On the 4th October, 1936, the British Union of Fascists had planned a march to the East End of London.
Despite the petition of East Londoners, with 100,000 signatures over two days, the Home Office declined to ban the march. Authorities refused to allow a counter-march by the Ex-Servicemen's Movement Against Fascism, because the fascists had organised their march first.
On the day, around 3,000 fascists turned up for the march, protected by more than double that number in police.
The fascists and police were resisted by over ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND anti-fascists who erected barricades, chanting "They Shall Not Pass". Police attempted to dismantle the barricades and clear a path for the fascists, and were pelted with rotten vegetables, and the contents of chamber-pots thrown from upstairs residents.
There's a damn good reason why fascism had a hard time establishing itself in the UK; I'm pretty sure it wasn't the government nor the police.
