Businesses have raised concerns over the decision to allow the English Defence League's protest march at the Barbican over the weekend.
As hundreds of people enjoyed the scene and historic part of the city, many voiced their dismay at the large police presence and the slogan-chanting of the EDL. One shopkeeper – who asked not to be named – said: "They are allowed to march, that's democracy. But why march them along here, where all our tourists are, where our businesses are trying to show the best of Plymouth?"
Professor David Wheeler, who chairs the Waterfront Partnership, witnessed the march as it travelled the length of Southside Street and onto Madeira Road. He expressed his "serious disappointment" that the march had been "routed through the touristic heart of the city."
He said: "The waterfront businesses are multi-cultural in ownership and in their customer base. As the showcase of an international marine city, the Barbican should not be used for demonstrations that many would find divisive and offensive. I was especially concerned that children on the Barbican might have found the tone of the demonstration frightening and that Race Week business could suffer. I will be writing to the police authorities asking for information on how such demonstrations can be prevented in the future."
A police spokesman said: "There was consultation between both march organisers and the police concerning the route of their processions. There were inevitably going to be some parts of the community who did not want either march to go through their respective area. However, we are duty bound to respect the right to peaceful protest and that meant accommodating both marches in the best way possible by lessening impact on the local community wherever we could.
"Initial feedback from many areas of the community concerning the police operation on Saturday has been very positive and we would thank all residents for their co-operation in helping this process."
A 28-year-old is due before magistrates on July 20 charged with possession of an offensive weapon. Four more men arrested on public order offences and another man arrested on suspicion of assault have been released on police bail pending further inquiries.
This is Plymouth
15 comments:
'I was especially concerned that children on the Barbican might have found the tone of the demonstration frightening and that Race Week business could suffer'.
Race Week could become Racial Identity Week as the EDL solidify to become a hardcore neo-nazi group along the lines of Combat18, now they have shed their fake Jewish division.
Is there an online count or tally anywhere on the net of all the convicted criminal offences committed by EDL nazi scumbags?
Would be great if there could be an "EDL Criminometer" updated regularly on the net, maybe LU even, though for the past number of convicted people, with such large numbers of crims in the EDL, this would lead to months of insomnia for the hardened researcher.
There's never any arrests for racist chanting.
Why is that?
SIX CHARGED WITH RACIST ABUSE ON THE METRO: -
http://www.shieldsgazette.com/news/crime/six_charged_with_racist_abuse_on_metro_1_3568163
HOPE NOT HATE SAY THEY WERE EDL MEMBERS!
NWI are planning to go to Manchester to counter a Stop Islamophobia demonstration on the 16th July
Could turn violent when Snowy gets his fists flying, when the cops fail to turn up
Please circulate on all your networks.
The video at this link shows recent racist attacks against asians on the London underground supposedly carried out by an EDL member and then uploaded to Youtube, of all places.
It doesn't surprise me a bit that it has come to this as the whole EDL thing has been reminiscent of the peddled hatred and rise of confidence on the street of the NF towards the end of the 70's.
This video represents the end result of what all the rascist retoric, that pervades every breathe of the EDL, has logically led to.
http://www.twitpic.com/5exbfg
Please put this on your blog, this story, Antifascist
http://manchesterafa.org/2011/07/12/edl-coming-to-manchester-this-saturday/
People need to know that the EDL want to attack antiracists on the anniversary of the Spanish Civil War
COWARDLY EDL NEO-NAZI THUGS VIOLENTLY ASSAULT CALDERDALE COUNCILLOR: POLICE APPEAL FOR ANY PICTURES TAKEN: -
http://www.halifaxcourier.co.uk/news/local/did_you_snap_the_edl_demo_plea_by_police_for_your_pictures_1_3568296
PLEASE REPOST THIS STORY KETLAN TO HELP PEOPLE WHO MIGHT HAVE INFO TO CONTACT THE POLICE ARREST THE THUG
"Could turn violent when Snowy gets his fists flying, when the cops fail to turn up".
If there's no cops, this is most surelu evidence that the EDL are a state-sponsored fascist operation.
Snowy's a scrawny racist fuck.
EDL YOBS YELLED LET'S GO MENTAL: -
http://www.halifaxcourier.co.uk/news/local/edl_demo_let_s_go_mental_the_mob_yelled_1_3565884
Where the fuck is everyone? Is this blog dead?
off topic but have you seen http://www.arthurkemp.com/
the civil war in racist BNP hotting up - bahahahahahaha
SCUFFLE AT "EDL FOOTBALL MATCH"
http://www.facebook.com/pages/North-West-Infidels/210810272273357
looks like NWI fucked up (lol)
Even more incompetent and pathetic than the EDL! Have a good laugh at their expense.
Meanwhile the Spanish Civil War commemoration event went without a hitch, we have the streets with impunity. Good work everyone!
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