The "Aryan Martyrs' Brigade"?! Is this really supposed to be serious journalism?

Antifa | 03.08.2009 19:16 | Anti-racism | Liverpool | Sheffield

'The Guardian' may have been suckered by 'Searchlight' yet again, but antifascists shouldn't be fooled by attempts to 'big up' the so-called 'Aryan Martyrs' Brigade'.

For decades, the pseudo-antifascist entity ‘Searchlight’ have aided and abetted fascist attempts to intimidate and terrorize antifascists by bigging-up every pathetic neo-Nazi gang they can find or invent. In recent years, it has been Kevin Watmough’s tawdry ‘hate-site’ ‘Redwatch’ that they have publicised, but this has failed quite spectacularly recently with more clued-up antifascists openly poking fun at ‘Redwatch’ and even sending in their own photos. In a long line of comedy Nazi pseudo-organizations, the latest attempt by ‘Searchlight’ and their stooge ‘Guardian’ hack Matthew Taylor to publicise the so-called ‘Aryan Martyrs’ Brigade’ has to rank as among the most pathetic. As with other fascist pseudo-organisations, if it were not for ‘Searchlight’, and in this case Taylor, who would have ever heard of ‘them’?

Some sad little Nazi, most probably Leeds-based non-entity Tony Foy (who can often be found these days drooling over pictures of guns and hand-grenades in Borders bookshop), has spent years trying to get attention, tapping away at the keyboard posting silly threats on the internet from the safety of their bedroom or posting off grubby notes to ‘racial enemies’. Antifa has been receiving this kind of mouthing-off for years – we laugh at it! Suddenly though, thanks to Taylor and ‘Searchlight’ this pathetic and cowardly idiot has been given national publicity. A headline in today’s ‘Guardian’ screams: “Far right launch campaign of violence and intimidation against opponents.” We are told: “Aryan Martyr’s Brigade issues death threat against anti-fascism activist Weyman Bennett, while student attacked after BNP protest.” What follows is a shameful piece of non-news which fails to even support its own headline.

Taylor begins his piece by telling us that “Far-right activists have launched a campaign of intimidation and violence against political opponents including a series of death threats and physical attacks.” We are told that, “Hardline fascists are targeting students and leading anti-racism activists who campaigned against the British National party in June's European elections.”

The piece continues with the staggering news that the clueless idiot who heads up the UAF, Weyman Bennett, has received a "death warrant" stating that he will be killed before the end of the year "for crimes against all loyal white patriots and British nationalists". The threat, which apparently has a picture of Bennett in cross hairs (shiver!), states: "We know exactly what you look like and what venues you frequent and can strike at will. The police, special branch, MI5, Searchlight cannot save you from the bullets coming your way. No matter where you are, we will get you, all we need is a lock on your mobile phone signal and you are one dead nigger." This drivel is typical of the sort of shit numerous antifascists have received over the years from the likes of Tony Foy after a few lines of coke on a Friday night, or from his idiot side-kick Tony White. So why is it suddenly worthy of national news? We can only think that Bennett is hoping to sell the UAF (and increase his personal credibility) in much the same way as Salman Rushdie formerly sold his books.

"There has definitely been an upsurge in attacks and intimidation since the European elections," Bennett is quoted as saying. "The fringe rightwing groups appeared to be on their best behaviour when the BNP were campaigning but once the election was over they seem to be trying to take their revenge on those of us who were prominent in the anti-fascist campaign." Some ‘antifascist’, blubbing over a silly note!

Taylor’s threadbare piece does not really produce any evidence to back-up Bennett’s claims or his own hyperbole. Bennett goes on to say, "Standing up against people like the BNP you do sometimes get verbal threats and intimidation but this appears to be more serious.” Is HE serious?! More serious than what, being called names by fascist scum? If Bennett had ever really been at the sharp-end of confronting organised fascism, he might have some idea of what ‘serious’ really means, but he hasn’t.

Apart from Bennett’s pathetic “death warrant”, the only example given by Taylor to back up his claims of an increased threat of fascist violence against anti-racists, is an alleged assault by an unseen assailant against a young student who had previously attended a UAF event in Blackpool, and whose picture like those of thousands of other people has been posted on ‘Redwatch’. It is a shameful piece of journalism.

This is not the first time though that Taylor has tried to promote the ‘Aryan Martyrs’ Brigade’ in the pages of ‘The Guardian’. In fact, apart from his latest piece, the only other evidence of their existence is a piece he wrote in January, after a few threatening e-mails were sent out under that name. Taylor described ‘them’ then as a “Right-wing splinter group”. A splinter of what exactly?
‘Searchlight’, and liberal idiots like Weyman Bennett and Matthew Taylor, have spent years trying to dissuade antifascists from hands-on confrontation with the far-Right by promoting these cowardly scum as the ‘ubermenschen’ of their fascist wanking fantasies. Are they really now trying to scare us into going down their sordid state-collaborator road by promoting some silly idiot with a poison-pen fixation?!

If and when fascists return to the street, they will find us more than ready to oppose them, and in the meantime it is THEY who should be afraid, not the other way round. Giving undue publicity to these posturing idiots, rather than finding and confronting them, simply gives them credibility they do not deserve and assists their agenda.

While we regard Redwatch as a joke, we advise serious antifascists never to be complacent about their personal security. A good starting point is not trusting the likes of ‘Searchlight’ or the UAF.

Antifa
Homepage: http://www.antifa.org.uk

Comments

Hide the following 62 comments

smash the er other antifascists!?

03.08.2009 20:40

yes that is the real enemy isnt it? not the bnp or their allies its the other so-called anti fascists who we really need to fight -smash anyone who might not be us because we are the only true antifascists and use our energy for publicly entrenching sectarian splits

pantihat

Here we go again....

