The Anarchist Federation (AF) has issued a statement condemning Unite Against Fascism (UAF) and the actions of their stewards during a demonstration against the English Defence League (EDL) in Leeds city centre on October 31st.

According to reports during the rally, attended by over a thousand militant anti-fascists, trade unionists, students and left wing groups, several UAF stewards, including the head of UAF Leeds, physically prevented the AF comrade from rejoining the cordon then collaborated with the police to have him arrested.

The AF statement goes on to say: “We will not tolerate collaboration with the state to halt the activity of genuine anti-fascists” and are asking for other progressive organisations to do the same.

The rally in Leeds under the heading ‘Celebrate and Defend Multicultural Leeds’ was called by UAF to counter a demonstration organised by the English Defence League against Islamic extremism. The EDL are a collection of ex-army types, football hooligans, Christian extremists and patriots, along with a mix of far-right and Nazi hangers on. The UAF, a front group for the Socialist Workers party but supported by mainstream politicians like David Cameron and police associations, have a notoriously close relationship with the state and are mistrusted by militant anti-fascists, with groups like Antifa refusing to work with them. As the AF states “UAF has never been an effective means to combat the rise of fascism in Britain nor does it offer anything to working class communities”. The AF member was later released without charge.