28 replies to this topic

[goldcard]

Police Warning

Seems there is at least 1 counter demo planned, I think UAF.
As I walked to the bus station through market square they were boarding up the statues.
Rumours abound about footy hooligans who can't get to a game joining in.
All taxis are withdrawn, the bus station closing, shops boarding up.
What a day for me to have to try to get across town to work and back for the annual stock-take....


Local rag website latest

Edited by goldcard, 30 April 2010 - 08:16 PM.

[paley]

owt 'appen?

[goldcard]

I live on the outer edge, the action is tomorrow.
No sirens going off as yet....

[paley]

Keep us posted

[goldcard]

I think the local rag has a twitter link.
I can only report back after work.
Could be National News though if it does go off....

[yanto]

Police Warning

Seems there is at least 1 counter demo planned, I think UAF.
As I walked to the bus station through market square they were boarding up the statues.
Rumours abound about footy hooligans who can't get to a game joining in.
All taxis are withdrawn, the bus station closing, shops boarding up.
What a day for me to have to try to get across town to work and back for the annual stock-take....


Local rag website latest

Seems to me the EDL have got authority to stage a gathering.
Have any anti EDL groups got the same clearence?
If not then surley the police have to look at their illegal coming together and ask questions why they are there.
I may be wrong as I am going of the press posted.

[goldcard]

Seems to me the EDL have got authority to stage a gathering.
Have any anti EDL groups got the same clearence?
If not then surley the police have to look at their illegal coming together and ask questions why they are there.
I may be wrong as I am going of the press posted.

The music festival counter demo has been blocked, but I believe UAF have been cleared, as long as they stay on Vale Park, and EDL stay in Market Square.
Various stories in the rag suggest EDL meeting at Vale Park before going to town centre, though.
As I type, Police are closing roads into the areas.
I'll report back after work when I have definite reliable info as to the events.
The local station, Mix96 might have a reporter there.

[bowes]

Shocking how fashionable race riots or fascist-communist riots have become in the last year, we may as well be in the 70s

[goldcard]

The latest I have is "noisy but peaceful"
Been a big police presence from the early hours, and helicopter(s) permanently in the air over town.
Every pub in town and surroundings is shut (so no going to watch Wires Salford for me... ) and the roads are quiet (most are closed anyway)
The flash points could be as the 2 groups leave their respective venues....

Loads of rumours abound, nothing I can verify as definite, so call it a nervous quiet right now

Edited by goldcard, 01 May 2010 - 04:41 PM.

[bowes]

The latest I have is "noisy but peaceful"
Been a big police presence from the early hours, and helicopter(s) permanently in the air over town.
Every pub in town and surroundings is shut (so no going to watch Wires Salford for me... ) and the roads are quiet (most are closed anyway)
The flash points could be as the 2 groups leave their respective venues....

Loads of rumours abound, nothing I can verify as definite, so call it a nervous quiet right now

Are you joining in?

[Methven Hornet]

Shocking how fashionable race riots or fascist-communist riots have become in the last year, we may as well be in the 70s

More reminiscent of football hooliganism of the 80s.

[goldcard]

Are you joining in?

No.
I'm keeping well clear.
Just watching news updates etc, seems like the police have done a decent job containing the 2 groups.
Cost millions tho, not just in lost trade to the town and taxis/buses etc, but the police presence.
keeping at least 1 helicopter airborne isn't cheap, and there were 2 at times.( usually when 1 was due for a refuel, I think)
I think there was 1 scuffle, riot shields and batons drawn, not fully got the truth there, but otherwise seems incident free, so far.
I'm still pee'd off all the pubs are shut.
I mean all. For miles.
I just got paid, I could have gone to watch the Wires game...

[goldcard]

More reminiscent of football hooliganism of the 80s.

Reports tell of chanting that seemed football based.
somewhere on here
Might be in the comments, can't remember.

[Methven Hornet]

Reports tell of chanting that seemed football based.
somewhere on here
Might be in the comments, can't remember.

Well the football authorities and the police have done such a good job over the years in controlling trouble surrounding football, perhaps those that want trouble have just moved on to some other excuse.

[goldcard]

Many a true word, MH.
Seems unless there's a few troublemakers hanging back anywhere, it's all over.
800 protesters/800 coppers I guess at around 1/1 ratio, order should be maintained.
12 arrests, mostly away from the demo.

[Methven Hornet]

Many a true word, MH.
Seems unless there's a few troublemakers hanging back anywhere, it's all over.
800 protesters/800 coppers I guess at around 1/1 ratio, order should be maintained.
12 arrests, mostly away from the demo.

Yer own personal copper!

It reminds me of a tale I heard from a mate from Sheffield told me years ago. It was back in the days (late 70s/early 80s) when the National Front were active and the Socialist Worker Party were their main 'opponents' on the streets. Apparently a 'rumble' occurred and the NF followers took a beating - so impressed were they that a lot of them joined the SWP the next week!

[bowes]

Yer own personal copper!

It reminds me of a tale I heard from a mate from Sheffield told me years ago. It was back in the days (late 70s/early 80s) when the National Front were active and the Socialist Worker Party were their main 'opponents' on the streets. Apparently a 'rumble' occurred and the NF followers took a beating - so impressed were they that a lot of them joined the SWP the next week!

I knew someone from the SWP and he got deported from Russia for trouble a couple of years ago and once got arrested for throwing a stone at a policeman!

[Johnoco]

Yer own personal copper!

It reminds me of a tale I heard from a mate from Sheffield told me years ago. It was back in the days (late 70s/early 80s) when the National Front were active and the Socialist Worker Party were their main 'opponents' on the streets. Apparently a 'rumble' occurred and the NF followers took a beating - so impressed were they that a lot of them joined the SWP the next week!

I could well imaghine that to be true. I remember going on a few Socialist Workers/Anti nazi type marches in the early 80's (WHADDAWEWANT...etc) and some of the people with us, as it later emerged, were complete BNP/Combat18 loonies. A deffo bizzare thing but true.

[goldcard]

So town is largely unboarded again, and not a lot happened.
Unless, of course you, like me, had the loony on the bus next to you.
A few highlights.
Lots of arrests were covered up due to the violent nature of taking them into custody (yeah, ok), nearly 200 petrol bombs bound for the town siezed in Brum (surely that would be national news?) and every single window boarded up was at a cost of £1,000.

The police did take a zero tolerance approach from the outset, and the town did go "lock-down".
The police got them in and out again under control, and there was far worse trouble in some conference soccer game than here.

[Futtocks]

Yer own personal copper!

Worst Depeche Mode cover... ever!