A second "peaceful" demonstration by the English Defence League descended into violence on Saturday when 500 members of the Islamaphobic organisation were bussed into Dudley to protest against the building of a "super mosque" - even though plans for the development were abandoned weeks ago.
20 arrests were made when the EDL tore down barriers and attempted to break out of the car park set aside for their protest. EDL members offered violence when police moved in to contain the attempted breakout, and according to Sky News many more could have been arrested, given the level of disorder. It is reported that the EDL ripped drainpipes from nearby houses to use as weapons, and hurled house bricks at the police.
When the rally ended there was a stand-off with police as the EDL boarded their coaches, said reporters with the Stourbridge News, and a "couple of hundred supporters" attempted to make their way through the town centre to an anti-EDL rally organised by Unite Against Fascism. The UAF rally passed off peacefully.
Journalists covering the EDL rally were targets of foul-mouthed abuse, along with the police. Several report that the EDL engaged in openly racist chanting, and police are investigating damage to a Hindu temple, believed to have been caused by EDL members.
Several EDL supporters required treatment by police medics.
A previous 1500-strong EDL demonstration in Dudley cost the local council over £150,000 and resulted in 12 arrests. Last week EDL supporter Kevin Smith, 52, of Brierley Hill, was found guilty of religiously aggravated intentional harassment after putting a pig's head on the wall of Dudley central mosque. Smith was sentenced to eight weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months.
Muslims account for about 2.5% of the population of Dudley.
14 comments:
It's a total joke isn't it.
It's a total joke isn't it.
Not for the shopkeepers of Dudley, who have lost another of their busiest day's trading. Or for the local people, inconvenienced once more. And expecially not for the Muslim locals, who will again be spun by the EDL propaganda machine and its allies in the media, to be the aggressors.
Would there have been less violence if the UAF had not been there?????
tulip
Who are these fackers?
http://fitwatch.org.uk/2010/07/edl-trash-houses-and-asian-businesses.html
This is a good account from fitwatch.org.uk
Sadly EDL trolls have made most of the comments along lines we are not racists, etc.
"Would there have been less violence if the UAF had not been there?????"
Thge UAF rally was reported as "peaceful", so what's your point?
re Alfie North comment, my point is that my only experience of the UAF has been in and around the London area and unfortunately they as a group have sparked off the violence.
Im not saying that all UAF followers are that way inclined but my experience of them although limited has shown that they do provoke and start the violence off.
tulip
These old-style National Front-style scumbags are going to burn Bradford to the f**king ground unless stopped.
There is regular talk of the EDL purchasing body armour for the Bradford riot.
And David Cameron, like Gordon Brown, still refuses to ban the motherf**king fascists.
"...my point is that my only experience of the UAF has been in and around the London area and unfortunately they as a group have sparked off the violence."
Have you a source to back-up your claim?
"These old-style National Front-style scumbags are going to burn Bradford to the f**king ground unless stopped.
There is regular talk of the EDL purchasing body armour for the Bradford riot."
If it does go ahead, I wonder if anyone will be spouting off saying the UAF started it?
"And David Cameron, like Gordon Brown, still refuses to ban the motherf**king fascists."
I think there could well be will a ban on the Bradford event.
for Alfie North, yes I can back up what I have stated.
tulip
"yes I can back up what I have stated."
But you haven't? You've just reiterated the same claim with nothing to back it up?
One of the photos on Flickr shows an EDL supporter in Dudley wearing a stab-proof vest
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