WEEKLY Glasgow police pulling a demonstrator's hair out (above) and beating another demonstrator's head into the ground - two examples of what was described by a police spokesman as only necessary force to disperse the anti-fascist picket on Saturday night. • • • The pickets had linked arms to stop the fascists getting into the Halls when 'a wave of uniformed police and their plain cloths colleagues under the control of Chief Superintendent Dunnford started to kick and punch their way through, systematically arresting everyone in sight. One plain-clothes copper was discovered to be carrying a marching baton of the Orange Order in his pocket.
'DISORDERLY' Five van loads of arrested pickets were driven off to Marine Police Station, Govan, to be charged with "being part of a disorderly crowd' In the security of the van the pickets were manhandled and beaten up by police. But for 25 of the pickets their stay at the Marine Station was shortlived. A window was discreetly opened and they quickly departed. A number then took a bus back to the picket!
At nine o'clock the dispirited fasc ists closed their meeting. Protected by a cordon of police, NF leader Kingsley Read - shaking so badly he had to be supported by his police escort - and 12 of his gaggle were taken up the road past Kingston Bridge. As anti-fascists surged round this motley crew the police flagged down an empty Corporation bus and bundled the demoralised NF membMore than 60 people including prominent trade union leaders, were arrested last Saturday when police waded into anti-fascist demonstrators picketing a National Front meeting in Glasgow's Kingston Halls. The picket was a result of a determined campaign by the IMG and International Socialists. The day before the Glasgow Trades Council had also decided to picket the meeting