03.08.2009 21:36

For god's sake. Distrust of Searchlight comes from years of anti fascists being screwed over by them, make no mistake. This is taken this from this months magazine for instance, about the recent EDL demo in Birmingham:

''Three whites from the extreme left in Birmingham have tried to recruit and incite Muslim teenagers to respond by taking to the streets with racially abusive language and slogans. Perhaps two political extremes are seeking confrontation in the city''

http://norfolkunity.blogspot.com/

This is nonsense, as anyone who was there on the day will tell you! It is a smear on anti-fascists that seek to confront the EDL with something other than out-dated slogans and megaphones. There is no way on earth that any anti fascist would 'recruit' muslim youths to chant 'racist' slogans. It sounds almost as if it is peeled straight from a far right account of things. Why smear anti fascists like this at all? I mean really, why?

If Searchlight want to completely nullify the anti fascist movement then this is the right way to do it. They know it, the cops know it, and we know it too.

A cold hard truth.

David

Pffft

03.08.2009 22:02

Too much ego in this post, sorry antifa, you do some good work but are about to dissapear up your own asshole.

Come back to reality and focus on the issue at hand.

Yeah yeah...

Hidden agendas

03.08.2009 22:32

The (Searchlight) agenda behind the Guardian piece (which can be read in full on their website) is that we should seek the aid of the cops and of the state to protect us from 'extremists'. That is rubbish, and is the same tired rubbish that Searchlight have been peddling for years. In obsessing over Redwatch, they not only give it false credibility, they push an agenda of state control, encouraging legislation that would be used against animal rights activists, against environmental campaigners, and against antifascists. We should not be seeking the help of the police or MPs to 'close down Redwatch', that could be done by breaking Kevin Watmough's fingers. Searchlight are the state's Fifth Column, a corrosive influence within antifascism which unfortunately needs to be constantly challenged and exposed. As for the SWP's Weyman Bennett and the rest of the SWP/UAF leadership, they are merely opportunists, and as always with the SWP, serve their own agenda and should not be trusted to any extent. That isn't sectarianism, it's cold hard fact.

Ben

Shit Journalism

03.08.2009 22:54

I read the Guardian piece this afternoon and was surprised they'd printed such a shit piece of 'journalism'. No doubt every little skinhead dickhead will now be calling themselves the 'Aryan martyrs brigade' (much as with 'Combat 18') Fancy giving whichever stupid pillock came up with this this sort of publicity - no doubt he's jackbooting all over the press-cuttings right now.

Sod The BNP

Hardly new is it?

03.08.2009 23:24

It's worth reading the full article because it's so lacking in actual facts. Weyman Bennet is an embarrassment, whining like that. The Fash have openly threatened Anarchists iin the past on their sites, but they didn't start sobbing or go squealing to the cops. This kind of thing and worse goes with the territory.

Anti

"Come back to reality"?

03.08.2009 23:47

"Come back to reality and focus on the issue at hand."

Are you saying that the 'Aryan Martyrs Brigade' is the stuff of reality? This sort of bollox just makes anti-fascists look stupid.

Sceptic

Searchlight

04.08.2009 02:17

Would someone be kind enough to explain why there's so much animosity towards Searchlight ?
Seriously - what's the beef ? I used to subscribe and always felt they were not only genuine but effective. So why do so many people slag them off ?

Anything beyond vague, wild, hearsay would be gratefully received.

veg
Homepage: http://fatsquirrel.org/bologs/veghead/

What's wrong with searchlight

04.08.2009 07:38

try this for a start -

http://libcom.org/library/searchlight-for-beginners-larry-o-hara

@ntifa

Searchlight was first exposed as State in 1983!

04.08.2009 07:56

It wasn't "vague, wild hearsay" that led to Anti Fascist Action (AFA) giving Searchlight pariah status. The allegations against Searchlight have been gone over many times, both here, and just about everywhere else. Have you tried using 'Google'?! Some links are given here (lazy bastard):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Searchlight_magazine

Black n Red

Nowts changed

04.08.2009 08:09

just read the piece from Albert Meltzer's book (link from Searchlies Wiki page):

"The SWP and others such as the Anti-Nazi League wanted to make political capital out of fascism, by selling their newspapers and chanting "Nazi Scum", often at the very people going out to bash the fash."

Nowt's changed then!

Old salt

Bennett

04.08.2009 08:32

Some of us will never forget hearing Weyman Bennett speak at Leeds Civic Hall. He couldn't even get the name of the BNP's leader right, constantly referring to "Derek Griffiths"! How did this clueless idiot ever get to be the leader of a national antifascist organisation?

Antifascist

Bad journalism

04.08.2009 09:07

That Guardian piece is VERY weak. Nowhere in it does there seem to be anything to support the headline or its opening assertions. I'm really surprised it got past the editor, but it's articles like this that make anti-racist campaigners look stupid. Worst of all, while totally failing to show any link to the BNP, it gives them the final word. Very, very poor.

Robin Banks

antifa

04.08.2009 16:17

I agree with anonymous, Antifa seems to always be in total conflict mode. Save your hate for the fash not other anti-fascists no matter what you think of them. Intelligent criticism is fine, explain your distaste for there support for the state and how they are wrong. Explain how you cannot support them while they are part of the state. But there is no need for all out personal attacks on them, they are 'good' (i.e. non-nazis) people that disagree with you. Personally I don't have any 'big picture' I'm more interested in what works in any given situation whether that be the cops or a masked up activist.

Not "macho" at all.

04.08.2009 16:23

Just off hand-hand I can think of several trans-gender antifascist activists, and loads of women and Queers. You are talking through your arse 'anonymous'.

Another antifascistN

Time to stick together

04.08.2009 16:26

Regardless of the strength of the Guardian article (and I agree with you that it was a piss poor piece of journalism) should we not be standing together in the face of the BNP having two of their members (or should that be tools) elected to the European Parliament?

