Fascists Routed at Trafalgar Square

FISTS flew. Fascists went flying. Demonstrators at Sunday's mass South Africa protest meeting, incensed by strutting, arrogant racialists, screaming: 'Keep Britain white', angrily grabbed the fascists.

The police in Whitehall had no time to move. A fascist was dashed to the ground. Blood spurted from his face. An Action seller whimpered 'don't touch me' as a demonstrator's fist smashed towards his face. The plea went unheeded.

Within minutes, the fascist attempt at a counter-demonstration had petered out. Other fascists scampered away. Forgetting their slogan: 'Stand by the Whites', they forgot to stand by their own beleaguered colleagues.

From the fascist-cleansed Whitehall pavements, the roar went up: 'Now to fascist headquarters'.

Pouring out of Whitehall, the demonstrators swung into the Mall. Across in Trafalgar Square, a forlorn poster proclaimed: 'Boycott is a Peaceful Weapon.'

At least 1,000 people surged under Admiralty Arch, along past the Admiralty buildings, down the wide-sweeping Mall at the bottom of which lies Buckingham Palace.

The air was rent with the strains of 'The Internationale' and 'Solidarity'. Again and again the crowd roared: 'Down with Fascism.'

A police cordon suddenly appeared at the entrance to Buckingham Palace. Perhaps the police thought the angry crowd was going to present a petition to the Queen. If so they were mistaken. This was no humble petition-bearing crowd. Their attention was turned towards Verwoerd's supporters here.

Fascists bolt the doors

Streaming across St. James' Park, the demonstration was in no time into Victoria Street. There a line of 40 police barred the way. Not bothering to stop to discuss the sessional laws (during parliamentary sessions, all demonstrations are forbidden within one square mile of the House of Commons), the crowd simply swept them to one side.

In Vauxhall Bridge Road, site of the Union Movement's headquarters, another and even bigger line of police were gathered. Inside the building, behind locked doors, protected by the police, cowered the fascists. Their counter-demonstrations were over for that day.

Every attempt to get to the office was blocked by the police. The lesson did not go unheeded. The crowd began to chant: 'Who protects Mosley?—The Police. The Police', came the answer.

The demonstration was mainly a youthful one. Many of the demonstrators were members of the Socialist Labour League, the Young Communist League and the New Left. Others came from Young Socialist Groups.

Students and young workers combined to make it clear that, if the Right-wing leaders pinned their faith in appeals to Macmillan and Verwoerd, youth entertained few illusions in the effectiveness of such methods.

The anti-fascist character taken by Sunday's protest showed there is a growing awareness that to defeat apartheid and colonialism you have to fight its supporters here in Britain.

For many this was their first experience of a clash with the fascists and the police. Most recognised afterwards that policemen do more than escort old ladies across roads or chase bank robbers. They also look after fascists.