Pensioner head butted in extreme right-wing thug attack

Andrew Smith Andrew Smith

TWO pensioners handing out anti-fascist leaflets were set upon by extreme right-wing thugs in a shocking high street attack.

Activist Andrew Smith, 69, was helping man the regular Socialist Worker stall in Lewisham High Street on Saturday at around noon when he was head butted in the face, while his colleague, 67, was punched to the floor.

Mr Smith, a long-standing anti-fascism campaigner and retired teacher, needed laser surgery for a torn retina after the unprovoked assault but is hopeful his sight will be okay.

He told News Shopper that before the attack, the gang made reference to Brighton, where anti-fascists faced-off with the March for England right-wing group earlier this month.

Mr Smith said: "They were shouting something about Brighton and accused us of attacking women and children."

A group knocked over the men's table before coming back a short while later in a group of around 10 men and one woman.

One man approached Mr Smith and began talking to him.

Mr Smith said: "In the middle of the conversation I had an uneasy feeling and he head butted me - one blow to the face.

"I was on the ground and sort of remember crouching, like a boxer who's gone down in the ring. I was completely dazed."

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He said: "I think these were hardcore Nazis. They're very dangerous people and need to be opposed."

Mr Smith went on: "I'll continue to campaign. We were determined to stand our ground and that's still our attitude."

Even before the incident, another campaigner, 42, was also assaulted and left with facial injuries.

Chairman of Lewisham Anti-Racist Action Group Jarman Parmar said: "The actions of these racist attackers is shocking and strengthens our resolve to unite everyone who opposes these kind of behaviours and ideas which have no place in our society."

A spokeswoman for Lewisham police confirmed detectives were investigating the attacks but said no arrests had been made so far.

If you have any information, call police on 101.

Comments(38)

ron.1952 says...
4:09pm Mon 30 Apr 12

Nothing more than we expect from the far right, just a bunch of cowards picking on OAPs now.

Remember these pictures on Thursday, vote for anyone other than the BNP and the other extreme right racist morons.

mouthalmighty says...
5:10pm Mon 30 Apr 12

I cannot believe that they have freely given such extreme examples if what most people believe them to be. Easy. And just before elections too.

I think that those people in lewisham are really left wing and want to discredit the BNP whilst under cover. Well done. Keep up the good work. If you are not left wing in disguise then you must be stupid. Doh

MFC Lion says...
5:25pm Mon 30 Apr 12

I don't think every far right activist attacks pensioner's just a couple of bad apples that have absorbed the wrong part of the message. If you actually read most of the BNP's manifesto it centre's a lot around the protection of the most vulnerable in our society.

Guess who ;) AGAIN ! says...
6:37pm Mon 30 Apr 12

Wait for the BNP sockpuppets, I'm sure they will blame the EDL.

This just serves as an example to be careful who you vote for. Protest vote if you have too but never ever any far right party. At the moment they are the thin end of a very dangerous wedge.

Ginelle says...
2:00am Tue 1 May 12

I thought this kind of political violence only happened in the United States. Please for your countries sake stop attacking folks just because you do not believe the same things. Violence only creates more violence. There are more things in this world to deal with than a difference of opinion.

ithinksoo says...
9:40am Tue 1 May 12

i thought this group "socialist worker" were a far left group of revolutionary members who wanted to overthrow our capitalist government with extreme violence? or i am missing the irony of all of this? lol

Indigenous Pensioner says...
9:47am Tue 1 May 12

TO guess who how dare you try to tell poeple who to and who not to vote fo r we didnt fight 2 world war only to be told in our own country who we should vote for please keep your nose out of the voters choice of pol party i think any goverment that takes our country in to a war like iraq is a dangerous thin of the edge so please just go away and do something use full with your life instead of interfering in our democracy thats why we have sceen at polling station so we can cast our vote away from interfering people like you.THank you.

