"very well organised by antifa today. they've definitely put up some road blocks today, haven't they? [...] they had like 5 different blocs set up - organised, efficient."
– review by far-right YouTuber Michael Frosdick
On Saturday 26th September, local far-right group Sheffield Patriots once again attempted to march through our city, . This was the third in a series of anti-migrant protests by this group in Sheffield this year, all organised by Ryan "Rampage" Grimsby's grimmest bath-bomb enthusiast.
Would you buy soap from this man?
Their first outing was a meet up by the train station in April, followed in June by a march through the city to refugee accommodation. Far more modestly this time, Sheffield Patriots were just trying to get from the Peace Gardens to the train station (average journey time 5 minutes 35 seconds).
In June, despite attempts by antifascists to block the route, the march was pushed through by a large and heavy-handed police escort. This time around, we decided to try a different approach.
THE PARTY LINE
Calling for an anti-fascist street party to take place in the city centre on Saturday, SCARF invited people to take to the streets with the intention of bringing joy, community, and creativity – all while simultaneously causing a bit of chaos in order to get in the way of the far-right march and drown out their hate.
Four blocs met at four points – Bike Bloc, Umbrella Bloc, Folk Bloc, and International Solidarity Bloc. The street party sprawled across the city centre in a riot of music, camaraderie and determination. Alongside SCARF, other anti-racist groups called on their members to mobilise, with their own meet points. With these groups spread out, moving independently but working together, it was no easy feat for South Yorkshire Police (SYP) to herd the fascists through the streets.
Anti-fascist blocs started assembling from around 11am, with local groups marching in from South and West Sheffield and converging with Palestine solidarity activists in Pinball Park to form the International Solidarity Bloc. By 11:30am, while fascists were shambling into the Peace Gardens in dribs and drabs, clutching flags and imported lager, Folk Bloc was tuning-up together at Hallam Square, Bike Bloc was already pedalling around the streets, and Umbrella Bloc was unfurling behind the Peace Gardens in St Paul's Place.
By midday, there were several hundred antifascists poised around the city, and the mood, despite a heavy police presence, was joyful, optimistic and determined. Folk Bloc had everyone singing, or dancing a surprise ceilidh with a live band, while drummers in Umbrella Bloc attracted a crowd. Bike Bloc blared music out of mobile sound systems, keeping spirits high and bodies energised.
MEETING OF TWO RYANS
Meanwhile, in the Pissed Gardens, familiar faces gathered. Ryan Ferguson and Harry Jackson were there – these two being actual, self-proclaimed, sieg-heiling Nazis who were photographed holding a British Union of Fascists banner at April's demo. In the aftermath, Sheffield Patriots sought to distance themselves from the BUF boys, but it was clear that this was all for show, as they were seen chatting away with organiser Ryan Rampage, among others, and marching at the front throughout.
Just after 1pm, an hour later than the advertised march time, the police started trying to move Sheffield Patriots – now numbering approximately 80- out of the southern end of the Peace Gardens and down Norfolk Street. Antifascists from Umbrella Bloc, along with others who had been floating around the Peace Gardens, found their way through police lines and rushed to meet them, blocking their route from the off. The message was clear: the far-right will not march freely through our streets.
Through the use of heavy force, SYP eventually moved antifascists from Norfolk Street, clearing the way for the paused march to continue. This was but the first in a long series of significant delays to the Sheffield Patriots' march.
Hearing that the far-right were on the move, each bloc – Folk, Solidarity, Bike and those from Umbrella who could slip past the cops- responded quickly. Coming from all different directions and arriving together on Furnival Street roundabout just in time to see the far-right march approaching, preceded by horses and flanked by a large police escort. As antifascists swarmed to block the road ahead of the march, forming a visible and determined mass of opposition with banners, bikes and sound systems, the march was held up once again.
The march was inched through by police and horses, with the angry and deflated group of fascists probably wondering how much more of this they had to endure before they could be on the next train out of the city. But even the final stretch to the station wasn't made easy. Smaller groups of antifascists persistently got in the way all along Paternoster Row, chanting and creating havoc for the police and delaying the march further, all to a rousing chorus of "Why are we waiting?" from the 'Patriots'.
Then, on the march's final, plodding approach to the station and following a broadcast encouraging "Everybody get to the Showroom!", a huge group of antifascists assembled at Sheaf Square, boosted by high spirits and another appearance from the ceilidh band. The police tried their best to force the march across the square and onto busy Sheaf Street, pushing and shoving antifascists into a dangerous crush of bikes and bollards and using terrified-looking horses as battering rams, but antifascists held their ground. It was around this point that Ryan Ferguson highlighted his 'save our women & children' credentials by repeatedly calling a female police officer a "stupid bitch". Eventually, the march was redirected round the back of the bus station and the Sheffield Patriots reached their destination at the train station at around 2:30pm - what could've been a five-minute walk, having taken them a gruelling hour and a half.
Once satisfied that the streets were clear and the "Sheffield Patriots" were on their way home (mostly to Nottingham, Hull and surrounding small towns), antifascists continued the party, buoyed by a job well done and confirmation that Sheffield will not sit back and cede its streets to racists.
Although the Sheffield Patriots were still able to march, it's clear that this was only thanks to the help of a large policing operation forcing (albeit very slowly) the march through the streets. The turnout, energy and resistance from the people of Sheffield was heartening, and passers-by would've struggled to see much of the deflated far-right crowd, as it was hidden from view by over a hundred police officers both on foot and horseback, and surrounded by crowds of anti-racist counter-protestors.
Ryan Ferguson given a platform by Ryan Rampage to call for Nazis and "Civic Nationalists" to unite
As we know, fascism doesn't just go away after one embarrassing and humiliating day out, and within 24 hours, Lee 'Shitto' Shipley was blaming the Facebook algorithm for the poor showing, sharing Ryan Ferguson's content like he was an honoured guest, and threatening to announce yet another march through the city. Let us keep growing, keep building on what we've learnt, and keep showing that Sheffield is Anti-fascist.
So... watch this space... there's more to come.
If you want to support us in keeping Sheffield Anti-fascist, head over to our fundraiser. We're a genuine grassroots, volunteer organisation. Every penny donated is spent on more banners, beats, and brollies.