NEW HOPE is an offshoot of Poland’s main far-right political group, Confederation (Konfederacja), with views/policies to the right of the already far-right core of the confederation. 

As soon as word of them holding an event in Bury got to us, the local Communist Party branch began to organise against it. 

A call for anti-fascists to assemble outside the venue on the day was posted across all social media platforms. There was a wish to ensure as broad a left turnout as possible and to avoid any sectarian friction.

As well as the call to assemble on the day there was also a plea to the committee of the Polish Centre not to host this event.

Unfortunately this plea went unheeded and the New Hope conference and “freedom picnic” took place on June 11 as planned.

The anti-fascist bloc gathered at the end of the street and immediately drew attention from the far-right “spotters.” The bloc consisted of some 15 to 20 activists from organisations including Football Lads & Lasses Against Fascism, Stand Up to Racism, the Young Communist League, the Communist Party of Britain and other left groups.

The bloc walked along East Street and stood in peaceful line facing the Polish Catholic Church, remaining quiet as the Corpus Christi ceremony was taking place.

During this holy communion ceremony a representative of New Hope, Seb Ross, vice-president of the organisation, holding a Ukrainian flag appeared. 

He began to berate the anti-fascists, accusing them of being “white supremacists” and “ruining his fundraising event for the people of Ukraine.” 

This was obviously an outright lie and a well-rehearsed cynical ploy to curry favour with the local Polish community (who have done a tremendous amount of fundraising for the Ukrainian people).

Footage from this exchange can be found across Ross’s social media, with comments from his supporters acknowledging his “top-level trolling” whereas others (not “in on the joke”) seem furious at his apparent new-found love for Ukrainians. 

For the record Ross is staunchly anti-Ukrainian, a cursory glance through his pre-war Twitter comments makes this abundantly clear, Konfederacja have in the past organised demos against the “Ukrainianisaton of Poland” and despite his laughable claims that the bloc opposing his presence were “Putin sympathisers,” he himself and his Konfederacja cronies have repeatedly issued pro-Putin, pro-Russia statements, before dialling it down a touch when nobody turned up to their rallies.

He continued with his cynical provocation and agitation, waving his flag and making allegations that the anti-fascists present had told him to “go home because they don’t like Polish immigrants,” again playing to the camera and trying his best to cause disruption to the ongoing religious ceremony, attempting to convince the local diaspora that this crowd were across the road specifically to ruin their day.

He was eventually led away by a woman who claimed to be a committee member of the social club and “worked with the police” yet she apparently knew nothing about the presence of these far-right provocateurs or the conference and barbecue they were having on that very day.

The timing of his approach and confrontation was no accident, it was a calculated and malicious action to antagonise and alienate the churchgoers. New Hope purposely hijacked and hid behind the Corpus Christi ceremony disrespecting a community and church they profess to care so much about.

After the ceremony had finished, a section of the anti-fascist bloc dispersed and the remainder relocated to the perimeter fence of the social club where the “freedom picnic” took place. 

It’s worth noting that the picnic and conference contained absolutely no reference to Ukraine or fundraising for victims of the conflict (again visible on New Hope’s social media). There were two Ukrainian flags draped over the perimeter fence, far away from the handful of picnicking Polish fascists.

All the speakers listed on the original New Hope event flyer were present at the picnic (and presumably in the church beforehand as well).

Anti-fascists outside the picnic asked the attendees if they were aware of the politics of the event organisers. Some claimed not to be, others were absolutely aware and had similar far-right opinions. 

After the event

The social club and the church sought to distance themselves from New Hope’s presence on the day and the disruption caused to the Corpus Christi ceremony.

However, these statements seem disingenuous considering that this was the third time this venue had hosted an event by Konfederacja/New Hope, with the same speakers who are well-known for their extreme views.

Also the priest who conducted the ceremony — and issued a statement condemning the social club’s hiring of the venue to a political organisation — was later seen at the picnic in the social club garden.

Lessons

If we accept that our objective was to ensure that anywhere these groups appear in our communities, they do not do so unchallenged, then it’s fair to class the mobilisation as a success.

There can be valid criticism around the organisation of the anti-fascist bloc on the day. Improved communication with other left activists is important.

Community outreach could be scrutinised and refined, leafleting/banners in dual language is a great idea, especially as lots of the footage on New Hope’s social media will be viewed back in Poland.

As previously stated, the club was contacted on numerous occasions in the run-up to the event taking place but declined to cancel. 

It would be prudent to work on the principle that a section of the community do harbour sympathies for these far-right organisations and there may be a degree of pushback to any leafleting campaign. 

Regarding events clashing with local community/church event, among the Christian community the feast of Corpus Christi will be well-known and commemorated every year. It is therefore distinctly possible that the clash was deliberate on their part, and while appreciating that there needs to be a degree of sensitivity around these important religious occasions, anti-fascists must maintain that the far right cannot be allowed to rear their heads unchallenged regardless of their choice of venue.