Prosecutors have decided not to charge three anti-fascist leaders who were arrested after violent clashes at an English Defence League rally in Bolton.
Weyman Bennett, Rhetta Moran and Paul Jenkins from Unite Against Fascism were among 74 people arrested during the March demonstration.
Researcher Rhetta Moran was taken into custody when trouble flared as she read out a message of support from TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber at the protest.
The trio were interviewed by police on two separate occasions but the Crown Prosecution Service has advised that no further action should be taken.
The news comes weeks after a watchdog confirmed it will investigate the behaviour of police at the protest, after footage emerged of 63-year-old Alan Clough apparently being hit by officers. Charges against Mr Clough were also dropped after the video came to light.
Weyman Bennett, joint secretary of Unite Against Fascism, said: “This is a victory for anti-fascists and for the right to protest. I’m proud to say that the threat of these charges has not deterred any of us from continuing to stand up against the EDL. I can now continue my work without this serious false allegation hanging over me. It is imperative we continue to protest to protect our multi-racial communities.”
Campaign group ‘Justice4bolton’ – launched to support the UAF leaders – said their arrest was ‘an attempt to delegitimise protests against the rise of fascism’.
A spokesperson said: “All three had been subject to very serious potential charges which are rarely used and have had this allegation hanging over them for eight months.”
No further action was taken against 42 people who were arrested at the demonstration. Six people admitted minor offences and were ordered to pay fines. Fifteen people were issued with fixed penalty notices, three were given cautions. Two others were charged with offences but found not guilty.
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It's not a victory, far from it. If Bennett and co had any sense, they'd keep schtum and a low profile. He should also take a lesson and learn what fascism is, then look in the mirror.
The way Unite Against Facism operate is sheer hypocrisy. They try and force their opinions down peoples throats by violence. In other words they are facists. Are they against themselves?
What a surprise -- the liberal establishment is to take no action against rent-a-rabble thugs who use violenece against anyone who dares to oppose their socialist dogma. Clearly their ignorance of history is as profound as their commitment to violence and intimidation otherwise they would relise that the type of Stalinist regime which they espouse has been rejected by the millions who know most about it -- the peoples of Eastern Europe who endured decades of oppression at the hands of dictatorial fanatics and bully boys who demonise opponents by labelling them fascists. Most of these people are scum dole-dossers living off the system they claim to despise, puffed up with prigish self-righteousness and intent on inflicting violence and mahem on anyone with the temerity to disagree with them. They are the real threat to freedom.
What have the UAF and the EDL got in common?,,,,,they both have merchandise for sale........great way to make money.
If no action was taken against 42 people arrested, why focus (and state in the headline) 3?
What was the breakdown of the 42 regarding EDL, UAF or other affiliation?
If Hitler was still around he'd call his opponents fascists!
The EDL stands for violence bigotry hatred and intimidation, when they look at the Islamic extremists, they probably see quite a lot of themselves.
Extremes are never good.
I quite like the EDL but I also quite like the UAF.....................so which is better? There's only one way to find out...................FIGHT
As I've always said
There's no bigger fascist than an anti-fascist.
Morons don't even understand the term.
The English Defence League. Just what is wrong with that? If anywhere needs defending from Europe,Scotsmen, Welshmen,Marxists,Immigrants,etc,it is England!
Why are they given a bad name by the press while the Militants get away with it?
What's so different from the Scots, Irish, Welsh, French, Jamaican, Indian, Surinamese, Russian, or whoever and the English. Absolutely nothing, it's one world, one people and national 'identity' is a foolish dangerous construct causing more trouble then it is worth..
The EDL are ignorant bigots