well as yourself. Don’t talk to cops, and look out for your mates.

    Note – we will be sharing more information about black bloc and protest tactics and safety over the coming days. Even if you don’t feel comfortable joining the black bloc, please still attend, numerous groups are opposing UKIP and numbers is what will help keep us all safe

  • Response to recent council & mayoral elections

    We do not believe in electoral politics, however, whilst Arron Banks of Reform UK did not win, we are concerned that he did receive over 45,000 votes.

    As the elite party system continues its accelerated slide to the right, both under Labour and with the rising threat of Reform, we will also see far-right groups and individuals emboldened to take action.

    We can see in the US the violence inflicted upon vulnerable communities by a far right government. They Labour government is already continuing the campaign of immigration raids and deportations carried out by the Tories. Reform UK will only accelerate that violence. We have to prepare to defend asylum seekers, migrants and other vulnerable members of our community now.

    This is a reminder that the electoral system will never set us free and only serves the interests of the state, big corporations and land owners.

    We need to stop wasting our time on party politics and get organised in our communities and workplaces.

    This can look like many things:

    • Setting up support networks with your neighbours
    • Creating communities of care
    • Joining anti-fascist and anti-raids groups
    • Practising community defense
    • Growing self-sufficiency & reducing reliance on the state

  • Counter Demo Called for Saturday 17th May in Bristol

    💥 Action Alert! 🏴 Saturday 17th May 📆 11:30AM at the Bristol Cenotaph (BS1 4UA) 📍

    Nick Tenconi of UKIP has called a demo in Bristol calling for ‘mass deportations’.

    UKIP has become an increasingly far-right and racist party since Brexit and are now trying to bring their hate to Bristol.

    Last year, thousands of ordinary people came out to oppose racism in Old Market and Castle Park.

    It is time for us to turn up again and show that racism is not welcome on our streets!

    Wear a mask, come with friends if you can and don’t talk to cops 🙊

    Bristol is Antifascist!

    Check Instagram for more updates: @bristolantifascist

  • Bristol Antifascists Statement following a mobilisation against Britain First on Saturday 1st March in Nuneaton

    Bristol antifascists joined a community mobilisation against Britain First, including local antifascists and a contingent of Football Lads and Lasses Against Fascism, in Nuneaton on Saturday 1st March. 

    Britain First are a fascist, christian fundamentalist organisation arguing for closed borders and forced deportations of migrants and asylum seekers. Their ranks are heavily populated by old school fascists who would once have marched with the National Front or the British National party, with unashamed racism at the core of their politics. They were desperate to make a big impression with their Nuneaton national demonstration and pulled out all the stops. “True patriots” were urged to chip in as the Britain First membership fleecing went into overdrive. £18000 was apparently spent on lots of flags and an oversized TV screen to show off Paul Golding’s oversized ego via their video nasty, Britain First, the movie. 

    ​​​​​​​On the day only around 150 showed up and had to wait for over an hour to start marching as a result of the large counter demonstration which outnumbered the fascists. Local people had clearly done some good organising to bring people out together to show the fascists they were not welcome. As we have seen so many times before, the police did what they do best, forcing the fascist march through with their characteristic brutality against anti racist demonstrators. It was yet another reminder of how the police and the state are as much our enemy as the fascists. Their politics are in so many ways aligned and they both do the dirty work for the rich and powerful.

    Seeing Britain First supporters telling Black and Asian Counter protestors to get out of Britain and back to ‘where you came from’ was a reminder that the theme of Golding’s march; ‘Re-migration’, is an attempt to whip up the basest levels of racism that have always been a feature of these groups. We need to make sure their ‘message’ is hurled back at them, as one young Asian counter protestor replied when he said ‘I’m from Coventry!’

    ​​​​​​​In the face of the police violence, various attempts were made to get in the way and to actively resist. We were encouraged to see that there were a good number of comrades prepared to work together, to take the risks and actually take the road and block the fascists’ march. But it was also a reminder that we really need to rebuild a combative and confident movement of militants organising effectively together. We need more people who, when push comes to shove, are committed to actually stopping fascists marching, to get on the road and in the way, to realise and act on the slogans we shout and to really mean it when we say the streets are ours.

    Solidarity with all our communities facing violence and intimidation from fascist mobs. We will continue to resist, counter and organise in direct opposition to the toxic hatred, lies and violence that these people preach in the name of ‘patriotism’.

  • Help Bristol Antifascists!


    Bristol Antifascists have launched a crowdfunder via Chuffed to help support the fight against fascism across the South West and the rest of the UK.

    Donate to our Crowdfunder!

    Please donate if you’re able to and share widely! ❤️☠️🖤👊

    ‘Last summer saw a resurgence of racist, fascist violence. Organised grassroots communities turned out to oppose bigotry and stop riots – showing the power of our collective action. Communities defended themselves as the police again proved themselves to be either unable or unwilling to do so.

    Our values of love, solidarity and grassroots community organising will always be stronger than the fascists. Now, we turn outwards to build a society that does not produce racist violence.

    Bristol Antifascists are raising desperately needed funds to combat the growing far-right threat across south-west Britain and the wider country. All donations will be used towards events, travel costs, solidarity with those injured and arrested during recent attacks, and organising with other antifascists across our varied communities.’

     “Nothing’s more important than stopping fascism, because fascism will stop us all.” Chairman Fred Hampton

  • Physical Resistance Book Launch + Discussion – Saturday 15th February 6pm

    Saturday 15th February 6pm at BASE Social Centre, Easton BS5 6JY

    Louise Purbrick, who inherited and edited Dave Hann’s book, Physical Resistance, has updated the work with a new chapter on the Anti-Fascist Network. Please join an open discussion of our share antifascist history and how we can use it NOW!

    We have copies of the book available at our stall which we bring out to various events around Bristol. The book is also available at many infoshops and radical book stores as well as online distributors including Active Distribution and PM Press.