By The Norwich Radical Editorial Team
In the method of placing collectively our reporting on the far-right presence and pro-LGBTQIA+ counter-protest at Storytime with Auntie Titania in Norwich final Wednesday, we obtained a lot of accounts from individuals who attended the counter-protest. We weren’t in a position to reproduce all of these accounts in our authentic article, however we imagine that they provide helpful perception into the occasions in query, the energy of LGBTQIA+ solidarity in Norwich, and the teachings that may be taken ahead from this motion. This article reproduces extra of the content material of these accounts, with small edits in locations for readability and to take care of anonymity.
Why did you be a part of the counter-protest?
“Far-right organisations have been manipulating susceptible ladies by spreading transphobic and homophobic vitriol, and organisations just like the PA [Patriotic Alternative] have change into emboldened by excessive profile fascists like Donald Trump, Liz Truss, Boris Johnson or Andrew Tate. Hearing that precise fascists had been attacking library occasions for youngsters, I couldn’t not be a part of the counter demonstration.”
“I joined right now as a result of I needed to combat the fash within the streets. But significantly, I simply actually dislike the way in which bigots and much proper extremists and a tragic assortment of misplaced girls and boys try to painting one thing which is innocent as one thing wicked. Children love dressing up and listening to tales, and Titania is fabulous.”
“It’s all nicely and good going to Pride, however we additionally should combat each different day of the 12 months to even keep our present stage of ‘rights’.”
“I attended as a result of I believe it was vital to point out that Norwich is a queer-friendly metropolis and the actions of this alt-right group don’t characterize our high-quality metropolis. I felt that their organised ambushing of the North Walsham occasion was cowardly and didn’t need to allow them to get away with the identical bully ways once more.”
“I wanted to go as a result of a powerful opposition is the important thing to defending everybody’s security, and I don’t know if I may reside with myself if I did nothing.”
How did it really feel to be a part of the counter-protest?
“It was truthfully overwhelming, each with rage that these individuals dare assault our libraries and our group, and pure love on the quantity of people who joined us and supported us. Norwich actually stood up and mentioned: ‘Not right here, not ever.’”
“I loved exhibiting solidarity […] and being a part of one thing which enabled the occasion to go forward, serving to mother and father with youngsters attending the occasion get into the library safely, regardless of the abuse from the protestors. I did really feel unhappy they needed to undergo this although.”
“It felt fairly good seeing the turnout in assist of the occasion. I used to be anticipating solely a handful of individuals however seeing so many individuals there to assist storytime was actually uplifting. I didn’t really feel threatened by the fascists, regardless of having my delight flag and make up on, due to everybody else who was there.”
“Being a part of the huge crowd of counter-protesters was nice as a result of it confirmed the LGBTQ+ group can come along with the assist from straight allies. It confirmed that Norwich isn’t only a rainbow for Pride. We reside and work right here and are a part of a wider group that won’t settle for bigots slandering and demonising queer individuals as an summary concept to hate. Organising collectively confirmed we’re actual and we’re right here and you may’t make us your bogeymen.”
“It was wonderful to see youngsters strolling out and in with their households, and the assist and love that they clearly are in a position to obtain from mother and father who love their children unconditionally – whether or not or not they prove the way in which their mother and father anticipated them to.”
“I went by way of a number of emotions that day – nervousness, delight, appreciation, closeness to these round me. It actually felt like we have been at an enormous tipping level, however maybe it was simply one other day for the fascists.”
What was your impression of the far-right protestors?
“They have been reactionary, impolite, abusive and violent. They shouted slurs at us, bought proper up in peoples faces, blocked the entry to the library, swore at households taking their youngsters in. There weren’t a lot of them compared to us, however any quantity is sickening.”
“The protestors have been fairly a mixture of individuals, together with some actually aggressive males who have been abusing individuals verbally and, in a minimum of one case, bodily. Abuse appeared primarily from older offended white males and geared toward mother and father with youngsters, LGBTQ+ individuals, ladies and disabled individuals. There have been A LOT of very younger individuals, together with one younger man who was coming to Trump protests and Kill the Bill protests final 12 months and was additionally on Channel 4 Dispatches [Barclay Walsh]. I attempted to talk to at least one or two individuals, however they didn’t categorical clearly why they have been there. The PA have been largely from elsewhere, Birmingham for instance; they have been extra organised and quite a few than the opposite protestors, and extra harmful due to their racist, far-right and fascist views.”
“I spent most of it speaking to some individuals, one who had nasty views, one other with nasty leaflets. I attempted to interact with them considerably – it felt a bit of bit like a misplaced trigger however I assumed I’d change somebody’s thoughts. They mentioned they have been from ‘the sunshine group’ or one thing, appeared like a smaller group – antivax, anti-state, ‘shadowy influences’ sorts.”
“They largely appeared to don’t know what the precise points are, they’re simply repeating pathetic and disproven bigoted speaking factors from on-line. They simply appear to need to get offended over issues, which really makes me really feel a bit sorry for them.”
“The alt-right protestors gave the impression to be a small group of bigots that had been shipped in to create a synthetic picture of what ‘the actual Norwich’ thinks. Lots of them dispersed rapidly after they’d completed shouting on the mother and father and youngsters coming into the constructing. I don’t know if it is because they have been overwhelmed by our numbers, embarrassed by the group they’d realised they have been part of, or simply wanted to catch the coach residence to wherever they really reside! By the top of the demonstration there have been hardly sufficient of them to carry their huge signal.”
“I ponder what number of of them really believed the issues they have been saying; in my expertise persons are able to believing no matter fits them. They additionally tried to ‘infiltrate’ the counter-protestors to movie them, claiming to be from ‘the information’.”
“Ironically a few of their indicators mentioned “let children be children”; I imagine that message extra represents what the LGBT+ contingent have been there to characterize.”
“They weren’t very sharp – their arguments and insults have been horrible, they have been simply belligerent, aggressive, and loud. They additionally appeared caught off guard – I don’t suppose they have been anticipating such a big turnout [of counter-protestors] nor a lot ardour!”
What was the police response like?
“Unfortunately the police have been fully ineffective, regardless of us asking for help. We have been advised the police had escorted them out of the town, however we found the fascists have been the truth is down the pub.”
“Cops have been, nicely, cops I suppose. They discovered a few black bloc individuals carrying an antifa flag extra worrying apparently than the mob of PA morons on the steps.”
What classes can we take into queer solidarity and antifascist actions in Norwich sooner or later?
“More individuals, be bolder! And I actually suppose individuals ought to masks up. So many weren’t and the protestors have been livestreaming, photographing and so on always.”
“It was a very good exhibiting, however to bystanders it most likely got here throughout as simply two radicalised sides. We may have interaction extra. Even extra excessive individuals will be made to query issues.”
“I believe the counter protest may’ve been higher marketed […] I didn’t even know what time to point out up.”
“We may all do with self-defense coaching if we need to defend ourselves and one another!”
“Whoever will get into PM subsequent, the fascists are going to have one other particular person encouraging them, and as the price of dwelling disaster will get worse these persons are going to be focusing on the LGBT+ group, refugees, migrants, disabled individuals and other people of color for a scapegoat. It’s going to be actually vital to construct our communities, to maintain linked and standing up for one another.”
All photographs credit score: James Burton Photography
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