Protest demo targets BNP festival

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Demonstrators from Unite Against Fascism, the TUC and Unison were flanked by 150 police officers as they marched through the village of Codnor, Derbyshire, to rally against the BNP as they took part in the Red, White and Blue Festival.

Waving placards bearing slogans such as "Jobs And Homes Not Racism" and "BNP Is A Nazi Party", the protesters walked down the village's main high street to a farmer's field where the BNP was holding its festival.

The protesters will be addressed by Bob Crow, general secretary of the Rail, Maritime and Transport Union and the MP from Amber Village, Judy Mallabar.

But there were a number of hold-ups as demonstrators from the various groups argued among themselves about who should be at the front of the march.

The BNP said about 4,000 of its members were attending this weekend's festival, which will include speeches by the party's leader Nick Griffin and far-right speakers from Europe, namely Petra Edelmannova, who is the leader of the Nationalist Party in the Czech Republic.

Earlier in the year, police had objected to two requests by the festival's organisers to serve alcohol at the event.

Amber Valley Borough Council agreed with their objections at a number of licensing committee meetings.

Senior officers have also imposed special powers preventing protesters from deviating from an agreed route.

The number of people who could take part in the rally was limited to 700, while only 30 anti-fascist protesters will be allowed on to an agreed site next to the festival itself.