Unite Against Fascism (UAF) stewards collaborate with police

[Devrim]

Unite Against Fascism (UAF) stewards collaborate with police on anti-EDL mobilisation (http://www.afed.org.uk/blog/state/146-unite-against-fascism-uaf-stewards-collaborate-with-police-on-anti-edl-mobilisation.html)

The Anarchist Federation condemns the group Unite Against Fascism (UAF) who, on Saturday 31st October at a mobilisation against the English Defence League (EDL) in Leeds city centre, openly handed one of our members over to the police. Several UAF stewards, including the head of UAF Leeds, physically prevented our member from rejoining the cordon, and then called the police over to arrest him. We will not tolerate collaboration with the state to halt the activity of genuine anti-fascists and ask other progressive organisations to do the same. UAF's policy of negotiating with the state for its public protests is well known, as is its alliance with religious leaders, trade union bureaucrats and politicians. UAF, apart from being nothing more than a front group for the Socialist Workers Party, has never been an effective means to combat the rise of fascism in Britain nor does it offer anything to working class communities.

D. Yates, National Secretary (Anarchist Federation, UK)

http://www.afed.org.uk/blog/state/146-unite-against-fascism-uaf-stewards-collaborate-with-police-on-anti-edl-mobilisation.html

What a surprise.

Devrim

[ls]

Isn't this old? I couldn't remember, anyway yeah it's not surprising in the slightest, I believe people on here witnessed someone being held for the police to take them over and arrest them by a moronic UAF steward, his (or her, I forgot) name and face were posted offsite also if I remember correctly, so I don't think UAF stewards who do this are just going to get away with it thankfully.

Anyway, I think the UAF has completely failed and shows the tactic of popular and united fronts in the modern day in 'combating fascism' fails flat on its face.

[Devrim]

Isn't this old? I couldn't remember,

Last October, I haven't seen it on here before though.

Devrim

[The Ungovernable Farce]

It was discussed extensively in this thread (http://www.revleft.com/vb/sdl-edl-glasgow-t121723/index.html), where Sam b repeatedly claimed that the incident was made up, despite the personal eyewitness accounts posted by people like Ranma42, and then when really quiet when questioned on this, and asked why UAF wasn't making any public attempt to get these slanders retracted. It's old news by now, we should be talking about other stuff...like, for instance, the fact that at the weekend, anti-fascists in Edinburgh surrounded the pub where the E/SDL where gathered and prevented them from marching, and were sabotaged by Scotland United (supported by UAF), who led people away to a rally somewhere else, so they could listen to Lib Dem, SNP and Labour politicians rather than confronting the racists. Luckily enough anti-fascists stayed to prevent the SDL from being able to get out, despite the sabotage. There is something quite hilarious about the way liberal anti-fascists understand the concept of "unity". Reports here: http://thoughcowardsflinch.com/2010/02/20/sdl-world-pub-tour-continues/ and here: http://www.workersliberty.org/story/2010/02/20/anti-fascists-surround-scottish-defence-league-%E2%80%9Cscotland-united%E2%80%9D-tries-stop-confron

[ls]

It was discussed extensively in this thread (http://www.revleft.com/vb/sdl-edl-glasgow-t121723/index.html), where Sam b repeatedly claimed that the incident was made up, despite the personal eyewitness accounts posted by people like Ranma42, and then when really quiet when questioned on this, and asked why UAF wasn't making any public attempt to get these slanders retracted. It's old news by now, we should be talking about other stuff...like, for instance, the fact that at the weekend, anti-fascists in Edinburgh surrounded the pub where the E/SDL where gathered and prevented them from marching, and were sabotaged by Scotland United (supported by UAF), who led people away to a rally somewhere else, so they could listen to Lib Dem, SNP and Labour politicians rather than confronting the racists. Luckily enough anti-fascists stayed to prevent the SDL from being able to get out, despite the sabotage. There is something quite hilarious about the way liberal anti-fascists understand the concept of "unity". Reports here: http://thoughcowardsflinch.com/2010/02/20/sdl-world-pub-tour-continues/ and here: http://www.workersliberty.org/story/2010/02/20/anti-fascists-surround-scottish-defence-league-%E2%80%9Cscotland-united%E2%80%9D-tries-stop-confron

Why the hell does someone like you (who should know better) think that there is anything of worth from AWL? Other than that, your post is spot-on.

