British Anti-Fascists Reject Pegida’s Hate
“London Anti-Fascists oppose all forms of reactionary movements – from the streets to the state," London Anti-Fascists organization (AFN) said in statement published on its website on Saturday, April 4.
"We see PEGIDAUK as one manifestation of the unease in society caused by state divide and rule tactics, the stirring up racial and religious hatred in the media and the decline in living standards.”
While dozens took Pegida’s march to Downing Street, about 2,000 ant-fascist activists rallied to reject Pegida's rhetoric for spurring anti-Muslim violence.
Trading chants, songs and insults, the two groups were separated by a long line of police officers.
"We have heard time and again that groups are being against migrants and against the Muslim community in different ways and what that ends up doing is consolidating and codifying what were traditional forms of racism and hatred against new communities because somehow its acceptable to do that,” a member of the anti-fascists told RT.
The group, whose name translates as “Patriotic Europeans against the Islamisation of the West”, was formed in Dresden last year and has held regular marches there.
A demonstration in the German city in January drew 25,000, but it is thought that recent marches have gathered as few as 2,000.
Source: On Islam
