June elections build-up - NF (National Front) march in Newcastle City Centre
As part of the campaign to elect a far-right MEP from the North East of England, the National Front (NF) organised a march of supporters that took place in Newcastle City Centre on Saturday 17th April 2004.
Photo: Greys Monument, Newcastle City Centre
Hundreds of anti-fascist protesters turned out to challenge the NF contingent. Estimates put NF numbers at the beginning of the march at 100 (many bused from outside), but reducing to 80 by the time the fascists reached the bottom of Grey Street.
NF - a spent force
The National Front are now rarely visible in the North East despite fielding a candidate in the 2003 North Tyneside mayoral elections.
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TWAFA: A nazi mayor for North Tyneside?
Though a spent force, the NF still act as a focus in the North East for violent street activism. Their ‘useful’ and barely-disguised partnership with the ‘re-branded’ British National Party (BNP) is maintained by the BNP for this reason and both groups recruit from the ranks of football hooligan firms.
NF and BNP violence
With this in mind, local voices raised concerns with the police about the violence that inevitably accompanies an NF or BNP presence. But the April 17th march went ahead with police permission, though with some major routing changes.
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Agressive BNP campaigning against asylum seekers, in itself, is known to promote racist violence. Their campaign in the Hendon area of Sunderland became strongly associated with the murder of Peiman Bahmani. Bahmani was stabbed to death by a young Edinburgh football hooligan, who was staying with relatives in Hendon close by to where Bahmani was living.
Photo: Peiman Bahmani
TWAFA: North East BNP and May Elections 2003
The loose BNP/NF alliance has so far failed to ignite a race war in communities that are strong and multiracial - most electoral support comes from areas that are white, with no refugees or asylum-seekers. This makes the North East a priority target area for the fascists.
NF ‘propped up by drugs and drink’
Despite protest, the NF march went ahead, as planned, on the 17th. Bystanders described the straggle of marchers as propped up by drugs and drink. National NF organiser,Terry Blackham, and cronies found their way at the end of the day to Witherspoons by Newcastle station. Witherspoons - what are you thinking of?