Timeline: Anti-EDL mobilisation in Leeds

October 31, 2009 16:30 - "Seems to be calming down a bit now; those EDL members still in Leeds have repaired to licensed premises for refreshement, many anti-fascists going home because it's not clear if or when any more trouble-causing behaviour might need to be opposed."

October 31, 2009 16:27 - "All dispersed, EDL were loud and - while their demo was going on - antifascists were well outnumbered. Afterwards they were escorted by police to station and on to their coaches and trains. The bad taste remains in the air. A young mother anti-fascist was spat at."
 

October 31, 2009 15:55 - "Yates on Vicar Lane has an EDL flag in the window!"

October 31, 2009 15:52 - "Young black guy released from van"

October 31, 2009 15:52 - "EDL now penned in outside station/city house. And there are dogs there"

October 31, 2009 15:43 - Anti-fascist activists have reported an unescorted EDL march through Leeds consisting of a break-away group fo 60-100 EDL types. Having reportedly made several circuits of the area this group came up Albion Street where a few anti-fascists confronted them about their inflammatory chanting etc. One of the women was held up against a doorway and threatened.

Police at this time were no where to be seen.

Eventually police attended, ignored the violent fascists and arrested a black youth who was described by eye witnesses as "bewildered" and "gobsmacked", finding himself wrestled to the ground for no clear reason, except perhaps raising his arm. Efforts to de-arrest him were unsuccessful, and he was taken away.

When the marchers exited Albion Street into Boar Lane they were returned to the EDL pen.

October 31, 2009 15:42 - "A few EDL holding a banner on Boar Lane, Police with horses n vans"

October 31, 2009 15:40 - UAF stewards outside the library have been helping police attempts to keep people inside the pen.

Overheard conversation between someone in the crowd and a steward- "We don't want to stay here, we want to march. I'm an anarchist, don't tell me what to do." "We all have to stay together to defend the library. I believe in keeping people together, that's why I'm a socialist."

October 31, 2009 15:32 - "Small EDL group contained just outside the Corn Exchange"

October 31, 2009 15:18 - "Just been charged by a large group of EDL in station underpass because I tried to take their picture"

October 31, 2009 15:11 - "Lots of police, including mounted, vans and helicopter around station, couple of hundred EDL just gone past, small groups of UAF looks like one is [in] a police cordon while EDL walk streets around station"

October 31, 2009 15:10 - "Large group of EDL contained and being moved back towards station"

October 31, 2009 15:06 - "EDL arrest off Briggate. Police still chasing people through town"

October 31, 2009 15:05 - "EDL and police now running battles around the gay quarter"

October 31, 2009 15:04 - "Police have put a line across Boar Lane"

October 31, 2009 15:03 - "Both EDL and antifascists seem to be dispersed through town, police running around, some shouting etc."

October 31, 2009 15:00 - "Police clearing square, pushing EDL 2 train station but some going Boar Lane"

October 31, 2009 14:59 - "Large group of EDL now running in street broken police line"

October 31, 2009 14:54 - "EDL beginning to disperse, some without escort"

October 31, 2009 14:48 - "Just been threatened by a small group of EDL supporters who have been allowed to wander back into the city without escort"

October 31, 2009 14:47 - Police have formed a three-man-deep line at the Park Row end of City Square. They're forcing people towards the church and the station. They seem to be trying to clear Park Row (this is the route that any buses from Infirmary Street would use to get out of the city centre.)

October 31, 2009 14:41 - "It's hot in the crowd blatant racist homophobic aggression"

October 31, 2009 14:40 - Police are letting people out of the UAF pen now, but only a few at a time.

October 31, 2009 14:32 - "EDL sound system is quite muffled. Can't hear what they're saying from outside the pen."

October 31, 2009 14:26 - The UAF platform is telling people that they should come back into the pen so that they will be safe from the fascists, however, no EDL supporters are nearby.

October 31, 2009 14:24 - "Stand off at City Square. Different groups shouting  - sounds like a football match - EDL V Aggressive"

October 31, 2009 14:21 - "EDL unloading sound system. Looks like they learned from Manchester"

October 31, 2009 14:19 - "Police with horse divide EDL from anti-fascists, both groups chanting"

October 31, 2009 14:17 - "Two coaches of EDL supporters have just arrived. Also, there is horse shit everywhere. I fuckin hate horses"

October 31, 2009 14:11 - "Football hooligan shouting police dogs horses and a really bad atmosphere. Ousiders watching EDL sometimes trying to break out."

