Far-right loses two leaders in a week! Fascists in disarray – Anti-fascists can take credit

taken from – antifascistnetwork.org

BsSWowJIQAAJo00They’re falling like nine-pins!

This week saw BNP fuhrer Nick Griffin pushed out by his own party shortly after becoming unemployed due to losing his seat in the European Parliament. As if that were not enough, a few days later we had Britain First founder and main funder Jim Dowson quitting and pulling the plug on funding the far-right wannabe paramilitary group.

Just like when chief racist Stephen Yaxley-Lennon quit the EDL because – surprise-surprise – the organisation he founded was full of racists, long-time Christian bigot and racist Dowson’s sudden implausible discovery that Britain First was a bit racist really tells another story.

 

With both Griffin and Dowson (and Yaxley as well), it has been the relentless pressure on the far-right from anti-fascists and anti-racists that has undermined and worn down the fascists. From researchers digging the dirt and websites cataloguing or mocking their every racist utterance, to leafletters on the streets, crowds of local people opposing them wherever they go and dedicated anti-fascists confronting them physically on the streets – it has been this work of thousands of people that has been responsible for their failure and our success.

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Their lack of success has exacerbated tensions within the far-right that have then led to splits, denunciations and total failure. A Britain First statement admits as much by saying Dowson’s decision was partly due to his “persecution” by the “far-Left” – i.e. opposition from people who don’t like racists.

Piss Poor Tour of Shame

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Britain First looked like a slick professional outfit and appeared to be on a roll with hundreds of thousands of Facebook followers, until they were stripped of 150,000 of them for purchasing them from a click farm. Then they embarked on a ‘national roadshow’. This would seem like a natural move, but it only highlighted the gulf between their pretensions on social media and their lack of real-world support. None of their meetings across the country attracted more than 20 people, and that’s including the goon squad they brought with them. They faced opposition from anti-fascists almost everywhere they went and had their venues cancel on them in Sheffield and Dartford. Eventually they just abandoned the whole thing, cancelling gigs in Bristol and Belfast that were supposed to be the culmination of their tour.

In a further humiliation, Britain First were chased out of Stevenage and given a slap by soldiers of the Royal Anglian regiment that they idolise.

Now following Dowson pulling the plug, Britain First’s remaining leader Paul Golding says their strategy of ‘mosque invasions’ will cease. He also said “we’re not going anywhere”. Funnily enough that’s exactly what Griffin said before being kicked out as BNP leader. Note to fascists: Groups which aren’t failing don’t need to keep repeating that they’re not going anywhere.

How will Britain First manage without Dowson’s money? Will Golding try and struggle on with ever increasing appeals to the faithful for cash or without it’s sugar-daddy will the groupuscule just evaporate into nothing?

And what now for the BNP? They’re going to start looking like a less professional outfit as the Euro MEP money dries up and it’s not looking good as they just pushed  Griffin out in favour of an even less attractive leader.

One thing’s for sure: Even though anti-fascists are currently getting organised and stronger as the fascists fall to pieces, the threat still remains and we must remain vigilant and organised against racists and fascists to make sure they don’t get a chance to re-organise.

Britain First bottle Bristol date

The woeful Britain First national roadshow became even more of a shambles yesterday as the Bristol date was postponed at the last minute. This followed the cancellation of their Dartford meeting the night before, along with a humiliating turnout and disruptive opposition from anti-fascists who rumbled their new meeting point in Swanley, Kent.

The far-right group was formed by ex-BNP members in 2011 following heavy infighting in the party. Hoping to use the traditional far-right strategy of combining electoral politics with a street pressence, their ‘battalions’ (usually only made up of the same small handful of activists) have gained media coverage with ‘Christian patrols’ in east London and ‘Mosque invasions,’ and recently with leader Paul Golding trying to get himself arrested. Britain First have also built a large online profile through the use of social media, albeit through misleading means and with the help of ‘bought’ popularity to push their poisonous message.

The choice of tactics should hardly be surprising given that the two main players and founders of the party, Paul Golding and Jim Dowson, are the ex-Head of Publicity for the BNP and a ferociously anti-choice, Christian fundamentalist with links to Loyalist paramilitaries, respectively.

http://darkroom.sundayworld.com/800/0/7c43f8c2d1fffe70615a73760574aa41:491649d56af8a99dfc5eeefca12dc5c5/a-britian-first-rally
Britain First – combining far-right electoral politics with Loyalist paramilitary-inspired ‘defence forces’

However it would appear their large online pressence has not translated into support in the non-virtual world. They have had a pitiful turnout at all of the dates on their tour and have faced opposition wherever they have been in the country so far.

Yesterday the organisation were due to meet at Patchway train station at 1.30pm but postponed the event the night before blaming ‘adverse police actions.’ The police have denied any involvement in this and insist that BF decided to cancel the meeting themselves. Sure that the actions of our south eastern comrades the night before and work done by locals played a huge part in the Bristol postponement, we spent the afternoon playing a celebratory game of football in the glorious north Bristolian sunshine.

Britain First claim that they will be back in Bristol within a month. We will have to see if they come true on this but we’re sure that many people will be out to oppose them if they do.

 

Article below taken from – schnews.org.uk

Going for Golding

The much heralded Britain First roadshow ain’t going too well. After being forced to cancel their Dartford meeting, Britain First were once again  humiliated tonight after another pathetic turnout, this time in nearby Swanley.

Under police guard Britain First fail to be mobbed by enthusiastic support in Swanley

Paul Golding (co-incidentally winner of this week’s Crap Arrest) might have expected a better turn out in a town where he once was a BNP councillor. In the end though despite the last minute venue change and an attempt at eluding discovery* Britian First found themselves outnumbered and surrounded by anti-fascists.