[Wanted Man]

From one of the reports:


Indeed, such was the saturation that it led a Conservative councillor to complain that anti-fascism has become a “polarising influence” — Tories on the ball as always!

Hmm, and the UAF/Scotland United have Tory leaders speaking at their rallies anyway? :rolleyes: Perhaps they really kind of agree with each other on anti-fascism, seeing as they get into the habit of having toothless rallies quite a distance away, and help the cops deal with the kind of protesters that they don't like. It's quite typical that they combine this with posturing about how they're going to "smash" the fascists. Perhaps by standing alongside a Conservative leader, agreeing with each other that the EDL are really just evil nazis?

In any case, it's good that the EDL/SDL were royally kicked off the Royal Mile. Must be nice, sitting in a pub, soiling your pants because hundreds of anti-fascists are outside and pissed off, and the cops have to guarantee your safety. :crying:

An interesting statement from the EDL:


The EDL and our sister Defence Leagues will be gathering in London, at the Houses of Parliament on Friday the 5th of March (2pm), to show our support for another great man who is fighting against modern-day fascism: the Dutch MP Geert Wilders. All are welcome to join us. Our righteous forces of freedom will always triumph over those who support tyranny.

Our Dear Blonde Leader is getting international solidarity? Amazing. :thumbup1:

[Q]

This was also discussed here (http://www.revleft.com/vb/report-october-31-t121716/index.html).

But no hurt in bringing it up again, and again, and again :)

[Q]

I'm not surprised. The Anarchist Federation is a renowned bunch of whingers given to paranoid fantasies about how they're the only ones who aren't police informers.
So, the whole movement - there have been at least three separate threads about this issue on Revleft now - is just making up stories? If that is your reply than this is disappointing. I expected better from you.


Anyway, Devrim, I can only assume that the class struggle in your part of Turkey is in the doldrums that you need to entertain yourself by dredging up this old story. :rolleyes:
It couldn't be repeated too often. This kind of stuff is unacceptable.


Get a life, you sad man.
Try to argue on the political questions involved here instead of following Rosa's favourite tactics of playing it on the person. I saw you as one of the few SWP'ers with some levelheaded position in arguments, have I been wrong?

[ls]

I didn't expect any better of you.

But whether the story is true or not, I couldn't say as I wasn't there. Neither were you (not that anyone would think so given the certainty of your indignation). But the sad fact is that no one would have noticed the Anarchist federation were even there if it hadn't been for this incident which they bang on about as if it's their Blair Peach moment. Sad fuckers.

As for you...

Alright Bob? Go fuck yourself seriously, people who were there posted in the previous thread and what were sam_b's responses after a while?

He resorted to defence, you can see this yourself - anyone can see this, he resorted to point picking and defence and even said he wasn't perfectly happy with the UAF, so don't you try to defend this either because you'll lose.

Just to jog your memory: http://www.revleft.com/vb/showpost.php?p=1606897&postcount=76.

Read the responses up to sam_b's drunk response before this, then further on from TUF's response, see what I mean? :rolleyes:

Before you talk, understand that one person from AFed has a greater impact in antifascism than the majority of the SWP/UAF combined, in fact, as has been noted - the UAF are actually damaging antifascism more by diverting protests away from the right places with a second protest, so bear that in mind next time you post ok?

