VICE Fringes: Left Hook

Every week in a secret location in Brighton, a group of hunt saboteurs, antifascists, students and other left-wingers spend a few hours teaching each other how to defend themselves at anti-fascist demonstrations or when out sabotaging hunts.

Left Hook is one of the longest running anti-fascist self defense clubs in the UK, taking inspiration from similar initiatives in Germany, Poland, Italy and Greece. Over the past few years other clubs have popped up across the country with similar missions - if you’re going to attend an anti-fascist demonstration, make sure you know how to protect yourself and others if confronted.

Since the Brexit vote in 2016 there has been a dramatic rise in hate crime incidents and far-right terrorism, making the training taking place at Left Hook all the more necessary for those willing to stand against racism.