9.30am on a cold and frosty Edinburgh morning is not the best time to start a demo however, the group of anti-fascist demonstrators from the Edinburgh anti-fascist alliance (EAFA) came together, with others to stop the Scottish Defence league (SDL) marching through Edinburgh.

Another march and rally was taking place in Princes Street Gardens, organised by Scotland United/Unite against Fascism (UAF).

The two groups had similar aims but different methods of taking on the SDL.

The EAFA gathered just outside the railway station and had “spotters” out across the city to identify SDL/EDL arriving in Edinburgh. The police had already stopped small groups at Haymarket and Waverley stations and had returned them to their trains, when we told that one of their meeting points was Jenny Ha’s pub near the parliament building.

The AFA and Students Against Fascism joined forces and around 500 demonstrators marched down the High Street to where the bar was, but the police had set up lines of portable barriers and policemen to stop the demo getting anywhere near the pub. They had cordoned off a section of the high street (the royal mile) above and below the pub and had the SDL corralled inside.

The police then began to “kettle” the anti-fascist demo but couldn’t contain it as the high street has lots of small “closes” that folk could run up and regroup.

The standoff lasted 5 – 6 hours with the anti fascist group ensuring that none of the SDL left the pub to march on the streets of our capital.

Eventually, the SDL and their English counterparts, the EDL were bussed out of Edinburgh, by the police, with their tail between their legs, to a chorus of “cheerio, cheerio, cheerio”, “nazi scum” and, my favourite “oh ye canne get a fascist off a bus”

This, and a previous shambolic attempt to march in Glasgow, gives a clear message to the EDL/SDL:

FASCISTS NOT WELCOME HERE !!!

The bulk of this first meeting was focused on a general introduction and history of the SSP, how the SSP works, its various platforms and organs and its focus on bottom-up participatory organisation. It was also agreed to continue the stall on the High Street on a regular basis, and to build links with existing community groups in the area, with a focus on joint community actions in the future. The potential for youth organising in the area was discussed and the branch hopes to develop this potential in the immediate future. We are also looking to hold future public town hall meetings on such issues as Fife’s involvement in the Spanish Civil War, Free Public Transport and issues related to opposing cuts to public services.

The next meeting of the SSP Kirkcaldy Branch will be March 2nd, location still to be confirmed.