There is far too much factionalism going on in the anti-fascist movement and in the left in general. Image how the Nazi scum will feel at Codnor if we ALL turn up, united in our determination to close down their fascist rally but also to show them that no longer will we tolerate there hateful views in our society. It doesn't matter whether you're Hope Not Hate, Antifa, UAF or Searchlight; what we ALL want is an end to this growth of fascism. UNITED we are strong, divided we're just a bunch of disperate lefties pissing in the wind.

Let's stand together at Codnor and let's close the scum BNP down.

Leeds Anti-Fascist

Sorry 'Me', you're missing the point

04.08.2009 16:33

Sorry 'Me', but I think you're missing the point. This is not about "hate" as you put it, it's about having a proper political analysis, however combatitive that appears. The likes of Weyman Bennett and the UAF leadership are parasitic opportunists who deserve to be rigorously exposed, and Searchlight are far worse than that. Trusting the cops or the state to fight fascism for us NEVER works, and that cannot be said often enough.

Myself

To 'Myself'

04.08.2009 17:09

You can have a proper political analysis without resorting to personal attacks, it is not possible for you to know Bennetts motivation for his campaigning and I think it is pointless to bring it into the debate. It is find to criticise the tactics he uses and why you think they will never work, but there is no need to personally attack him as an individual.

I disagree the state can never be useful, I don't have any moral issue with using them to get a result. For example, I don't think it is wrong to expose an opponents criminal record (if it will sway public opinion) or to try and have a group arrested if this is the easiest way to have them removed from an area. I also don't think it is wrong to take many forms of illegal direct action.

Is this wrong of me? Maybe? But if it works...

Morality aside

04.08.2009 17:41

"Maybe? But if it works..."

The point is, it doesn't.

A personal attack?

04.08.2009 17:43

For those who have personally encountered Weyman Bennett it is certainly possible to offer an analysis of his personal motivations, and it is quite legitimate to attack him and his shabby party. It’s not as if his personal eating habits or his dress style are being criticized afterall is it? I see absolutely nothing wrong with calling him an ‘idiot’ for example.

United Against Fascism?

04.08.2009 18:09

Ah, the United Front against fascism! How simple it sounds and how attractive. Which is why of course so many of us have been led down that path before, and why the SWP, etc continue to use it as a tactic – not to confront fascism, but to extend their influence, raise their profile, swell the coffers of their party, sell some papers, and recruit new members. It is a long-standing tactic that works for these cynical opportunists, whether the particular band-waggon is anti-fascism, environmentalism, or globalisation. Unfortunately it DOES matter “whether you’re Hope Not Hate, Antifa, UAF, or Searchlight.” The UAF are a front for the SWP (the kiss of death for any campaign), while Hope Not Hate are a Searchlight front aligned with the ruling (and arguably racist) Labour Party. Anarchists have nothing in common politically with these organisations and would be foolish to try and work with them (as indeed some have.)

For the likes of Searchlight and the UAF the ‘protest’ at Codnor has absolutely nothing to do with closing the RWB down. That is why the ‘demo’ is being held miles away from the RWB site, by prior arrangment with the police, effectively in the middle of nowhere. This is merely ‘spectacle’, a nice safe opportunity for the UAF to pretend they’re doing something while collecting money and selling papers. And more importantly diverting well-meaning antifascists from what really needs to be done to close down the RWB. Experience shows that any attempt at more radical action out of the control of the UAF will be ruthlessly denounced as “adventurism” or the work of ‘agent-provocateurs’. Experience also shows that the UAF and HnH leadership will co-operate fully with the police in assisting in the prosecution of any elements not under their control.

As long as antifascists continue to allow themselves to be manipulated, exploited, and side-tracked by opportunists like the UAF, we will get nowhere in terms of confronting the BNP. We are stronger without them. There’s a difference between united, and being suckered.

Another Leeds Antifascist

To Ben

04.08.2009 18:26

I think this will vary from incident to incident, I doubt it can be said the state can never be used to help, except if this is your ideological dogma. What if you saw Nick Griffin committing a crime that would get him 10 years in jail and by some luck you manage to get it on video, would it be effective to pass a copy of this tape to the cops? I think it would as it would a) have him locked up b) have the BNP associated with this crime c) possibly alienate anyone who thinks the BNP is the party of law and order.

XWP coverage

04.08.2009 22:09

Socialist Wanker (of course) are also covering the plight of heroic Weyman Bennet:

http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=18697

Could they really lick the cunt's arse any more or make antifascists look any more stupid if they tried?!

The piece includes this:

"Tim, an anti-fascist campaigner from Sheffield, told Socialist Worker, “I have had a number of threatening calls, including one playing Nazi marching music down the phone and another with recordings of chants of ‘Heil Hitler’."

Fucking diddums! Will you wankers please fuck off, you're a fucking embarrassment?

Sick of Trots

Anti-Fascism Divided

04.08.2009 22:23

When it comes to elections (or indeed to anything else) Fascists aren't bothered HOW they get their grubby little hands on power, they're just HAPPY when they get their hands on power, and when it comes to their opponents, Fascists aren't bothered WHY the Anti-Fascist movement is divided, they're just DELIGHTED THAT IT IS DIVIDED. So, if you actually want the Anti-Fascist movement to stop the growth of the BNP, then please grow up and try and see these issues in perspective.

I'm well aware of the tedious Antifa vs Searchlight "debate", and if anyone's naive enough to think either side has perfect strategies, or that either side behaves with perfect integrity, then welcome to real world. Anyone who's been watching this sorry spectacle will know that the BNP used a professional spamming company in the USA to circulate an e-mail around Anti-Fascists pretending to be from a fake "Real AFA" group, to try and make the dispute between militant Anti-Fascists and the UAF + Searchlight EVEN WORSE. The BNP are laughing while you twats are slugging it out between yourselves.

