EDL/SIOE protestors cordoned off by policeRiot police were struggling to contain protests by anti-fascist demonstrators and rightwing organisations outside a mosque in north-west London tonight. Officers were hit by bricks and bottles as they tried to keep about 1,000 rival demonstrators apart outside the partially completed mosque near the tube station in Harrow.
Seven people had been arrested and weapons, including bottles of bleach, a hammer and a chisel, were seized, a Metropolitan police spokeswoman said.
Police were braced for trouble after the rightwing English Defence League (EDL) and a group called Stop the Islamisation of Europe (SIOE) said they would converge on the area at 5pm for a rally to mark the eighth anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks. Unte Against Facism called on its supporters to meet for a counter-demonstration.
At around 5pm demonstrators, some armed with weapons, broke through police ranks and ran through the streets. The stand-off was still going at around 7pm, with groups of youths seperated by riot police.
The police spokeswoman said: "There have been a number of further movements by the crowd in large groups attempting to reach small numbers of other people. Throughout the afternoon police have identified and stopped a number of people believe to be heading to the original SIOE demonstration from getting to the protest area."
Witnesses said anti-fascist demonstrators outside the mosque burst through police lines in an attempt to reach groups of EDL supporters who were gathering in the surrounding streets.
One resident, who did not want to be named, said: "It's terrifying. This group of men came running down the street towards us and we had to hide with a couple of young Muslim boys in a shop. It's really tense and we can still hear the police helicopters overhead. I've never felt this kind of tension in Harrow, it's horrific."
Before today's protests, Muslim community leaders had expressed frustration that their mosque had become the focal point for the rally and had urged demonstrators to protest peacefully. The EDL has held several similar rallies throughout the summer. More than 30 people were arrested last weekend at a similar portest in Birmingham.
Guardian
When do you think the State will wake up and admit that groups like the EDL are just out to provoke racial violence and whip up tension?
ReplyDeleteThey seem to be following the 'Braford 2001' plan. Wind up the local Asian population, withdraw and laugh as Asian youths battle the police.
Then they can turn around and say multi-racialism isn't working.
"Then they can turn around and say multi-racialism isn't working."
ReplyDeleteMuslims arent a race. See what you mean though.
Devious
My upmost support & solidarity goes to the antifascists that helped defend Harrow Mosque today, unfortunatly the boneheaded far-right that we thought we saw the last of during the mid-1990's have returned to our streets once again. The only way to tackle these scumbags is through the gritty street-level tactics that, that both the A.N.L & the 43 group fought with.
ReplyDelete-On a side note, they still present themselves (in front of the media) as a non-racist group that just campaigns against Islamic extremism, so may it be it be worth intercepting these fascists by taking a hidden camera into one of their members-only pubs/clubs to show the rest of the public that they really are 09's version of the NF.
Good news. According to Stormfront
ReplyDelete"The 5.00pm reports only 8-10 protestors from the anti islamic group and EDL turned up, there was a large crowd surge and the Police got them out of the area quickly."
why is that mug waving his arms about?
ReplyDeleteWho is he trying to kid?
without the police he would have been mincemeat.
And his mates.
"On a side note, they still present themselves (in front of the media) as a non-racist group that just campaigns against Islamic extremism"
ReplyDeleteJudge them on what they do, not what they say. They can spout any old crap, doesn't mean it's true. Words are cheap but actions aren't.
They prove by their actions that they they are targeting Britons of mainly Pakistani/Bengali origin (the vast majority of British Muslims are from this group). The BNP too claim that they are not racist but it's obvious that they are.
I did notice in all the reports I have looked at, that every single camera / video is taken from the anti fash side..... Hmmm... is that because the EDL threatened to beat up photographers? Why the fuck are any media organisation giving any breathing space to such a bunch of nobs?
ReplyDelete311 BNP, EDL, SIOE + Casuals United said they'd attend EDL's Harrow protest on their demo's Facebook page. Less than 20 of these morons turned up! They marched over the bridge towards Harrow Mosque, shouted racist abuse, and were immediately stormed by a crowd that overwhelmed them more than 50 to 1. EDL literally had to run for their lives, a couple took a short, sharp kicking and the rest spent the next 2 hours being kettled by the police for their own protection.
ReplyDeleteWith nowhere to take their adrenaline some youngsters wasted time chucking stuff at the police, who (to their credit) did not over-react, but Muslim elders and locals intevened to cool things down, and the bottom line is these self-styled Casuals were ROUTED by an enthusiastic and confident multiracial Anti-Fascist community. The only thing EDL achieved was to spark the creation of Harrow's new Anti-Fascist movement, which will be more than ready to deal with them if and when they come back.