[harry roberts]

the SWP/UAF are a joke.....everyone involved in any form of anti-fascism be it community work or the millitant style knows that the SWP/UAF are complete waste of space. all they are interested in is waving banners(far far away from any fash) and supporting the labour party(who are just as racist and divisive as the BNP and have done a whole lot more against minority groups than most fash lot could dream of).......they achieve sweet fudge all except absorb and brainwash well intentioned young people.

They fucked up in glasgow. They fucked up in edinburgh. They fucked up several times down south....they are simply a complete fuck up and wish the best of luck to those good intentioned people involved with them and hope you escape soon:thumbup1:

[Devrim]

Anyway, Devrim, I can only assume that the class struggle in your part of Turkey is in the doldrums that you need to entertain yourself by dredging up this old story. :rolleyes:

Actually there is a big strike going on in our city at the moment. Personally, I have a lot of time on my hands, as I do casual work and since the crisis it has really dried up, but what is the subject here, my underemployment or SWP fronts grassing people up to the police?


But the sad fact is that no one would have noticed the Anarchist federation were even there if it hadn't been for this incident which they bang on about as if it's their Blair Peach moment. Sad fuckers.

Well yes. They bang on about it so much that I hadn't heard about it before. I saw it referenced by somebody, not an AF member, on Libcom, and posted it here.

The phrase 'Blair Peach moment' is particularly repulsive.

Devrim

[Fietsketting]

But whether the story is true or not, I couldn't say as I wasn't there. ..
And the people in the thread who were actually there and stated what they saw are lying? :/

[The Ungovernable Farce]

Why the hell does someone like you (who should know better) think that there is anything of worth from AWL? Other than that, your post is spot-on.
I saw it linked to in the comments section of the first piece, and thought it looked alright. It wasn't a general endorsement of their perspective or something. A group can generally be pretty shit and still write the odd decent article. Also I'm a massive contrarian.

I'm not surprised. The Anarchist Federation is a renowned bunch of whingers given to paranoid fantasies about how they're the only ones who aren't police informers.

They watch too much Eastenders.

Anyway, Devrim, I can only assume that the class struggle in your part of Turkey is in the doldrums that you need to entertain yourself by dredging up this old story. :rolleyes:

Get a life, you sad wanker.
This is a good political argument. I am definitely won over to your position, which in no way just consists of a barrel of personal abuse designed to distract attention from the fact that you can't defend UAF politically.

As for

no one would have noticed the Anarchist federation were even there if it hadn't been for this incident...
This may well be true. There are certain types of activity we do to raise our profile and to make sure people notice we're there - street stalls, postering, some demos, etc. On the other hand, there's also occasions when there's a very specific task that needs addressing, and so raising our profile is secondary to that. So, f'r instance, if there's a strike on, our first priority is to offer support to the strikers and raise their morale in any way possible, and making ourselves visible as the AF is definitely secondary to this. Equally, when there's a fascist demo, our priority is to actually stop the fascists from marching, and not to promote our organisation. It's a good approach, you should try it.

[Sasha]

mind the language and mind the flames, keep it on topic or its of to the trash with this thread.
verbal warnings all around but i'll single you out Bob,
Get a life, you sad wanker. is not acceptable from an mod.

[Hit The North]

mind the language and mind the flames, keep it on topic or its of to the trash with this thread.
verbal warnings all around but i'll single you out Bob, is not acceptable from an mod.

Quite right. The comments were out of order and I withdraw them, apologise, and I've trashed the posts.

[No pasarán]

To get back on topic, remember kids- NEVER trust a copper or his informants Searchlight and the UAF. Fuck Facisim, Fuck the Police and Fuck fence sitters.

[Bitter Ashes]

Let me just state again, as a personal eyewitness of what went on, the AFed statement is totaly accurate.

If anything, they've done UAF a favour by sparing the more precise details of the behavior of those UAF stewards towards that AFed member.

[Omi]

Rule #1:

You do not, under any circumstance, however disrupting you feel the other protesters are behaving, hand over your fellow protesters to the police. Never.


__

This sort of stuff is unacceptable.