I have the greatest respect for the courage of many Antifa activists, but the reason UAF etc can get away with stealing Antifa's thunder is because Antifa is too much of a shambles to present any realistic alternative. Antifa pulled off a good one with the anti-BPP rally in Leeds and their forcing UAF to jump on the bandwagon at RWB is paradoxically also ones of their sucesses. Many of Antifa's statements however seem deliberately designed to alienate ordinary people who just happen to hate the BNP, so if Antifa really want to rule this particular roost, the way to deal with UAF is for Antifa to excel in combatting Fascism, not to waste their energy making enemies amongst people who gravitate towards the liberal Anti-Fascist groups for the simple reason that you geniuses don't yet constitute a genuinely viable alternative.

Fightback

Don't shoot the messenger

04.08.2009 22:38

I hate Trots but the truth is they're alot better at campaigning against the BNP than militant anarchists are

Maybe that's not saying much, but it's still true...

And if you don't like hearing that - don't bitch, PROVE me wrong!

Anti_BNP

time gentlemen please

04.08.2009 23:03

some people just like an excuse for a good old macho punch up

Mike posted this article

04.08.2009 23:04

and now he's having a fucking good laugh at you all

no sleep

The phantom AMB?

04.08.2009 23:11

If anyone has any doubts about Searchlight's agenda, a couple of minutes online will give you plenty of clues as to why genuine independent anti-fascists treat them like pariahs. Nothing to add there.

So who are the "Aryan Martyr's Brigade"? Aside from Searchlight and the puppet Guardian articles, has anyone heard of them before? Any chatter on right-wing forums? Any evidence that they actually exist beyond some online posturing? No!

Sadly a lot of people will swallow this crap and it'll put off a lot of potential anti-fascists - folks who may be scared off by the largely non-existent implication of violence. Yes, the extreme right could be a threat, but the fact is that right now they largely aren't.

So who benefits from this hyping up of the imaginary far-right extremists? The state and security services certainly have a lot to gain. Like Searchlight - after all, without the "bad guys" they'd be out of a job. And elements of the discredited left have a lot to gain - the illusory threat of the far-right sells a lot of papers...

And the laughable Redwatch... what a crock of shit. I'm on there along with quite a few of my mates. Has anything happened to me? No... Why? Because sites like that - and 'white' elephants like the AMB - are pointless bogeymen meant to scare off the feint-hearted.

I think people need to apply some critical analysis to organisations like Searchlight and UAF, because while they may spout the right platitudes, their actions in over-exagerating the power of the fascists actually play straight into the enemy's hands.

Yorkshire RASH

Trots & anarchists...

04.08.2009 23:29

Anti_BNP says...

"I hate Trots but the truth is they're alot better at campaigning against the BNP than militant anarchists are

Maybe that's not saying much, but it's still true...

And if you don't like hearing that - don't bitch, PROVE me wrong! "

The fact is that both strategies have proved to be wrong since neither have worked.

I hope I don't need to go into any deep analysis of the reasons why - though I suspect Indymedia readership may need a reminder.

Personally, I can't help smiling when a fascist gets a clout, but however rewarding it is lamping them, it's not going to make them go away.

We need to be on the ground (and fuck the labour party) talking to people and re-engaging with our own communities.

Not pushing any right or left orthodoxy, just starting from the ground up - something it seems no politicians can be arsed with right now.

And shite to the BNP.

No...

04.08.2009 23:39

"I hate Trots but the truth is they're alot better at campaigning against the BNP than militant anarchists are"

No, neither of them has the slightest shred of credibility in the working class communities that matter. And the trots are hardly likely to gain much foothold with their inherent authoritarianism and middle-class bias.

I remember doing some anti-BNP leafleting in East End Park in Leeds and an SWP / UAF woman bemoaning how it was "an area that some of her clients might live in..."

If you don't understand that, don't ask me to spell it out...

Yorkshire RASH again

Antifa vs the BNP

04.08.2009 23:56

I believe the (alleged) Aryan Martyrs Brigade is probably UAF / Searchlight PR cock, and to an extent I agree with the Antifa party-line about UAF and the SWP, but Antifa (meaning the Class War front of the same name, not the international Antifa movement in general) are guilty of exactly the same level of ideological opportunism as UAF and SWP. There are stylistic differences, but where UAF and SWP use anti-BNP activism to recruit punters into Trotskyism, Class War's "Antifa" front uses anti-BNP activism to try to get punters into class struggle anarchism. Class War "successfully" turned the pacifist punk movement of the 1980s away from liberal anarchism to violent class politics, "successfully" shrinking a popular movement into yet another tedious left-wing micro-sect with a few dozen socially-isolated and fanatically violent activists

Fucking stupid the BNP may be, but Nick Griffin was at least intelligent enough to promote the "modernisation" of the BNP in the equivalent time period, not because he was (relatively speaking) any sort of moderate, but because he was a known hard-liner. Nick Griffin promoted a moderate image not because he wanted to sell-out Fascism, but because he wanted Fascism to succeed. The point I'm trying to make is that the movement that LEARNED anything from its mistakes since the 1980s was in fact the BNP.......

Cannon fodder

05.08.2009 00:36

Yes there ARE previous reports of the Aryan Martyrs Brigade (try using Google), but yes this latest report may well be nonsense. Yes Redwatch is a joke - except when Joe Owens slashed Alec McFadden with a Stanley knife. Yes Combat 18 are posers - except when they knocked people to ground and battered them with concrete blocks in Brick Lane (fast forward to Belfast 2009). Yes Searchlight probably do work with the State, but it was the Police, not AFA or Antifa, that arrested and jailed David Copeland, Robert Cottage, Martyn Gilleard, John Laidlaw, Nathan Worrell and Neil Lewington.

