Action&Campaings
 
 

                                              NAZIS OUTNUMBERED AGAIN IN DOVER
 

On Saturday 9th January 1999 the Nazis of the National Front held their third march against asylum-seekers in Dover. Despite having had barely three days' notice, anti-fascists were able to mobilise some 60 people to oppose the fascists' march along the seafront -- twice the number mustered by the NF.  For their first two marches in Dover, in 1997 and 1998, the NF bussed in members from the West Midlands and elsewhere. This time they were only able to mobilise their London supporters. They were led by Terry Blackham, an unemployed hod-carrier with a conviction for running guns to Ulster Unionist paramilitaries, and Linda Miller, formerly of the British National Party and the Ku Klux Klan.  As previously, some 300 police were drafted into Dover from as far away as Surrey to ensure that the NF were able to march. They were equipped with dogs, horses, riot vans, riot gear, photographers, numerous video "Evidence Gathering Teams", a motor-launch and a spin-doctor from Kent Police headquarters to deal with the media. Anti-fascists were systematically stopped, searched, photographed, videod and asked for their names and addresses. Some anti-fascists were approached by police who said "we know who you are" and identified them by name (although not always correctly). At one point the Chief Constable of Kent, David Phillips, sauntered along the seafront trying to look inconspicuous; presumably he was personally directing the whole operation. The police refused to disclose how much they spent on the exercise, but if the previous two NF marches are anything to go by it was in the region of &40,000. Despite the overwhelming police presence, thanks to the efforts of the anti-fascists it took the NF more than three quarters of an hour to march the half-mile from the Eastern Docks to the Western Docks.  There were only three arrests during the day. Two were arrested for alleged public order offences and another person was arrested because there was a warrant out for his arrest in connection with something completely different (Hunt Sabotage activities). This means that since November 1997 there have been 34 arrests of anti-fascists in Dover; so far the police have not had one successful conviction. The NF say that they intend to keep holding marches in Dover every few months. Local anti-fascists will keep on trying to stop them.
 
 

Send messages of support, donations and offers of help to:

Dover Residents Against Racism c/o Refugee Link, PO Box 417, Folkestone, Kent CT19 4GT