Masked-up and ready to riot - the English defence LeagueThe English Defence League, which has been involved in violent clashes in Birmingham and Luton this year, had planned to hold a series of demonstrations against "Islamic extremism" over the coming weeks.
Anti-racism campaigners said the events were intended to whip up tension and more than 14,000 people had written to Alan Johnson, the home secretary, demanding action. Today police confirmed the Home Office had granted a banning order.
Nick Lowles of the Hope not Hate campaign said: "Our voices have been heard. Luton is a safer place because of it. This is just further proof of what we can achieve when we get organised."
Luton has seen a number of violent protests this year. In March a small group of Muslims staged a demonstration during a homecoming parade for soldiers from the Royal Anglian Regiment. Tonight Bedfordshire police charged seven men in connection with the incident. They will appear at Luton magistrates court on 16 September.
The March demonstration was followed by counter-demonstrations which led to Asian businesses and residents being attacked. In Birmingham this month members of the English Defence League and linked group Casuals United clashed with anti-racism campaigners, resulting in 34 arrests and one injury.
Bedfordshire police today said there had been growing concern about planned demonstrations by rightwing groups that had prompted a "robust unified response" by the police and the council. Chief Superintendent Andy Frost, divisional commander for Luton police, said: "The risk the proposed marches pose to public safety has left us with no alternative but to apply for a banning order."
Weyman Bennett, the joint secretary of Unite Against Fascism, welcomed the ban. "What we have proved is that where we, as a multiracial group, organise and stand up the EDL can be defeated."
The league denies it is racist, claiming it would march "alongside Muslims and Jews who are against militant Islam".
The announcement of the ban came as a man and a woman were charged under the Data Protection Act after a British National party (BNP) membership list was leaked on to the internet. Dyfed-Powys police said the man, aged 27, and woman, 30, were due to appear at Nottingham magistrates court on 1 September. The BNP called for a police investigation last November after the details of 10,000 of its members were published online.
Guardian
13 comments:
It's a tough one this. Engineered to be so.
Could someone gag Bennett though.
Everything that comes out of his mouth make me cringe.
Nice guy, yes. But a public figure he is not.
Was anyone arrested for the so-called "counter-demonstration" where Asian businesses and local residents were attacked?
This was far worse than the Luton anti-war demo, and yet, the police in Luton didn't seem to give a shit, preferring to arrest noisy Islamic demonstrators than violent far right thugs!
Talk about bloody double-standards!
About time the racist nazi wankers are stopped in their midst.
Now that the hardcore quasiterrorist fascists realise that the ballot box is a complete and utter waste of time, be it the poop-scoop parish pump or the Cyclopsian Eurogravytrain, more and more BNPers will switch to violent armed football thuggery like the EDL Casuals.
Just going back to pompous prick Chris Hill, didn't he recently blame you (Ketlan) and Lancaster Unity for his local pub banning him from, when the real reason was, he's just renowned with Lancaster landlords for being a twat? lol
Those racist thugs not wearing masks caught on camera should be given ASBOs to stop them leaving their front door, to stop them attending football hooligan events.
Well done to Hope Not Hate.
I don't see what it has do with with Bennett anyway? The UAF were hoping for another black versus white punch up that does nobody any favours.
This was quite clearly down to the might of the HnH campaign.
No Platform!
those muscle-men in 'masks' look pretty tasty to me. I think there's more to this than just 'muslim extremists'.....
when's the next demo? You're not going to ban that one as well are you? (bloody kill joys!)
I'm in, if they're out anyway!
Can anybody throw any light on rumours EDL are planning another bit of racist aggro in central Birmingham on 5th September??
I do so wish that Weyman Bennett could be more gracious, we are all fighting the same thing, some of us do that in a more organised manner, hence the drift to Hope not Hate, but Weyman cannot even bring himself to congratulate them and the people who joined and turned around a very quick campaign.
Weyman could/should learn that we are stronger together, and to defeat the nazi we have to be organized and structured.
Not just turn up at a station of his choosing in the hope that he will have leaflets in his car.
That wont work anymore and Weyman needs to wake up to that fact.
tulip
I do believe Weyman Bennett and Nick Griffin need their heads banging together. Neither UAF or the EDL/BNP are in the right.
Full marks to Gerry Gable, Nick Lowles and HnH! Therer is a lesson to be learned here!
Anonymous said...
I do so wish that Weyman Bennett could be more gracious, we are all fighting the same thing, some of us do that in a more organised manner, hence the drift to Hope not Hate, but Weyman cannot even bring himself to congratulate them and the people who joined and turned around a very quick campaign.
Weyman could/should learn that we are stronger together, and to defeat the nazi we have to be organized and structured.
Not just turn up at a station of his choosing in the hope that he will have leaflets in his car.
That wont work anymore and Weyman needs to wake up to that fact.
tulip
5:55
Say's it all really.
Very wise is our Tulip..
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