harold hill66 says...
10:01am Tue 1 May 12

ithinksoo wrote:
i thought this group "socialist worker" were a far left group of revolutionary members who wanted to overthrow our capitalist government with extreme violence? or i am missing the irony of all of this? lol
IF you google socialist worker & violence you will see this is a group of far left nutters who have caused violence against the police and anyone else who gets in their way at any demo... ( probably today being 1st may they will cause problems in the heart of London? ) and another thing... this group socialist worker are they standing in any of the elections? i dont think so... why is that? because a) no one rerally cares about their communist ideas to change our way of life into a communist regime these people crave for b) they are a bunch of violent thugs who have no place in politics or on the streets peddling their filth...
and to be honest... having read this article with the brighton tag... one can assume it was a couple of old communist duffers wanting a communist government v a bunch of local stupid football hooligans en route to a local match who probably have cause problems at brighton football matches... a non story......!

Tusstastic says...
10:18am Tue 1 May 12

I remember this group of socialist workers attacking the police at the poll tax riots some years ago, if you advocate violence for poltical gain then that is wrong.
If you want to change the face of Uk politics with violent street thuggery like the Swp do then perhaps they should not complain when they get tangled up in it.i know its wrong but i cant find anything to support the violence of the far left!

Guess who ;) AGAIN ! says...
11:17am Tue 1 May 12

Vote for anyone but the BNP and far right. London don't need Squire the **** shop owner on the London assembly. That's what will happen if they get 5% of the vote.

"For Londoners the focus is not so much the BNP’s sex-swinging, faux Falkland Islands-loving Carlos Cortiglia who is their rather amusing choice for Mayor, but Steve Squire, a Soho pornographer who heads the BNP’s list for a seat on the London Assembly.
Squire’s “crime” is not selling a few fruity dramatisations about randy taxi drivers and their roadside shenanigans, but actually the sale of the date rate drug GHB."

Ohh the hypocrisy !!

Manxman2 says...
11:46am Tue 1 May 12

Apart from being completely out of touch with working class English people, the SWP does not stand in local elections because they are extreme left communists who believe in violent revolution as opposed to democracy. They are not pleasant people and whilst there is no excuse for violence, this gentleman is unfortunately a part of an organisation (Socialist Workers Party) who are the main agitators behind political violence in Britain.

Communism resulted in millions more deaths than Nazism ever did and as such we all have a duty to oppose this evil ideology.

Communism.......Neve
r again!

Knarkybadger says...
11:53am Tue 1 May 12

Good to see this comment section being used by the local Fascist low lifes to try and defend attacking an OAP because He's in the SWP. Bet you all feel well hard! Imagine if the boot had been on the other foot and an elderly BNP/EDL (there is no difference) had been assaulted. There would be so much wailing and gnashing of teeth in an attempt to whip up more hatred to minorities and the left and create the illusion of victimhood the fascists rely on for support!

goldenbroomboy says...
12:00pm Tue 1 May 12

I remember SWP thugs attempting to intimidate David Blunkett -a blind man-at a public meeting. I can also remember SWP members forming a "picket line" outside a SPUC public meeting & jeering & spitting at anybody who wished to enter. They ain't so squeaky clean.

Guess who ;) AGAIN ! says...
12:27pm Tue 1 May 12

Knarkybadger, yes this paper suffers from a couple of BNP clowns and their sockpuppets.

We know who they really are though !! ROFL !!

Knarkybadger says...
12:38pm Tue 1 May 12

Guess who ;) AGAIN ! wrote:
Knarkybadger, yes this paper suffers from a couple of BNP clowns and their sockpuppets.

We know who they really are though !! ROFL !!
Thats pleasing to hear!

Guess who ;) AGAIN ! says...
4:25pm Tue 1 May 12

Knarkybadger well I have to tell you my moral compass wouldn't let me disclose "names and addresses" on here. ROFL !! ;)

You know how nasty racists are, they don't like people to know who they really are.

Anti-Climax says...
10:24pm Tue 1 May 12

What on earth is wrong with the people who post on here. This was a nasty vicious attack on two elderly people.

This really shows that the far right think the same as Brevik, they appear to believe they can use extreme violence against people who disagree with them.

