Fascist March is "Public Nuisance”

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 237, 7 October 1936, Page 6

Fascist March is "Public Nuisance”

HOOLIGANISM MUST BE ENDED.

EAST END INCIDENT.

(British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, Oct. 5.

The proposed march of the contingent of tho British Union of Fascists through the the narrow streets of tho East End of London yesterday was at the last moment prohibited by tho police. While tho Black Shirts 'were assembling in the neighbourhood of the Tower disorder broke out among .those who had collected to oppose the Fascist march, and this resulted in a number of arrests.

Tho procession was escorted by tho police along tho Embankment opposite Temple Gardens, where a double lino of police was posted across the road. Uniformed Fascists wero allowed to pass on into the empty streets, but followers were forbidden access.

Altogether some 80 persons were arrested, and are being with obstructing the police. Most of the newspapers praise the police for their handling of a dangerous situation. Tho Times, in a leading article headed "A Public Nuisance,” says: "This sort of hooliganism must clearly be ended. The activities of both Fascists and Communists in this country seem to most people to bo tedious and a rather pitiable burlesque, but the law rightly allows them, like other people, to express their opinions and to testify to their beliefs by methods of procession and of public meetings. What can be done, and what was done yesterday, is for tho police to decide at the timo on every occasion whether a procession or a meeting is likely to provoke a breach of the peace, and to decido accordingly whether it is to be held or not. A decision can be taken without any regard to the relative merits of the Fascists and of the Communists. To most people there does not seem much to choose between them as dangers to public order.”

Meeting at Bow Cancelled LONDON, Oct. 5. Following communication with the police, a Fascist meeting at Bow, in East London, was cancelled a few minutes before the time it was due to start. The Fascists marched to another meeting at Bethnal Green. Charges in Paris ONLY 11 OUT OF 1500 ARRESTED. PARIS, Oct. 5. Only eleven out of tho 1500 persons arrested as a result of Sunday’s disturbances are to be charged.