Saturday 13th December saw fascists once again attempt to organise in Glasgow’s city centre. A few weeks ago it was the pleasantly named and completely ineffective ‘Racial Volunteers Squad’ who were intimidated just by the sight of the number of left wingers who were also handing out propaganda on Buchannan Street.  However this Saturday saw those fine defenders of white nationalism, the racist British National Party attempting to distribute their paper, the aptly titled ‘Voice of Freedom’ to unwitting members of the public. Although perhaps it remains doubtful how effective five ageing BNP members, complete with hoisted Union Jack shouting about keeping Britain British and offering the real voice of freedom, actually are.

The BNP was stopped in its tracks by a mobilisation of the left. Supporters of Glasgow Anarchists, the Scottish Socialist Party and Socialist Appeal were joined by members of the public in picketing the BNP; preventing them from propagandising amongst passers by through surrounding their members and encouraging the public not to receive any of the vile fascist nonsense that the BNP were pedalling. Such an approach has been successful when the BNP have previously set up stalls in Glasgow and proved effective once again. This tactic is in effect a form of united front and has seen the BNP repeatedly outnumbered and outgunned by the left. It has left its members demoralised, and as is ever the case with fascism reliant on the defence of the police.

The BNP were subject to ridicule from many passing members of the public, with one who attempted to confiscate newspapers from one of their members being arrested. The heroic warriors of the white race were horrified by this vicious attack with one declaring “I won’t let them attack my woman” before going onto give witness statements to the police who had took the supposed aggressor away in custody. Not long after the BNP packed up and left complete with police escort, evidently shaken by the response they had received and the scale of the opposition they faced.

The lessons of this experience are clear. It is evident that fascism will not be defeated by the forces of the state and that the legalistic attempts of the right wing of the labour movement and others to ban the BNP or rely on the state to stop racism are misplaced and that only the mobilisation of the working class will stop them. However, this is only the beginning, and whilst driving the BNP from the streets is an essential part of fighting fascism it is not in itself enough. A political solution is also necessary; only through fighting for a bold socialist programme in those areas where the BNP are organising that we will be able to see the back of them.