Nazi salutes whilst wearing a poppy? And they call us disrespectful?

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Everything EDL

Police arrest EDL supporters 'to prevent breach of peace'

Police surround the Red Lion pub in Westminster, where dozens
of EDL supporters were arrested. Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/PA

Scotland Yard says it has arrested 156 English Defence League supporters, who may have planned to target Occupy London

Police have arrested 156 supporters of the English Defence League in order to prevent a breach of the peace, Scotland Yard said. It is understood the EDL supporters were planning to target Occupy LSX protesters outside St Paul's Cathedral. The EDL followers were arrested outside the Red Lion pub, in Westminster, and taken to central London police stations.

The arrests came after Scotland Yard was accused of sending out threatening messages on the social networking site Twitter in the runup to the two-minute Remembrance Day silence on Friday. In a series of tweets an officer from CO11, the Metropolitan police's public order unit, said: "There is a policing operation in place to preserve the dignity of the two-minute silence. Individuals seeking to disrupt the two-minute silence will be dealt with robustly. Any police action will be considered and proportionate, respecting those who hold the two-minute silence as a sign of respect.

"If the memory of dead soldiers is insulted where people have gathered to honour those soldiers there is clearly a threat to public order. Deliberately using abusive or insulting words or behaviour is an offence under section 4 of the Public Order Act."

The tweets were greeted with outrage on Twitter, with critics accusing the Met of being intimidatory, threatening and aggressive.

Jules Carey, a lawyer who represented Lotfi Raissi, the Algerian pilot wrongly accused of taking part in the September 11 attacks, said: "This is the kind of freedom the veterans died for."

Referring to Scotland Yard's announcement this week that the Met had pre-authorised the use of plastic bullets in advance of the student anti-cuts rally, he added: "Are the Met about to announce that rubber bullets have been authorised for use on anyone showing insufficient respect?"

But Scotland Yard said it had issued the tweets because of intelligence that Muslims against Crusades were planning to repeat last year's protest to burn poppies during the two-minute silence.

In a statement the Yard said: "Last year during the two-minute silence a group burnt poppies and a counter-protest was also held. This caused considerable upset to members of the public and arrests were made as a result under the Public Order Act. Two people were later convicted in relation to this.

"Intelligence and information suggested a similar incident may occur this year. The tweets sent out from the CO11 Twitter account were intended to warn against this."

As the morning progressed, however, there was no sign of anyone from Muslims against Crusades – the group which was proscribed by the home secretary, Theresa May, on Thursday. Instead police moved in on a large group of EDL supporters and made arrests to prevent a breach of the peace, in the belief they were going to cause trouble with protesters outside St Paul's.

On Thursday night officers carried out searches at addresses in east London linked to Muslims against Crusades under the Terrorism Act 2000.

Guardian

EDL Announce plans to disrupt Armistice Day

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The English Defence League [yesterday] announced their plans to disrupt Armistice Day. Their disruption comes only a few weeks after they caused a disturbance in front of the victims of the 9/11 victims when they spent the afternoon brawling with members of Muslim Against Crusade during the memorial service.

Members have been instructed not to get so drunk they cannot stand up (like they did in Birmingham) and have threatened the City of London police when in actual fact that part of town is covered by the Metropolitan police.

The EDL have also attempted to distance themselves from their Combined Ex-Forces Division. Their 'commanding officer' Mike Rafferty has this evening made threats to kill police officers on the day (see image above).

We have highlighted the interesting parts of the EDL's statement.

Details regarding Muslim Against Crusades - Friday 11/11/11

by English Defence League EDL on Tuesday, 08 November 2011 at 21:13

After the attrocities last year at the 11th Hour of the 11th Day, we the English Defence League feel compelled to once again take to the streets to defend our nations troops past and present, our memories of them and the sacrafices they have made for our once great nation. Why you may ask? Well, because they are our brothers and sisters, our sons and daughters, they are our grandfathers and grandmothers. The Poppy stands for each and every one of them. Our government nurtures and protects radical jihadists while allowing them to insult and humiliate every single one of us and everything our forefathers fought for. We can not and will not sit quietly while this great disrespect is allowed to continue.

