EDL protest stopped in Swansea

The English / Welsh Defence League (EDL) were again met with a challenge by anti-fascists in Swansea today.

Swansea Socialist Party members

Despite saying that they weren't going to march, the EDL yet again tried to spread their racist lies.

But yet again they were unable to protest in Castle Square as 200 protestors occupied the space against 40 EDL.

The counter-protest started at 11am and later merged with a protest against the Israeli attack on the Gaza flotilla.

As a result, Swansea workers and youth demonstrated sympathy for those who are oppressed rather than allow the EDL to scapegoat Muslims.

The police tried to get us to stop our counter-protest and clear the square, but without a guarantee from the police that the EDL wouldn't be allowed into the square, we refused to leave.

As a result, as in last autumn, the EDL were kept in the street above the square by the police and then marched away when they had let off some racist steam.

Rob Williams, from the Socialist Party and Swansea Trade Union Council, called to one heckler giving a Hitler salute, "When we face billions of pounds of cuts, when local hospitals or schools close, what will you be able to say you did? Organise a demo against Muslims?! All you are doing is making it harder for all working-class people to fight the cuts because you attempt to divide us."

Although the main EDL march was in Cardiff, it was important for Swansea Socialist Party to join the Swansea counter-protest.

This was the third time the EDL have come to Swansea. Last month some of them tried to disrupt the Trade Union Council's anti-cuts demo. This shown their true mission. In line with classic fascism, their aim is to recruit people with their racist poison and then turn them against workers' organisations.

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In The Socialist 9 June 2010:

Reject these brutal cuts