October 31, 2009 14:10 - "Some crowd surges and scuffles with police at the EDL. Cordon widened. Vans and dogs brought up. Dogs deployed"

October 31, 2009 14:08 - About 100 people have left the UAF pen moving for the Park Row route towards City Square. Police are trying to push them back into the pen but people are getting through. The UAF platform loud-hailer is telling everyone to come back into the pen. Most of the anti-EDL demonstrators are now outside the pen and resisting being moved back. People are chanting, "Police protect the fascists."

October 31, 2009 14:05 - "EDL tried to surge police line and failed"

October 31, 2009 14:03 - "EDL try to rush police line opposite Queens Hotel but are pushed back"

October 31, 2009 14:01 - "City square EDL fenced off"

October 31, 2009 14:00 - Someone outside the UAF pen was heard shouting abuse. People rushed towards him shouting 'he's a nazi' as he was arrested.

October 31, 2009 13:56 - "EDL protest calm. All penned in, large crowd watching. No sign of UAF in this area."

October 31, 2009 13:56 - "Ambulances moving up past station toward UAF"

October 31, 2009 13:50 - A group of about 200 anti-EDL demonstrators have just returned to the UAF pen from East Parade. One of them said that they had marched down East Parade from the UAF end to confront the EDL rally but were stopped by a police line with drawn truncheons at the South End of East Parade. They were held in a kettle on East Parade before being forced back up to the North end of East Parade, into the UAF pen.

October 31, 2009 13:47 - There's still a huge police presence outside the UAF pen, but inside there's just a samba band and a few people milling around.

Police have said that there are no current plans to restrict people's movement around the UAF pen, which makes sense as everyone's left. One cop asked an IMCer "Please will you just go home for the sake of the little one (dog) - I just want to go home and have a nice quiet pint"

October 31, 2009 13:40 - A group of about 50 asian lads were kettled by the police on Infirmary street. They had been trying to confront EDL but were moved back by police to the UAF pen.

October 31, 2009 13:35 - Reports coming from UAF rally of jubilant drummers, happy people and no trouble.

Reports from near City Square that the EDL people have stayed outside of the police pen. Police lines are keeping them from wandering towards UAF.

October 31, 2009 13:32 - Loud-hailer cops at EDL rally have just told them that they must disperse, and that busses are waiting to take them away.

October 31, 2009 13:32 - "Asian youth wearing Pakistani flags charging through streets"

October 31, 2009 13:30 - Up until now there have been much more police around the UAF rally than the EDL rally. Then a sudden, rapid movement of police in the direction of Infirmary Street. All traffic seems to have been stopped on the West side of the city centre. Police helecopter moving rapidly in the direction city square.

October 31, 2009 13:30 - "Police blocking entrances to EDL sql as UAF approaches"

October 31, 2009 13:27 - A large group of people have set off from the Library in the general direction of the EDL gathering. Police vehicles with sirens and flashing lights are moving in to head them off.

October 31, 2009 13:20 - Police have closed Park Row, the road between the two rallies. Busses have been forced to reverse out of the "UAF end". The UAF rally is quite dull.

October 31, 2009 13:19 - "Situation contained for now"

October 31, 2009 13:15 - Reports coming in of a fight outside library - someone within the antifascist pen was identified as a fascist infiltrator and "sorted out".

[edit - this has since been reported as innaccurate - see this comment on UK Indymedia article]

Meanwhile. Flashing lights on Park Row which appears to be closed off by police at one end (a bus was made to reverse out)

October 31, 2009 13:15 - "EDL organisers pleading for protestors to remain peaceful"

October 31, 2009 13:13 - "Been threatened with arrest for holding up a sign at the EDL demo saying EDL Violent Thugs Don't Represent Us. 3 people have tried to tear it out of my hands. 2 Coppers and 1 EDL thug.

October 31, 2009 13:13 - "EDL trying to break out of pen. Scuffles with police. Small group is heading for UAF"

October 31, 2009 13:05 - "One EDL member made it to the square and shouted to the Green Party speaker "Why don't we have jobs? Becasue the immigrants..." before getting run out.
Fairly violent response from some. Speaker advocated non-violence."

October 31, 2009 13:05 - People from all camps milling about on Park Row (between the two designated locations) - not much police presence in this area.

October 31, 2009 13:01 - Seven or eight police vans pulled up along side Milennium Square

October 31, 2009 12:54 - Chapel town feeder march now joining march outside Art Gallery.

October 31, 2009 12:50 - EDL being moved across the road now into their pen. Chants of "Nazi Scum" etc. and counter-chants we couldn't make out through the drool.