I can't believe the police haven't arrested anyone yet, surely there is some CCTV.

hungerpains2 says...
8:58am Wed 2 May 12

all this left right tosh...
the only left right im interested in is who's gonna play on the left and right under new manager hodgson...

what do does anyone think about the new england managers job going to hodgson?
i never saw it coming... i thought harry redknapp was number one according to all the forums and newspaper columns i visit!

Swirling Waters says...
9:13am Wed 2 May 12

hungerpains2 wrote:
all this left right tosh... the only left right im interested in is who's gonna play on the left and right under new manager hodgson... what do does anyone think about the new england managers job going to hodgson? i never saw it coming... i thought harry redknapp was number one according to all the forums and newspaper columns i visit!
Yup Hodgson did fairly well with West Brom { not Notts Forest! ;) } but at least he is English which 99% of football supporters think is very important; the last foreign manager cappello was paid £6m a year I kid you not !; so it is about time we went for a English manager and the thing is with the Spurs manager Harry; Spurs wanted millions to let him go in compo so much for Spurs putting the national team before their own !
Also with the Euro's starting this summer we need to get someone in place fairly quickly and to be honest we aint going to win the Euro's are we; so if we got into the semi's or something like that it would be an achievement of sorts as long as they sort out the John Terry and Rio Ferdinand spat; get these two get together and let them shake hands like grown men and get on with it life is far too short for these silly little arguments and put the national team first;
Overall hungerpains I think Hodgy should be given a chance and get the fans behind the new manager.

Sankey Steve says...
9:25am Wed 2 May 12

Swirling Waters wrote:
hungerpains2 wrote: all this left right tosh... the only left right im interested in is who's gonna play on the left and right under new manager hodgson... what do does anyone think about the new england managers job going to hodgson? i never saw it coming... i thought harry redknapp was number one according to all the forums and newspaper columns i visit!
Yup Hodgson did fairly well with West Brom { not Notts Forest! ;) } but at least he is English which 99% of football supporters think is very important; the last foreign manager cappello was paid £6m a year I kid you not !; so it is about time we went for a English manager and the thing is with the Spurs manager Harry; Spurs wanted millions to let him go in compo so much for Spurs putting the national team before their own ! Also with the Euro's starting this summer we need to get someone in place fairly quickly and to be honest we aint going to win the Euro's are we; so if we got into the semi's or something like that it would be an achievement of sorts as long as they sort out the John Terry and Rio Ferdinand spat; get these two get together and let them shake hands like grown men and get on with it life is far too short for these silly little arguments and put the national team first; Overall hungerpains I think Hodgy should be given a chance and get the fans behind the new manager.
He didn't do very well at Liverpoo tho did he? Ok so the FA say he did a good job for Switzerland but when was that?
They should have paid what Levi wanted at the lane and got our 'arry!!!

football boot says...
9:31am Wed 2 May 12

Sankey Steve wrote:
Swirling Waters wrote:
hungerpains2 wrote: all this left right tosh... the only left right im interested in is who's gonna play on the left and right under new manager hodgson... what do does anyone think about the new england managers job going to hodgson? i never saw it coming... i thought harry redknapp was number one according to all the forums and newspaper columns i visit!
Yup Hodgson did fairly well with West Brom { not Notts Forest! ;) } but at least he is English which 99% of football supporters think is very important; the last foreign manager cappello was paid £6m a year I kid you not !; so it is about time we went for a English manager and the thing is with the Spurs manager Harry; Spurs wanted millions to let him go in compo so much for Spurs putting the national team before their own ! Also with the Euro's starting this summer we need to get someone in place fairly quickly and to be honest we aint going to win the Euro's are we; so if we got into the semi's or something like that it would be an achievement of sorts as long as they sort out the John Terry and Rio Ferdinand spat; get these two get together and let them shake hands like grown men and get on with it life is far too short for these silly little arguments and put the national team first; Overall hungerpains I think Hodgy should be given a chance and get the fans behind the new manager.
He didn't do very well at Liverpoo tho did he? Ok so the FA say he did a good job for Switzerland but when was that? They should have paid what Levi wanted at the lane and got our 'arry!!!
twaddlemush stevey-boi why give the spuds loads of cash when they are 1 of the richest clubs in eng-ger-laaand......

me thinks hodgson will do what he can with what players we got after a tough domestic season...... i cant see us doing very well in europe but at least we can get the flags out again! lol :)

miss rumble tumble says...
9:35am Wed 2 May 12

will it be on the telly?