I understand that Searchlight "hyping" groups like C18 frightens people off physically opposing Fascists who are often just insecure fantasists, but it would be deeply irresponsible for militant Anti-Fascists not to acknowledge that physical confrontation with Nazis can, even if only sometimes, be fucking dangerous. If you don't acknowledge this, then you are potentially risking people's lives, and using ordinary people as cannon-fodder for your ideology.

Class War

05.08.2009 09:12

Antifa are not a "front" for Class War.

antifascist

A sense of reality

05.08.2009 09:34

The only previous reports of the phantom “Aryan Martyrs Brigade” come from the same Searchlight stooge. Antifascists have certainly been targeted in the past, but linking those instances to ‘Redwatch’ is spurious. ‘Combat 18’ certainly existed, but who was it who gave them their greatest publicity, and meant that every silly bonehead allied themselves with the group – Searchlight, an organisation unconnected to the arrests mentioned. Militant antifascists are well aware of the physical risks involved in the work we do, we are also realistic about it. Currently, the risk of arrest and prosecution by the State is far greater than any physical threat from the fascists, which is one of the reasons we do not work with the UAF (who incidentally, through their lack of security, regularly endanger their rank and file) or with ‘Searchlight’.

Antifa activist

Class War and Antifa

05.08.2009 09:49

That would be good analysis ‘Fightback’, except for one simple flaw, it is ludicrous to suggest that Antifa, a national federation of antifascist groups and individuals is a front for Class War, a small group based in London. CW may have been one of the groups behind the original launch of the London group, as were the Anarchist Federation and No Platform, but that was 5 years ago. CW support Antifa, and I have no doubt that some of their members may be involved in Antifa activities, but it is ridiculous to suggest that CW control Antifa (I mean have you seen their paper recently?!) Antifa and CW share an accomodation address, which I think is probably a mistake, but then many groups use the address of Freedom, it doesn’t make them fronts for that entity. Sorry comrade, but you simply have it wrong.

Cannon Fodder

"Popular Front for the Liberation of Judea... Splitters!"

05.08.2009 09:59

Apologies for spelling out that that's a Monty Python quote. Anyway, the Antifa England group is no less a "front" for Class War than the UAF is a "front" for the SWP. There may well be some Antifa England people who aren't allied to CW, but there are more people in UAF who have nothing at all to do with the SWP, so if that logic is still valid against the SWP, then it's even more valid against CW.

Some of the historic allegations against Searchlight are valid, but equally some of Searchlight's actions have been misinterpreted by frankly paranoid militants, and alot of Antifa's hostility to Searchlight stems from unacknowledged jealousy and from a refusal to take responsibility for the disgusting way some CW activists behaved in the 1980s.

Either way, the message is the same - ideologically I'm far closer to Anarchism than Communism, but I still think Antifa's constant bitching is pathetic. UAF and Hope not Hate are the only serious opposition to the BNP at the moment, and while I admire and respect militant Anti-Fascists, Antifa's "loose cannon" attitude sometimes arguably even HELPS the BNP.

Microscope

CW and antifa

05.08.2009 10:23

With respect to the good people of class war, I seem the same hardworking people on their stall at the @ bookfair every year - I doubt they have more than a dozen members these days. I don't know how big antifa is but it clearly a lot bigger than that. They seem to be very different organisations judging from the propagander they produce as well.

There always seem to be other anarchists having a go at antifa on here, but there words would mean more if they were involved to the same extent themselves. Anarchists should know better than working with searchlight or the trots. It seems that anyone who agrees with their principles, which most anarchists would, can join antifa or even set up there own antifascist group, so why aren't more anarchists getting involved. Viva antifa!

PS If noone has seen it there newsletter is good and there is a good statement on the front of a recent issue which everyone should read in my opinion. Its at www.antifa.org.uk

@narchist antifascist

CW-Antifa

05.08.2009 10:34

As someone who was involved in one of Antifa's regional group's for around 2 years, I can say without doubt that CW have no influence over Antifa whatsoever. In my time with them (I am currently 'resting' for personal reasons) I think I only met one member of CW. You are talking bollocks!

Retired (for now)

Fuck Searchlight

05.08.2009 10:41

Seems to me that what gets up some peoples noses is that antifa have dared to criticize a sacred cow - the holy fucking searchlight - they are STATE pure and simple and it is way overtime that people woke up to that. Why SHOULD antifa work with them - .they'd be bloody stupid to. The same goes for the fucking lollipop wavers and paper sellers. If you look on the nazi internet forums and chatrooms it is antifa they are afraid of not the fucking Uaf. Antifa cant report all the work they do and people should respect that not slag them off while doing fuckl all themselves - unless they count hanging onto the shirttails of the wanky SWP.

Red & Black

Pantihose

05.08.2009 10:45

"some people just like an excuse for a good old macho punch up"

And some people regard the struggle against fascism as a bit more than that. Wanker.

Bob

Meanwhile at the computer

05.08.2009 11:01

"yet another tedious left-wing micro-sect with a few dozen socially-isolated...."

here's what the good comrades at Meanwhile At The Bar think.

http://meanwhileatthebar.org/bar/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=37&t=20842

- Meanwhile At The Bar, i'm informed, is a small group of middle-aged men with dad's army complexes who think the iwca is the way forward in opposoing fascism/bnp. Apart the odd normal person i don't think any MATB have ever 'organised' in their communities and as such we can never know if they are right.

Lexus Carmat
Homepage: http://meanwhileatthebar.org/bar/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=37&t=20842

MATB

05.08.2009 11:08

Most of the regulars only exist in cyberspace. Bit of a cheek slagging off a piece that's actually made it into the real world.

Internet Be Damned!

at the computer

05.08.2009 11:12

They ARE getting worked-up aren't they?! It does seem a bit of an overreaction from 'Butchers Apron', particularly since he posted identically on Urban75. Perhaps he needs to get out more, poor lad!

