Saturday 13 June is one more significant day the long history of Brighton protests. Far right demonstrators yet again descended on the city and were met with thousands of people everywhere they turned, all dancing, drumming, singing and chanting in opposition. Brighton showed it’s true, full spectrum colours and literally boogied them back out of town.
In many ways, it was a day to celebrate everything there is to love about this city. The sun shone, creativity dripped from every lamppost, and even local heros Rob Luis and Fat Boy Slim turned out to entertain the gathered crowd with DJ sets from the back of the a bike.
For many, though, there are harder memories: of being pushed and beaten for hours by lines of riot police at pinch points around the city centre; of unprovoked pepper spray or punches; of peaceful people left with baton bruises. Kettled counter-protesters were braced against unrelenting police attempting to force the march through. They didn’t get far. At the last stand, outside the Prince Albert, since dubbed ‘The Battle of Trafalgar Street’, the crowd held firm, locked arms, took the blows, kept on dancing. Eventually, the police gave up and the shuffled the dwindling far-right crowd back up to the station.
Big questions have been asked since then about the police approach to the day in Brighton and across the country where similar events were held. ‘One Day in Brighton’, a report from NetPol, made possible by evidence collected from counter-protesters who were there on the day, is released this week. At 3pm, Friday 7 August, speakers, including the editor of the report and representatives from @brightonlock and others that worked to create the Carnival Against Fascism, will gather at the junction of Trafalgar Street and Frederick Place by the commemorative plaque that marks the event.
And, true to the spirit of the city, the people who partied and fought hard to reclaim our streets, will celebrate a week later with the Brighton is Antifascist Carnival After Party at Daltons. Hosted by Jollof Café and Radio Calais, the party will bring food, stalls, short films, and music from some of the many tribes that made the day a triumphant statement of Brighton’s thriving culture including Ukrainian/Syrian band Svitlo Amal, Singing Resistance on the Terrace, Folk Against Fascism, Stevoo Hide, Best Foot Music, Depot Dance Sound System and more.
Whose streets? Our streets.
Photos: Ben Donoghue, Ollie Thomas
NetPol report launch
Friday 7 August, 3pm
Outside Prince Albert, Trafalgar Street
Brighton is Antifascist Carnival After Party
Friday 14 August, 6pm-midnight
Daltons
Pay as you can tickets