Double Glazing says...
9:39am Wed 2 May 12

Of course it will be on the box.... our national number one sport!

Guess who ;) AGAIN ! says...
11:05am Wed 2 May 12

Knarkybadger see what I mean , the BNP and its sockpuppets. Same old couple of fools.


I'll PM you. ;)

Knarkybadger says...
12:22pm Wed 2 May 12

Guess who ;) AGAIN ! wrote:
Knarkybadger see what I mean , the BNP and its sockpuppets. Same old couple of fools.


I'll PM you. ;)
Go ahead!

Guess who ;) AGAIN ! says...
6:04pm Wed 2 May 12

Come on Mizz Webmistress there's pictures of the scum that are wanted in conection with this incident out now. Lets be having it.

Justin Case3 says...
9:44am Thu 3 May 12

Guess who ;) AGAIN ! wrote:
Knarkybadger see what I mean , the BNP and its sockpuppets. Same old couple of fools. I'll PM you. ;)
Plop!

Justin Case3 says...
9:44am Thu 3 May 12

Knarkybadger wrote:
Guess who ;) AGAIN ! wrote: Knarkybadger see what I mean , the BNP and its sockpuppets. Same old couple of fools. I'll PM you. ;)
Go ahead!
Plop!

Justin Case3 says...
9:45am Thu 3 May 12

Guess who ;) AGAIN ! wrote:
Come on Mizz Webmistress there's pictures of the scum that are wanted in conection with this incident out now. Lets be having it.
Plop!

EverardEdbutt says...
11:24am Thu 3 May 12

He said: "I think these were hardcore Nazis. They're very dangerous people and need to be opposed."


No! They are mindless thugs, nothing else. Don't call them Nazi's as nothing would please them more.
They are moron's who have read the 14 words and the 88 precepts and interpreted them as they see fit.
Just as the Bible and Koran is often misread and misrepresented in order to justify a certain behaviour.


I hope Andrew Smith recovers with no lasting damage and those responsible are brought to justice for this cowardly attack.

commenting scoffer says...
12:14pm Thu 3 May 12

...all those who advocate violence should be loaded and loaded into a prison serco van - period!!

miss sweethuney says...
12:32pm Thu 3 May 12

some of these real life pooper scoopers have tried scaring people but it never works does it lol ;)

76543Don says...
5:39pm Thu 3 May 12

swp are a bunch of street brawlers anyway and they get involved with the local feral yobs......?welcome to inner city life under the tories and libs!

Guess who ;) AGAIN ! says...
10:19pm Thu 3 May 12

commenting scoffer wrote:
...all those who advocate violence should be loaded and loaded into a prison serco van - period!!
How does it go Karl.......plop. Is that your pooper going boi. ;)

Locked & Loaded says...
9:58am Fri 4 May 12

Likes a bit of "gary up"" dont ya tom lol

The Real Gypo says...
10:17am Fri 4 May 12

Funny very funny! LMAO

Guess who ;) AGAIN ! says...
10:36am Fri 4 May 12

The good news I have lots of new friends/activists in the SWP.

What a nice crowd they are.

commenting scoffer says...
10:59am Sun 6 May 12

Guess who ;) AGAIN ! wrote:
The good news I have lots of new friends/activists in the SWP. What a nice crowd they are.
...oh dear - you making 'threats' against posters on the interweb ? you previously made comments about 'arson' and 'smash of windows'...can't boris do something about cranks on the interweb ?? whahahay!! rofl!!

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