So, what are our intentions?Our intentions are to STOP MAC from entering their demo area by any means. We are not holding a counter demonstration, we co-operated with police when we held a counter demonstration last year that was virtually ineffective, we were led round the houses by the Met who obviously wanted us to miss the burning of the poppies (for an easier life i guess). This year wont be so similar. This year we are not cooperating with any police force. This year we are not countering, but stopping. We urge everyone reading this to ask themselves one question, Should mac be allowed to burn our poppies? If your answer is no, then we expect to stand side by side with you this friday in London. The time for doing nothing has passed. Its our country, we`re taking it back.Details for the MAC Demo are as such:

Demonstration Location: Royal Albert Hall, Kensington Gore, London, SW7 2AP

Date/Time: 11th November 2011/ 10am - 12pm (midday)

We urge our members and supporters to be in the area of South Kensington for no later than 9:30am Friday morning. We urge our members not to drink any alcohol as this is not the day to be doing so and you will also avoid you being section 27ed, we urge our members to dress smartly and respectful, no colours although i would advise you to wear your poppies and pin badges with pride. Lastly, please keep in your hearts what a sacred day this is to all of us. Our only advice to the City of London Police if you continue to allow this to happen is to make sure you have plenty of empty cells. Last year Tommy Robinson did what every single person in this country wanted to do, This year, there are 1000 Tommy Robinsons. And if it continues to next year there will be 10000.

We do not take any of our actions lightly,but we feel this has been pushed on us by our governments failure to deal with Radical Islam at the Core - MAC, This is what you all joined EDL for!

While we do not support any other organisations or political parties who will be protesting that day, we will respect what you are doing and leave you to it as you are another obstacle for MAC to get over, but we expect every single member of the EDL in attendance to remember that it is them the EDL who are leading the fight against radical islam and to set the example by acting accordingly.

Do not attend the MAC Demonstration to lend them the ears they need, simply turn around and walk away, plank yourself up and wait til they come back out.

After 12pm when the MAC demonstration is finished, we will be making our way over to The FA headquarters to highlight the England football teams issues with Fifa concerning them not being allowed to wear our poppy on their shirt on Saturday when they play against Spain. We believe it is disgusting and disrespectful of Sepp Blatter & co to treat our national team like this hence why we will be popping over to Soho to show our support to the National Team and to urge each and every player to wear their poppy with pride the next day when they smash Spain regardless of Fifa`s Decision.

We would like to invite any patriots who are in London that day to counter MAC and to invite the general public to join us for our walk of support for the FA.We would also like to invite every football fan and firm in London to join us for this and Stand United as One Firm with One VoiceWe will be leaving South Kensington Tube Station for this between 12:30pm and 12:45.One more thing, i would like to ask our rank and file brothers and sisters in the police force not to facilitate MACs Demonstration or assist them in anyway as a lot of you are ex servicemen and women and know in your heart what they are doing is wrong!

EDL

No Surrender to MAC SCUM

EDL News

Two people sought over Portsmouth Jami Mosque protest

Detectives released pictures of a man and a woman they wish to speak to

CCTV images have been released of two people sought by police over disorder outside a Portsmouth mosque.

A protest was held at the Jami Mosque on 13 November in response to the burning of poppies by Muslims Against Crusades in London on Armistice Day. Hampshire Constabulary released pictures of a man and woman they wish to speak to in connection with allegations of bottles being thrown.

One man has already been charged with affray and assaulting a police officer.

BBC

EDL founder pleads not guilty to assault

Stephen Lennon, a founder member of the English Defence League

Stephen Lennon, pleaded not guilty to assaulting a police officer during violent clashes on Armistice Day

The founder of the far-right English Defence League, Stephen Lennon, today pleaded not guilty to assaulting a police officer during violent clashes on Armistice Day. Lennon, 27, of Layham Drive, Luton, was arrested in Kensington, west London, after clashing with police and members of Muslims Against Crusades – a small extremist Islamic group.

Five others associated with the EDL and two members of MAC were also arrested for public order offences.

Lennon, who formed the EDL in Luton last year, pleaded not guilty during a brief hearing today at West London Magistrates Court to assaulting a police officer. He was granted unconditional bail and a trial date was set of 12 January.

Guardian