My eyewitness report:

Rumours had been circulating that anti-migrant, anti-Muslim, anti-Black protestors would be descending on Croydon. As a result, Muslim youth and other people of colour formed themselves into groups of a dozen and more to march through North End, the main shopping centre yesterday afternoon to resist the fascists. Just before 6pm they stood in front of the local mosque in West Croydon to defend it and special police squads, who had been alerted to possible demonstrations by the far right swung into action. Skirmishes then happened between the youth and police. A young Black man was handcuffed, searched but released after protestors demanded officers let him go. Community leaders, including from Black-led The Liberation Movement, applauded the brave resistance mounted by the youth who heeded calls from elders for peace and calm and dispersed as there had been a no show from the cowardly fascists. Croydon, where the fascist National Front had their headquarters in the 1980s, used to be their stronghold. It had been a magnificent demonstration of community unity and resistance. A great victory for anti-racists. No Pasaran!