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National Front humiliated in Derbyshire

Notts IMC + Antifascists | 01.03.2010 19:24 | Anti-racism

Following the effective takeover of the National Front by suspected state asset Eddie Morrison, the NF have sought to capitalise on the perception amongst many hardcore racists that the BNP is now too mainstream, describing the larger organisations decision to "allow" non-white members a "sell-out" and explicitly calling for BNP members to jump ship. Unfortunately, the Front's credibility in the eyes of fellow members of the master race cannot have been helped by news that they have been chased out of Ripley in Derbyshire without even offering token resistance.

Hoping to create a bit of a stir, the Front had said they would be selling papers in Heanor, Ripley and Ilkeston as part of a so-called "day of action". They didn't even bother showing up in Heanor and only five 'warriors' of the 'master race' actually made it to Ripley town centre. There, anti-fascists confronted the tiny group and, without any struggle, they gave up their flag and large stacks of racist literature before legging it out of town, followed by taunts and abuse. They made a brief trip to Ilkeston later on but had turned tail and run home before anti-fascists were able to catch up with them.

On the newswire: National Front lose their flag and chased out of Ripley | NF Gaffe! | Eddy Morrison & The NF Split by Malatesta | 2010: The BNP, NF & EDL by ‘Malatesta’ | Fuhrer Eddy Morrison Takes Over NF by ‘Malatesta’

Previous features: BNP difficulties in Notts | EDL riot in Stoke | Fascists rally in Nottingham | Anti-fascists challenge BNP's return to Derbyshire | BNP candidate "would revel at causing some havoc"

Links: Antifa England | Love Music Hate Racism | Notts Stop the BNP | Unite Against Fascism | Notts Indymedia anti-racism newswire



The National Front emerged in 1967 out of a merger between the League of Empire Loyalists and an earlier party calling itself the British National Party. In the 1970s it became increasingly successful, attaining electoral results which wouldn't be matched on the far-right until the BNP's recent results. Alongside its electoral strategy, the Front also organised regular protests which were often challenged by anti-fascists, most famously at the "Battle of Lewisham" in 1977. Weakened by constant attacks from anti-fascists and with Margaret Thatcher echoing much of their rhetoric about immigration and law and order, the NF began to fade in the late 1970s, although it was still able to stand its largest number of candidates in the 1979 General Election.

In the 1980s the Front's influenced waned, this wasn't helped by its effective division into two organisations, the so-called "Political Soldiers" which included future BNP leader Nick Griffin and the "Flag Group." Members of the Front who left during this disagreement would go on to form the modern British National Party. As the BNP became increasingly successful through the 1990s and into the 21st century, the NF found itself in the shadow of the larger party, becoming increasingly irrelevant. It continued to organise national mobilisations, but these rarely drew more than a handful of activists. When they called a protest in Nottingham, outside the prison on Perry Road, 19 Nazis were opposed by some 400 anti-fascists, with one NF member ending up in hospital.

In recent months, former leader Tom Holmes has been replaced as party leader by Ian Edward. However, Eddie Morrison, a former member of any number of Nazi sects, has taken control of the party's website and finances. Anti-fascists are watching the NF's current political strategy with interest. The Front has sought to get disillusioned BNP members to jump ship and also threatened to stand candidates against the BNP, inevitably splitting the already small far-right vote. This has resulted in the internecine squabbling for which the British fascist scene is so famous. While the NF may pick up some votes and members as the BNP reconciles itself with mainstream success, Saturday's demonstration indicates that anti-fascists don't have much to fear from this particular wing of the "master race."

Notts IMC + Antifascists

Comments

Hide the following 7 comments

concerned

04.03.2010 18:16

Is it just me or is the tone of this article very aggressive?
There is distinct feeling of relishing the intimidation and violence associated with the lynching of fascists. One wonders, who is next of the list of targets once all the fascists are delt with to salivate this hunger?

Who else are they going use their new found powers to 'chase out of town' because it offends their sensibilities. Perhaps the lonely bible basher? or the aggressive tramp on the corner? Or maybe we will see some form of racateering to drive out businesses they don't feel follow their way?
Is this a dawn of judge / jury and executioner in the form of a lynch mob attitude?

Is there going to be a day when we have to fight these anti-fascists to protect our freedom simply because they don't like what I happen to be doing one day?

Bakerwell


Might happen but probably not

04.03.2010 18:42

Interesting you mentioned that.
I do remember having a discussion years ago about how some fascists may turncoat and join the anti-fascist groups. The reason is irrelevent for some of these people, it is mostly about intimidation and winning the standoff that drives them. I don't think it is that far fetched to conceive a new breed of fascists forming through anti-fascism.

anon


Not so sure

04.03.2010 23:01

ANti-Fascism is not an excuse for violence and the scapegoating of fascists. Fascism and neo Nazism are dangerous and corosive ideologies that threeaten and divide our communities. Those engaged in driving fascists out are generally the sort opposed to the same witchunt mentality the fascists and neo nazis themselves utilise and are oftern involved with other beneficial struggles such as animal rights movements etc. To claim that anti-fascists would target on random groups or individuals should fascism be removed (hardly likely anyway, but we live in hope) is pepostorous in the extreme and reveals a degree of ignorance on the part of the posters above regarding the motivation for anti-fascist activity.
Would you make the same judgments against Orwell for his part in the Spanish Civil War, or any other historical anti-fascist?

IHTF


intresting debate

05.03.2010 16:09

I think the way to prevent a movement such as this is to not allow your antifascist movement be if antifa uaf notts against bnp or love music hate racism to become fascist itself. ie dont hate on other people for not using exactly the same thing against the bnp/nf/bpp/edl as you are. Antifas founding statement about no psaran is an intresting one with this issue.Its not about whos the toughest etc who does what its the willingness to act

steve scum
mail e-mail: swellbelly@hotmail.co.uk


naivety

06.03.2010 10:54

theres an awful lot of naivety on this thread. no one is calling for the lynching of fascists - that is probably just trolling. the fact of the matter is that hardcore nazis like the NF DO actually want lynchings and there has to be a serious response to them. because they are so into the fascist idea of controlling the streets a good way of combating them is to show them that they dont and never will.

antifascists are defending the political and racial enemies of the NF in the only way that has meaning - physical prevention. they have declared war on us and we would be foolish not to fight back.

not uaf


not uaf

06.03.2010 14:34

Agreed, spot on.

IHTF


Photos of the fash

06.03.2010 20:42




Derby NF are so security conscious they've put pics of themselves up on their website. Here they are for future reference.

Spotter


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