Getting the message across: anti-racists had a banner on show in the Whitgift Centre car park just to ensure there was no doubt about how they felt about the far-right
Lunar House in central Croydon has long been a ‘target’ for the far-right’s attempts at protest against migrants and asylum-seekers. Saturday’s limp effort demonstrated, once again, that the racists can’t organise a piss-up in a ‘Spoons, as our special correspondent, MILLIE TANT, reports
Police presence: the Met was on hand to try to maintain the peace
While a good number anti-racist groups assembled on Saturday to oppose the latest far-right protest at Lunar House, the Home Office’s immigration office on Wellesley Road, the anticipated ramshackle group of racists, neo-nazis and fascists at first failed to show. They were late for their own protest.
The far-right decided that they wanted to oppose Afghans, many of whom had given years of service to this country, to be able to claim refuge from the Taliban in this country.
But it turned out that the assorted racists and neo-nazis couldn’t drag themselves away from their favourite watering hole, The George, one of Brexit buffoon Tim Martin’s ’Spoons pubs, just a short walk away in central Croydon. All that foreign-sounding lager must have softened their resolve…
Finally, they did turn up, all 10 of them, looking more than a bit sheepish.
The police were on hand to ensure that they didn’t discover any kind of courage, Dutch or otherwise, and marched them single file into a concrete space away from Lunar House, where they were kept safely behind a strong cordon of hi-vizzed old Bill.
Suitably penned in, the self-acclaimed “master race” just stood there, waving their Union and St George flags, looking more than a little sorry for themselves.
Refugees welcome here: more than 200 anti-fascists turned up to demonstrate their solidarity with migrants
Notable by his absence was James Goddard, the leader of Patriotic Alternative (the latest name for a wannabee BNP group), who had called the protest.
The handful of fascists was small enough that it was easy to recognise the few familiar faces, well-known to anti-fascists over several years.
Some, like Tony Martin, the Croydon resident and leader of the National Front (yes, they still exist, just), have attempted to seek election locally in the past, and have had their vile views roundly rejected, never attracting more than a few hundred votes. On Saturday, Martin and his mates found themselves outnumbered by anti-fascists by 20-to-1.
There were no arrests.
The racists and their very full bladders were eventually escorted back to the ’Spoons by the police, who stood watch over them while they filled their distended bellies with more lager.
They were last seen brawling amongst themselves.
As one veteran anti-fascist observed, “If they’ve got no one to turn on, they always end up turning on each other.”
With the fascist “protest” over, the banner that had been draped from the Whitgift Centre car park, opposite Lunar House, was finally taken down. Its message had got across: “Fascist Scum Fuck Off Out of Croydon”.
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What’s the point of a demo on a Saturday? Unless they are on overtime there won’t be anyone in Lunar House.
They’re so far right they’ve fallen over the edge!
Well they turned up outside the old TV centre at White City the other week, thinking the wicked lefty Bill Gates/George Soros funded BBC lived there. Nobody told them that they left some years ago.
Yes I know that lot were anti-vaxers but they’re largly the same people. I do wonder if TIm Martin realises that filling his punters up with gallons of Wifebeater before they go out on maneuvers does little to advance their cause.
I do like Wetherspoons for their unrivalled choice of real ales and competitive prices.
Also their policy of restoring landmark buildings is attractive.
Pub snobs and ‘Remainers’ should focus on the ale, not the absurd persona of the chain’s owner.
It is hard to ignore the ludicrousness of Tim Martin, though, Chris, you have got to admit.
Tim Martin is entitled to be absurd, but he doesn’t need to force it on his customers. I stopped using JDWs when the tables were strewn with Brexit propaganda as well as page upon page of drivel in his pisspoor magazine. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if he started showing GB News on the pub tellys.
I go for a pint to relax, not to be wound up.
Irrespective of Right or Left (being more of a Stealers Wheel person) I have to admit the banner was quite succinct in it’s message. Perhaps we could ask the people who made that flag to kindly volunteer to do a few more. I am sure the word Facist could be interchangeable. Some suggestions could be well – Ignorant Developers – Rapacious Landlords – Social Landlords – dare we say incompetent Council executives – polluting plants etc. Well whatever cap fits. I think they might have a roaring business here with so many really needing to stop ruining the Borough.
Best article I’ve read in a long time. THIS is how the U.K. should be dealing with fascists, right wing, EDL… I was at the counter-protest because where the right are due to be SOMEONE has to stand up and be counted in opposition. But Fuck Off out of Croydon sums it up for me!
What has The George got to do with any of this, unless it is a tenuous link to Brexit? May as well name and shame the nearest off-licence because they sold a few packs of fags and a stick of gum to the idiots.
Try reading the report. It is because that’s where they met, and that’s where they ended up.