LOL!

Serious debate

05.08.2009 11:17

Thanks for your comment "Cannon Fodder" - this was actually threatening to turn into a serious debate rather than just a slanging match, for a change (at least until some of the other people weighed in). It's an article of faith among militant Anti-Fascists that the only language Nazis understand is a smack round the head, but unfortunately (if you believe the book "No Retreat") the undoubtedly very brave heroes (and I do mean that non-sarcastically) from AFA knocked 7 shades of shit out of the NF and BNP all over Britain, but still, despite many successes, never ultimately managed to get the fuckers to die down (let's face it, if even the combined military might of the entire Allied coalition failed to completely destroy Nazism in WW2, this objective is probably beyond the reach of small activist groups).

It's also an article of faith that the "vote for anyone else because the BNP are nasty Nazis" strategy used by Hope not Hate + UAF has "failed", necessitating more confrontational strategies. There are many situations in which violence IS morally justified but is still NOT politically or strategically expedient, and in the last Euro election 35% of the electorate voted, 94% of them voting AGAINST the BNP (where in the previous Euro election something like 96% voted against the BNP), allowing the BNP under Proportional Representation to get their 1st taste of real power. There's a risk of throwing the baby out with the bath water, because to conclude that this strategy has "failed" because it's "only" working at 94% efficiency as opposed to 96% efficiency is obviously logical nonsense. Because a strategy isn't working as well as it used to is not a reason to abandon it completely, and this strategy can be used when and where it's useful alongside other strategies (no shit Sherlock)

The growth of the BNP means that Anti-Fascism needs fresh ideas sharpish, but effective strategies won't be devised unless people engage in honest debate. For instance (to respond to "@narchist antifascist" and to "Red and Black") yes of course Antifa do loads of stuff they can't talk about but SO DO I, and ducking the debate on grounds of ASSUMING that people who criticise Antifa are not "involved" or are doing "fuck all" is absolute bollocks, logically and factually ;)

Over and out

CW

05.08.2009 11:19

A dozen members? I doubt they have half that! CW was good in its time, but way past its sell by date now. Anyone who thinks this miniscule organisation controls anything more than their own papers really has not done their homework and is presenting unfounded speculation as fact.

LOL!CW

Antifa V Class War!

05.08.2009 11:23

CW - Good name, good merchandise, crap propaganda, no members.

Antifa - Crap name, no merchandise, good propaganda, lots of members

Stop bitching and get on with the work!

05.08.2009 11:50

ALL of the statements here about the relative strength and/or influence of CW and Antifa are speculation - the comments criticising these people are based on speculation & so are the comments defending them!

It is mostly right to say you can't debate with Fascists, but this does not mean we shouldn't debate ABOUT Fascists, as it's rational debate that generates new ideas & which keeps the majority of ordinary, decent working people from ever being suckered by Fascist beliefs (especially when new generations of youngsters come forward who are not familiar with the history of Antifascism or of the NF & BNP).

Sadly the belief that it's not worth debating with Fascists has led some militant Anti-Fascists to believe that it's not worth bothering with real debate (as opposed to trading insults) with liberal Anti-Fascists either, which is one of the reasons why the militants are so marginalised - but if militants want to re-run the process that whittled CW down to the sorry state @narchist antifascist pointed out they're in now, then I guess we have to defer to their superior authority?

Stop bitching and get on with the work!

Jewish Lad

The SWP and the RWB

05.08.2009 11:54

It's interesting to see the way that the SWP/UAF have latched onto opposition to the BNP's RWB rally (see for example

http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=18697) Previously they ignored the rally, and did so last year even in the face of calls from their own activists in Notts Stop The BNP. Then Antifa called a mobilisation, and suddely the UAF were interested, but only in as much as co-opting opposition to the event and channelling it into a nice safe paper-selling opportunity. This is typical SWP tactics.

This year they are really pushing their anti-RWB rally, but of course its with prior arrangment with the police and well away from the BNP - a typical UAF event in other words. Now they're using the none-story about SWP-member Weyman Bennett and the fantasy Nazis of the AMB to try and increase the numbers at the event and their faux-militant credibility. No doubt Bennett will be presented as 'martyr-in-waiting' at the event itself, and those who attend will once again have to listen to one of his awful speeches.

If there is any disruption to the RWB it will be no thanks to the UAF/SWP. By the time they arrive in Codnor the RWB will most likely be well under way and the fascists who attend it will be well out of earshot. A token walk-past by Bennett and the UAF leadership, as per last year, will simply be a show of weakness, and the fascists are entitled to laugh at it.

If antifascists genuinely want to stop the RWB why turn up when it is already underway to a pre-arranged police RV? Codnor-Denby is a much lonlier (and unpoliced) area now, and at night? We should be using effective tactics against fascist mobilisation not ineffectual street-theatre.

RWB

05.08.2009 12:07

Ok I did say it'd be "over and out" but to reply to the last comment about street-theatre, yes mate I totally agree. With a bit of luck you concentrating your fire-power on the BNP instead of whining about Weyman Bennett might help you make sure it isn't a complete fuck-up like last year.

Oh for more firepower! ;)

05.08.2009 12:28

While of course antifascists need to concentrate their firepower on the BNP, I think that the likes of the UAF and SWP have too corrosive an influence in terms of conning well-meaning antifascists for them simply to be ignored. If we are to progress both tactically and politically, while keeping our main attention focussed squarely on the BNP, the real agenda of these opportunists constantly needs to be exposed. Personally, I wish I had a lot more firepower!