Whether you like to admit it or not racial tension is growing. There needs to be a discussion about the root cause - one theory (which I support) is a change in the tactics (and the masterminds) behind the BNP. The BNP has achieved success after a fashion and there is a heightened racial tension.
ReplyDeleteOne needs to take a look at what is going on behind the scene at the BNP and what their role in all of this is.
The BNP leaders, in private of course, have often voiced the opinion that the skinheads (and boneheads) are just fodder to be used to promote the cause and in the "perfect solution" would ultimately also be disposed of.
The activities which we are now beginning to see are exactly in line with the plan which has been postulated in private by the BNP powers that be.
We need to be analyzing the trends and the reasons (part of which is undoubtedly the economic climate) behind these events and turning the light on what is going on within the BNP which is manipulating the situation for its own gain.
Too often the left is quick to dismiss the right as idiots however there is a carefully thought out and inherently evil plan being put into action here. This plan is being driven by a few intellectuals in the party who need to be exposed.
The EDL is a creation of the state.
ReplyDeleteWe need to emphasise the clear links between EDL and BNP and therefore the nutters of SF,C18 and Hitler devotees.
ReplyDeleteComments about stirring up the situation and then retreating are correct.
Hot weather won't help either. these thugs must be stopped from coming to Manchester.
I see the BBC is giving them massive publicity out of all proportion to their tiny numbers
ReplyDeletehttp://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/8250017.stm
and
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/8251958.stm
"Words are cheap but actions aren't.
ReplyDeleteActions can be cheap too, lashing out in mindless violence is a cheap but stupid thing.
Words were what really brought the Nazis to power, words are what Nick Griffin has used to make The BNP less obviously racist than it was under the more outspoken Tyndall. It's the words that we need to be more aware of in my opinion.
"Whether you like to admit it or not racial tension is growing."
ReplyDeleteAnd your evidence for this is?
People are claiming that racial tensions are increasing, using these clashes as evidence. And who are these instigated and encouraged by? The BNP, EDL, Casuals and SIOE - all groups that are overtly anti-Muslim. Take away the racists and there are no clashes.
I'd rather not see anti-fascists engaged in fisticuffs on the street.
ReplyDeleteIf fascists want to march and demonstrate, let them, and leave them to the police. We should avoid physical confrontation or risk being tarred by the same bruch, which would be a disaster for anti-fascism.
Here's some good news.... Another BNP by election catastrophe
ReplyDeleteBNP vote down by about 50% in Daventry.
Wingfield had high hopes for this one, maybe thats why the result isnt on his blog site.
Terrible result for the BNP
"The EDL is a creation of the state."
ReplyDeleteSome evidence please.
Thanks in advance.
"I'd rather not see anti-fascists engaged in fisticuffs on the street. If fascists want to march and demonstrate, let them, and leave them to the police. We should avoid physical confrontation or risk being tarred by the same bruch, which would be a disaster for anti-fascism."
ReplyDeleteThe above were exactly the same arguments after Cable Street '36 and Lewisham in 1977. Go back and read newspapers in the immediate aftermath of these events (I have) and they were almost all hostile to anti-fascists. After Cable Street the Establishment roundly condemned anti-fascists for preventing Mosely ("A Lord of the Realm") from marching. Anti-fascism has never been "popular" and this isn't a beauty contest. Groups like the EDL are steeped in violence and it should be no surprise that some local Asians react violently.
Our fire should be reserved soley for the shit-stirring EDL.
PMSL...... Y'gotta love Lee (bonkers) Barnes:
ReplyDeletefrom his web blob:
"There were 16 'Stop the Islamisation of Europe' campaigners and over 1000 Islamist militia deployed by a local Islamist sect / terrorist group with members linked to the recent airplanes plot.
Alongside the Islamists were the Stalinist ANL and the AFA, the bootboys of the Bolshevik Left, controlled and directed by the Capitalist Elite via the SWP."
Whatever he's smoking is sure strong stuff!
"PMSL...... Y'gotta love Lee (bonkers) Barnes:
ReplyDeletefrom his web blob:
"Alongside the Islamists were the Stalinist ANL and the AFA, the bootboys of the Bolshevik Left, controlled and directed by the Capitalist Elite via the SWP."
Where do you start?
ANL don't really exist anymore having merged into the UAF. Politically they were closer to Trotskyism than Stalinism.
Ditto for AFA (anti-fascist action). They havn't existed on the streets since about 10 years ago. Militant anti-fascism is now the preserve of a tiny group called Antifa-England.
And for the 'Capitalist Elite' read, "Jews"
Barnes isn't big on facts, is he.
Y....M....C....A!!!
ReplyDelete(come on, someone had to ffs!)