After a 45 minute stand off they left escorted by police, with no local support.

Within minutes they had cancelled the next stop on the itinerary – Bristol, blaming ‘adverse police action’. We’re sure that’s true and not in any way because they got cold feet at the thought of heading to a town with an even more fearsome anti-fascist reputation than Swanley.

**Top tip – while a Land Rover in desert camoflauge is probably great for lurking in a wadi in the Yemen it’s a tad conspicous in a Kentish town centre.

Growing opposition to Britain First’s pathetic ‘national tour’

taken from – antifascistnetwork.org

Britain First – the new kids on the block of right-wing racial and religious hatred – have spent the last few days on a ‘national tour’ of pub function rooms. Previous to this their main activity has been a series of controversial publicity stunts ‘invading’ mosques. With a notable lack of irony they chose to protest against Muslims supposedly imposing Islam on everyone by forcing their way into mosques around the country, intimidating elderly Muslims and forcing Bibles into their hands.

They have got a bunch of publicity and a lot of Facebook ‘likes’ from stunts involving a handful of members, but have never held a demo or been forced to show their hand on the streets in terms of how much support they actually have. So the last few days of their ‘national tour’ have been an interesting illustration of how Facebook likes relate to real world boots on the street, i.e. not at all – you might have got a lot of clicks for posting up pictures of sick puppies and Rik Mayall, but that doesn’t mean anyone’s willing to leave the house for you.

Thursday – Glasgow

The tour got off to a bad start in Glasgow on Thursday as a grand total of 18 fascists turned up (eventually!) to be met by a couple of hundred anti-fascists. Most of the 18 were the same halfwits who invade mosques
, i.e. they brought them with them – not locals.

A Scottish comrade writes: “Where was Britain First? Nazi Britain First stood us up tonight in Glasgow! Where was the leadership? Despite the menacing talk and threats, they were a no show at 7.30 pm tonight at Cessnock Subway – their publicly advertised meeting place and time. On the Britain First Facebook page they were ‘Calling all loyal Scottish Patriots’ to come join them at this time. Looks like they didn’t bother!”

“Eventually towards the end about 5 members of Nazi Britain First straggled out of neighbouring side streets, close to our counter demo and were quickly opposed to shouts of ‘Nazi scum of our streets’.”

“It was apparent from Britain First’s lack of appearance tonight, that they do not have the confidence, the leadership or cadre to take to the streets (pre-announced) and be challenged by organised local communities and workers. Britain First prefer to arrive unannounced and to invade mosques during the daytime where their only challenge is Muslim elders.”

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Newcastle  – Friday

In Newcastle on Friday, Britain First met at the Forest Hall Workmans Social Club. They appeared to have lost a few as only 13 turned up. Most of the 13 were the halfwits who invade mosques
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‘Sheffield’ – Saturday

Britain First’s gig in ‘Sheffield’ on Saturday was actually in Dronfield, which is in a different county! They had booked the meeting in a pub under a false name and when the pub found out who they were hosting, Britain First had their event cancelled got told to fuck off when they turned up. They ended up having to meet on a patch of grass by Dronfield station.

If you’re in the area, support the pub that told Britain First to go elsewhere.

Wigan – Sunday

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On Sunday in Wigan the fascists were down to 8 actual punters in addition to the usual goon squad. Yet again the secret location of their meeting was rumbled by anti-fascists. When fascists showed up at the Park Lane Club in Bryn they got chased by 20 anti-fascists. The police turned up and Britain First’s leader Paul Golding was forced to hide (no doubt unwillingly) in an Asian corner shop.

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Up next…

So for a new far-right street movement hoping to seize the EDL’s mantle as thugs-du-jour they are hardly covering themselves in glory so far. They havent managed more than 20 people anywhere even if you include the leadership and all the goons that travel with them, despite their 500k Facebook likes!

The next dates for Britain First’s  pathetic attempt to drag their sorry caravan of racism around the country are:
*18th July – Coventry
*19th July – Dartford
*20th July – Bristol
*23rd July – Belfast

Locals in some of these areas are organising to oppose the dismal convoy of Nazis. Give them your support!

More information about Britain First here

Britain First is anti working class

taken from – londonantifascists.wordpress.com

Anyone that has worked a minimum wage job will know that it doesn’t matter how hard you work, how much profit you create for your company you will not see a penny of it. This, however, is not the view of the fascist grouplet Britain First who recently shared this image:

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Underneath in the comments section there are numerous angry ‘supporters’ who assumed that this party was the party of the ‘white working class’, the party that would liberate them from Jewish bankers, immigrants and whoever else the right wishes to scapegoat for the misery of working class people. And things certainly are miserable for us, I work in a well known British coffee chain three days a week while doing a full time degree and I barely make enough to pay the rent, meanwhile my stores profit has rocketed by 19% on last year in a time of recession. What we have seen since the financial crash is massive profits for the rich and a squeeze on wages and conditions for working class people like myself that has pushed us into living a hand to mouth existence. In response to this the right and the far-right has gone into overdrive blaming this crisis on everything from ‘health tourism’ to cheap Romanian labour driving wages down.

What we see in both the Britain First example and the stories in the rightwing media is a very simple fact, they are both against the interests of the working class. It doesn’t matter how Paul Golding talks, the flat cap he wears or his appeals to the white working class, he does not represent you. When the far right say cut immigration, we say raise the minimum wage. When the rightwing press say cut back on migrants taking benefits we say tax the rich. When they all say they will make Britain rule the waves again, we say let the working class rule.

Our antifascism is working class unity, it is first and foremost in defence of working class interests and it is for the realisation of working class power. In contrast, groups like Britain First are nothing but a razorblade in the hands of the bosses.