The SWP

05.08.2009 13:39

It could be argued that the main reason these parasites have been having such a "corrosive" effect on the rdical movement in this country for so long is precisely because they have not been sufficiently exposed. Whenever they are challenged there are always no doubt well-meaning, but gullible, people letting them off the hook by saying we should work with them, and that not to do so is "sectarian". Just how many times do we need to be exploited, manipulated, and betrayed by the SWP before people finally learn what they are really about. As a young man I was in the IS (the forerunner of the SWP), but time and again I have seen the way, as a party, they ruthlessly exploit campaigns and struggles, even taking money that was donated for striking workers for example. They even turned on their own comrades in the 1970's when after using them quite shamelessly they expelled the militant antifascists within their own ranks. Since then they have not changed as people found out when they set up 'Globalise Resistance'. It seems clear to me at least that just like the Anti Nazi League (about which a lot of tosh is written by people who weren't around at the time) the UAF is controlled by the SWP, and is a front-group (one in a long line) set up by them. I'm sure there are many good people in the UAF (and in the SWP), but if the SWP are involved you can be sure that there real purpose is not 'smashing fascism', as always it is about 'building the party'. Their visibility and simple politics may make them seem attractive, they can afford the glossiest leaflets afterall, but for those who really want to stop the BNP the UAF are at best a waste of time. Please learn from the mistakes many good people have made over the years by trusting the SWP.

Old timer

a contradiction

05.08.2009 13:50

If the Uaf are so concerned about attacks from fascists why don't they ever take any security precautions? I went out leafleting with them when they first started and it was a shambles, no re-direction point, no spotters or stewards, going out leafleting in ones and two - one girl was even paired up with a fascist infiltrator. And their leaflets were shit. They have learnt nothing since then either, barely a week goes by without the Fash getting everyones e-mails because some UAF plonker sends them all out with the CC box left open. Either the UAF are exaggerating the threat of fascist attack or they are regularly putting people in danger, they can't have it both ways.

unimpressed

Butchers at MATB

05.08.2009 13:56

"They ARE getting worked-up aren't they?! It does seem a bit of an overreaction from 'Butchers Apron', particularly since he posted identically on Urban75. Perhaps he needs to get out more, poor lad! "

Bloody Hell! He has got a bee in his bonnet hasn't he?! FFS have a break Butchers! Get out n have a go at the Fash for a change, it'll cheer you up!

achingsides

Unimpressed 2

05.08.2009 14:10

I was on a UAF leafletting trip in Leeds just like the one desrcibed above! I swore I'd never go out with them again after.

About a year later I went out leafleting with a Leeds antifascist group called the 635 group and things couldn't have been more different. We went into a quite hostile area in a fleet of cars, about 50 of us. Everything was very tight with people leafleting door to door in teams while others took care of security, they even had cars driving round the area looking for any opposition and radio communication between the front and rear of the group. It was all done very proffessionally and I felt many times safer than I did with the UAF, they were obviously very experienced, security conscious, and focused. There was also a proper de-brief after which was good. It also showed some of us who had not been involved much in these kind of things before that 'militant antifascism' isn't just about hitting people and it wasn't 'macho' either, there were plenty of women there for example. I'm sure if more people were interested in opposing the BNP and looked a bit further than the UAF groups like this one could do a lot more good work. I was proud to be with them that day.

G (Leeds)

seems like a good piece

05.08.2009 14:29

A CALL TO ARMS!

While most of us are struggling with the effects of the current crisis in capitalism, the British National Party are busy making hay. They see the bosses’ recession as a political windfall, and just as Hitler used Germany's economic problems to scapegoat the Jews, they are scapegoating 'immigrants' and asylum-seekers. The BNP were smashed off the streets by militant antifascists in the past, but now they are beginning to crawl back out of the sewers to spread their racist poison in our communities. It is time to stand and fight.

Antifa is committed to confronting fascism wherever it appears, but we cannot be everywhere. If the BNP are to be defeated, whole communities must unite against them, and all autonomous antifascists must organize to defend their communities and help stop the rise of the BNP. Despite what the middle-class Left tell us, this will take more than petitions or appeals to politicians, it will take direct action.

Throughout the country the BNP are holding meetings, paper-sales, and street stalls on a regular basis. Whenever they come out onto the streets we have to be there to confront them. Now is the time to stop the BNP. Now is the time to act.

By any means necessary.

ANTIFA ENGLAND

from antifa website

RWB - And just in case anyone escapes the UAF corrall...

05.08.2009 15:13

From the eeb:

Drone used to monitor BNP event
A drone fitted with video cameras will be flown over a British National Party gathering in Derbyshire after dozens of protesters were arrested last year.

Police are using the plane to monitor the event near Ripley on 15 and 16 August and any protesters who turn out.

Last year police arrested more than 30 protesters near the site off Codner Denby Lane, but no-one was charged.

Officers said it would cost "about £500,000" to police the event. The plane will be used to record evidence.

Chief Constable Mike Creedon said: "We will apply to the Home Office for special funding which is occasionally available.

"I'm not overly hopeful about this. Last year's costs were something in the region of £300,000.

"It will be significantly more this year. I would think we're pushing around half a million pounds, and that comes from a budget which is already heavily stretched."

In a statement Derbyshire police said that a pilotless drone plane would be used to record evidence at the Red, White and Blue festival.

The force said: "The drone, fitted with CCTV cameras, will be used by a trained operator from the manufacturing company.

"It will record any incidents of disorder for evidence-gathering purposes."

It said it was not the first force in the country to use drone planes.

Black N Red

Concentrate on the BNP

05.08.2009 16:23

My experience of the SWP concurs with what Old Timer says above, and the AMB article is transparent self-promotion by the UAF, but the theory that Searchlight are involved in a plot to convince people we need the state to protect us from Nazis is pure conspiracy theory. Searchlight have published stupid comments about Anarchists and the Black Block recently, but if you read the White Riot and White Noise books by Searchlight editor Nick Lowles, he gives due credit to AFA, Red Action and Anarchists for attacking and beating Nazis, so the theory Searchlight always try to blank militants holds alot less water than some militants claim. The police do exist to protect capitalists + the state from the people, but the police also protect people from murderers, paedos, rapists and Nazis. Sorry to rain on your idealism, but it's a fact.