October 31, 2009 12:46 - "EDL held outside station. They want their country back"

October 31, 2009 12:45 - "Eng-uh-laaand"

October 31, 2009 12:42 - "Harehills and Chapel Town UAF getting oushed up Briggate by cops to join others on Headrow. EDL left to it on Boar Lane"

October 31, 2009 12:31 - "Kettle forming at UAF"

October 31, 2009 12:30 - "police have confiscated a flag saying "Racist Wankers" "

October 31, 2009 12:30 - March coming down towards city square, St George's Cross flag, chants of "Eng-er-land", police, some on horses arriving from direction of the railway station. Footie fans spilling out of pubs.

October 31, 2009 12:30 - "EDL have arriver in force"

October 31, 2009 12:30 - "Chapel Town feeder march now joining rally outside art gallery"

October 31, 2009 12:30 - Someone within the antifascist grouping outside the Library lets of a flare, causing concern to the authorities...

http://northern-indymedia.org/videos/286

October 31, 2009 12:29 - "Cat and Mouse through the streets - EDL roaming. Harehills just next to Boar Lane"

October 31, 2009 12:27 - "Rev herded into UAF pen"

October 31, 2009 12:24 - "Police starting to push and crush antifascists at corner of Headrow and Park Row"

October 31, 2009 12:20 - "500 to 600 anti fascists outside the art gallery"

October 31, 2009 12:18 - 6 or so Police horse on Park Row. Police linked around antifascists

October 31, 2009 12:18 - "Revolution making push to Mill Sq. Blocked by Police. Helicopter making debut"

October 31, 2009 12:15 - A procession has come along The Headrow and arrived outside the art gallery. People are carrying banners saying "No to EDL" and "Unite Against Fascism". Cops are keeping it very tightly cordoned and appear to be trying to get everyone to go through the metal detector.

October 31, 2009 12:14 - "Hyde Park Feeder march blocked by police from proceeding past junction of Albion Street and Headrow"

October 31, 2009 12:11 - "Police take anti-EDL banner into van. So much for freedom of speech"

October 31, 2009 12:09 - "Police confiscate banners from Hyde Park feeder march, now passing St. John's Centre"

October 31, 2009 12:05 - By Text: "  overheard : "Just support nice and cheerful" by cop   "

October 31, 2009 12:04 - By text "Currently Fuck All is happening {at the EDL location} because the police have lined the protest areas with metal fences making obvious cages that no one wants to enter. The EDL seem to be more intent on not entering thecage than the UAF, who have alreadyset up stalls and banners in theirs."

October 31, 2009 12:03 - By Text: "police physically attempting to slow march from Hyde Park by pushing back the banner at the front. Approaching the Headrow"

October 31, 2009 12:00 - By text: "Batman swells the numbers as Chapeltown and Harehills meet at Sheepscar and head in to town"

October 31, 2009 12:00 - Cops now preparing to take 150 EDL demonstartors across the road to City Square

October 31, 2009 11:51 - By text: "Forty peaceful demonstrators on way from chapeltown to town. Planning to meet up with Harehills lot. Definite police presence."

October 31, 2009 11:49 - By text "Thirty peaceful Unite Against Fascism demonstators on way from banstead park harehills to town. Cop van in tow"

October 31, 2009 11:47 - By text "About 150 people have started marching from Hyde Park, about 20 police acompanying"

October 31, 2009 11:30 - Police have said that Section 60 is in force over the whole of Leeds today, on the order of Divisional Commander Chief Superintendent Mark Milsom. There are cops from North Yorkshire and Humberside in Leeds today as well as the usual thugs.

A journalist has been stopped and searched. The police 'medic' who carried out the search refused to allow an independent witness to be present. When asked what they were searching for, the journalist was told "wire cutters or anything you could use to lock-on with" - not weapons, which is what section 60 is supposed to be used for. The journalist was singled out because he was taking photographs of the police.

October 31, 2009 11:00 - At the site announced for the UAF rally outside Leeds Central Library, police have erected a large cordon. The only entrance to the area is through what appears to be an airport-style metal-detector arch. There are ten police vans parked just around the corner. Trade union groups have banners up and people are selling newspapers.

October 31, 2009 09:30 - There is already a large police presence at City Square, Leeds. The statues have been wrapped in tarpaulins and the Christmas tree removed. Police are erecting Harris fences, presumably for later kettling/segregation of rally from counter-demonstrators.

There are several police vehicles on the square including a fast response unit. Police are erecting a loud-hailer system and CCTV camera. There is an unmarked white van equipped with satelite dish and cameras. A 3-stripe copper is currently knocking on their window but nobody is responding.