On May 26th, the city of Edinburgh prepared itself to give a heated
welcome to the racist members of the SDL, who were planning to
demonstrate in the city.This demonstration was shamefully unprecedented,
with members of the SDL having been granted the local authorities’
permission to demonstrate legally, despite continuous violent attacks
against Muslims in particular, all across the country.
On May 26th, the city of Edinburgh prepared itself to give a heated
welcome to the racist members of the SDL, who were planning to
demonstrate in the city.This demonstration was shamefully unprecedented,
with members of the SDL having been granted the local authorities’
permission to demonstrate legally, despite continuous violent attacks
against Muslims in particular, all across the country.
Large police numbers were displayed all over the city centre in order
to avoid violent incidents. In addition, members of the SDL were
confronted with a large anti-fascist demonstration of hundreds of people
organised by Unite Against Fascism, amongst other organisations.
Lothian and Borders Police estimate that around 80 people participated
in the SDL rally and the events passed off without major incidents.
The Muslim community of Edinburgh was well represented in the counter
demonstration. Socialist Appeal was also well represented, and members
managed to sell many papers and even chat to some of the demonstrators.
In the end,members of the SDL were forced to leave the city under the
pressure of the counter-demonstration and its participants’
determination not to let them march across the city.
The counter-demonstration against the racist SDL should be considered
a success.The general mood was very positive and encouraging and
enhanced by the multiculturalism that typically characterises Edinburgh
itself. However, the fight against fascism should also include a
political and ideological basis. Marxist ideas provide a powerful tool
against the weak and pathetic arguments that the SDL is able to provide
to its members, based on homophobia and hatred rather than on the
realisation that we are immersed in a historical class struggle against
the capitalist system.
Edinburgh Marches Against the SDL