The reason for questioning Antifa's methods is not because Searchlight is a "sacred cow", but because the arguments put forward for wasting time attacking Searchlight are often (if not always) wrong. From Antifa's point of view the police are more of a threat to militant Anti-Fascism than Nazis are, but from the public's POV the police are more of a threat to violent Nazis than Anti-Fascists are. It was the police that stopped David Copeland, Neil Lewington, Martyn Gilleard, Robert Cottage, Nathan Worrell etc - not AFA, Red Action or Antifa, whatever they achieved elsewhere.

Fair play to Antifa supporters for defending the image of their group, but to point out that an "alliance" co-founded by Class War also includes the Anarchist Federation hardly proves Antifa's some broad church! The claim that Class War don't "control" Antifa England is pointless. Anarchists by definition don't control anyone, and you only have to look at Antifa's founding statement to see that class struggle Anarchism is (albeit in slightly coded language) central to Antifa's interpretation of Anti-Fascism. Great report about the 635 Group BTW - the 43 Group had a fleet of taxis and even their own doctors!

Jewish lad

Class

05.08.2009 16:25

On a point of history, the classic militant analysis of the relationship between class and Fascism is out of date. In the 1930s the Rothermeres and Duke of Bedford etc bankrolled Fascist groups to attack workers, but by the 1980s the only Aristos daft enough to invest in Fascism were old bats like Lady Jane Birdwood. Serious capitalists sussed "traditional" Fascism as a liability, transferring their (financial) affections to groups like The Adam Smith Institute, Aims of Industry, Libertarian Alliance, Institute for Economic Affairs and (when it came to serious strike-breaking) Freedom Association, with these groups having a huge influence on Thatcher's Monetarism and New Labour. The NF and BNP still hate the workers movement, but traditional British Fascists are no longer direct tools of the ruling class.

Responding to Jewish Lad

05.08.2009 17:11

"if you read the White Riot and White Noise books by Searchlight editor Nick Lowles, he gives due credit to AFA, Red Action and Anarchists for attacking and beating Nazis, so the theory Searchlight always try to blank militants holds alot less water than some militants claim."

There was of course a time when Searchlight were involved in AFA. They caused a lot of trouble, hence their eventual 'proscription'.
.
"From Antifa's point of view the police are more of a threat to militant Anti-Fascism than Nazis are, but from the public's POV the police are more of a threat to violent Nazis than Anti-Fascists are. It was the police that stopped David Copeland, Neil Lewington, Martyn Gilleard, Robert Cottage, Nathan Worrell etc - not AFA, Red Action or Antifa, whatever they achieved elsewhere."

I think that's a fair point. One of many JL.

"Fair play to Antifa supporters for defending the image of their group, but to point out that an "alliance" co-founded by Class War also includes the Anarchist Federation hardly proves Antifa's some broad church! The claim that Class War don't "control" Antifa England is pointless. Anarchists by definition don't control anyone, and you only have to look at Antifa's founding statement to see that class struggle Anarchism is (albeit in slightly coded language) central to Antifa's interpretation of Anti-Fascism. Great report about the 635 Group BTW - the 43 Group had a fleet of taxis and even their own doctors! "

Antifa is certainly not a broad church, but it's broader than some might imagine. It IS predominantly made up of Anarchists, but is not exclusively Anarchist. While Antifa was originally set up in London by individuals from CW, AF, and No Platform, that was before it was a national federation and before the adoption of its founding statement (which is closely modelled after The 635 Group founding statement. The original claim was that Antifa is a CW 'front', which it certainly is not. Nor is it a front for the AF.

635

05.08.2009 17:18

"Great report about the 635 Group BTW - the 43 Group had a fleet of taxis and even their own doctors! "

Ditto, good read. From what I know I'd be suprised if the 635 didn't have at least one doctor too!

James

MATB = Greek Chorus he he he

05.08.2009 19:48

The Greek chorus (choros) is a group of twelve or fifteen minor actors in tragic and twenty-four in comic plays of classical Athens...the chorus comprises the elderly men of Argos

Plays of the ancient Greek theatre always included a chorus that offered a variety of background and summary information to help the audience follow the performance. The Greek chorus comments on themes, and shows how an ideal audience might react to the drama.

The importance of the chorus declined after the 5th century, when the chorus began to be separated from the dramatic action. Later dramatists depended on the chorus less than their predecessors.

Gums

You can't have it both ways....

09.08.2009 15:45

Conventional Antifa wisdom insists groups like Combat 18 etc are hopeless pussies, that Redwatch is a joke, and that the myth of "terrifying" Nazis is propagated by Unite Against Fascism and Searchlight to drive Anti-Fascists into the protective arms of the Trot groups and/or State.

Antifa also insist UAF "endangered" their own supporters by allowing a UAF e-mail list to fall into the hands of Fascists (which is true), but if Redwatch etc aren't dangerous then UAF supporters weren't put at risk - some militants are so desperate to discredit UAF that they ended up disproving their own argument here !

Nazis are mostly pathetic, but when we need to worry is when occasionally they DO walk the walk, and we don't need to resort to conspiracy theories to prove that Trots are daft.

Puncturing flabby Fascist egos and to emboldening Anti-Fascists to confront Nazis is all good, but Antifas need to remember that after Hitler's German Nazis were ELECTED, it was alleged left-wing militancy - the burning of the Reichstag - that gave Nazis the pretext to abolish democracy and establish their dictatorship!

The situation with UAF and Searclight is less black-and-white than some militants claim, and what we don't need is militants using the same class "analysis" that destroyed groups like Class War to divide the Anti-Fascist movement EVEN MORE

IMCs