n open letter sent to UAF on the anti-SDL protests of Saturday 20th February.

Edinburgh Anti-Fascist Alliance

Open letter to the UAF, 28 February 2010

Fellow Anti-Fascists,

We recognise the hard work of the UAF in building for the anti-Scottish
Defence League demonstration, and were pleased with the cooperative
relationship we had with Unite Against Fascism in the lead up to it. We
were working together in the spirit of a united response to the SDL.

We were heartened to hear in the UAF meetings we attended, that the UAF
considered that there was room for the two complimentary demonstrations
on the day. We hoped that the problems that occurred in Glasgow were
behind us, and that the UAF and Anti-Fascist Alliance could cooperate
this time.

However on the day of the demonstration some members of the UAF intended
to disrupt our protest, and take it back to the Scotland United march,
despite these previous assurances, and the spirit of cooperation that
existed before. Some UAF and Scotland United organisers spread
disinformation, and said things that were known to be untrue, to the
crowd as it marched to confront the SDL at the bottom of the Royal Mile.
These untrue statements included: "there are no SDL in that pub, only
Hibs casuals", and "150 fascists are about to attack the Scotland United
demonstration". This led to confusion and people leaving.

Unity and superior numbers are our strengths against violent racists
like the SDL. However these strengths were jeopardised by this
behaviour, and put the safety of anti-fascists at serious risk. We would
not like to imagine what the situation could have been like, had the
depleted number of anti-fascists met a large group of SDL thugs at the
bottom of the hill.

We hope that this letter will start a fraternal discussion about how we
can avoid similar situations in the future, and how we can ensure
greater level of unity and cooperation between the UAF and Anti-Fascist
Alliance so that we have the best chance of defeating fascism. We look
forward to cooperating with you against the SDL/EDL in Lockerbie and Bolton.

In Solidarity,

Edinburgh Anti-Fascist Alliance

www.edinburghantifascist.org.uk

UAF have called this demo, which we welcome. But all should attend, SWP/UAF members or not.

All of us- socialists, anti-authoritarians, anarchists, autonomists, filthy reds of all shades- should hit to streets to show that these pseudo-fascists are reactionary and the foreigner-fear consensus won't wash with normal folk. I'm no fan of Islamism, but let's not pretend a secular agenda is what drives these thugs- 30 years ago they would be the same thugs shouting wogs, 50 years ago pakis and 70 years ago kikes. There's no analysis they offer that gives working people hope- instead, they ride on our poverty.

So let's keep it non-partisan- and by that, I don't mean all getting under the UAF banner. Antifa, Radical Workers and just plain old nice people should be on the streets here.

Most importantly, let's talk tactics- don't clump together, don't get kettled- hit the streets, run from the cops, keep moving, and above all try and get at EDL. But primarily- give no quarter to the cops. I've seen stewards and others give over anti-fascists to the police before, and it costs us 25 supporters for each occasion of treachery.

We survive through solidarity! To Parliament Square, They Shall Not Pass!

Take note people

We are talking outside westminster here, the UAF demo will be in a pen! It will be static, and if it is anywhere near the EDL demo it will get kettled when the time comes!

This is not in our interest!

"Most importantly, let's talk tactics- don't clump together, don't get kettled- hit the streets, run from the cops, keep moving, and above all try and get at EDL. But primarily- give no quarter to the cops."

Spot on Billy

Make no mistake, the policing will be heavy and there is cctv in most places, arrive early, learn the streets, stay safe and take action.