WORLD WORLDWIDE EUROPE UNITED-KINGDOM DEVON - news journal UPDATE - (en) UK, ACG: Report on the Plymouth riot on July 5th from an ACG member in Devon. (ca, de, it, pt, tr)[machine translation]

 At least two hundred fascists faced us tonight, and I would estimate

three hundred antifascists were present. ---- The Stand Up Against
Racism counter-demo began at 6pm, and there was already a notable fash
presence, despite their own demo (riot) not being due to start until
7pm. The police presence was light, and a group of 30 or so anarchists
patrolled the outskirts of the counter-demo, and were needed to forcibly
remove a number of fash that attempted to infiltrate the counter demo to
attack/heckle speakers.
As the clock ticked towards 7, more and more police vehicles began to
surround us, but worryingly, we seemed to have small groups of fash on
all sides of us, just standing around, seemingly unnoticed by the
police. Just before 7, it became apparent there was a very large fascist
presence moving south towards us on Armada way. They were stopped by a
line of police, and chanting began from both sides. As far as I could
tell, they were completely drowned out by our side.

Towards 8pm, the lead fash elements began to try and break clear of the
police, making their way along Royal Parade, the small black bloc group
followed them - and found ourselves directly face to face with punches
being thrown for a few moments, until the police managed to get back in
between us again. A stand off then ensued on the corner of Whimple
Street, and before long we found ourselves under a barrage of beer cans,
bottles, and rocks the size of my hand.

Some time later, the fash moved to the opposite end of Armada Way,
towards the Theatre Royal, attempting to get around the police to get at
us again. We continued to shadow them, and again had to meet them head
on before the police could separate us. A giant anarchist continually
put himself in the firing line in front of the counter-protest, leading
hand to hand fighting whenever the fascists broke through the police -
he took punches from multiple people and carried on battling despite
blood dripping from his nose.

The fash then began chucking more rocks and flares at us, but continued
to be drowned out by our chanting. At around 9pm, the stewards decided
to call an end to the counter protest, leaving those of us that remained
heavily outnumbered and under a barrage of missiles, and probably in
danger of being overwhelmed without the police presence. Multiple people
surrounding me took blows from rocks and coins thrown from the north
side of Royal Parade, and hilariously, the fash brought out some
fireworks - and hit themselves with them far more than they hit us.

Towards 10pm, the police forced the fash back up Armada Way, putting
them out of projectile range. By half 10, we couldn't see them, and the
remaining anti-fascist group began to thin out.

We held the square throughout, and the anarchist contingent was at the
front ready to face them for the duration.

https://www.anarchistcommunism.org/2024/08/06/report-from-plymouth/
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