Populism in 21st century Britain: Why the EDL needs Facebook

A new study by independent think tank Demos has revealed that online activism is at the heart of the English Defence League

The far-right English Defence League (EDL) first emerged in 2009 as a street protest movement, whose ideology and rhetoric opposes radical Islam and Sharia law in the UK. The group’s mission statement includes declarations that it is committed to “ensuring human rights are protected and promoted” and “ensuring that the public get a balanced picture of Islam.”

The EDL has organised more than fifty marches and demonstrations across the UK over the past two years, and many of these have descended into violence. EDL supporters and others have been arrested, often after fighting with counter-demonstrators from organisations such as Unite Against Fascism. Inflammatory and provocative tactics are regularly employed. When the EDL recently marched through Tower Hamlets – an area of London with a significant Muslim population - the group’s leaders proclaimed that they were “heading into the Lion’s Den”, the demonstration descended into violence and the police made sixty arrests.

While the EDL has repeatedly denied being a racist organisation and has attempted to distance itself from the far-right British National Party (BNP), video footage of racist chanting at their marches or a glance at the vitriolic comments published on its online forums portray an utterly different picture. EDL leader Stephen Lennon (who uses the pseudonym Tommy Robinson amongst his supporters), has also appeared on television to deny claims that the organisation is racist, but he describes the Koran as a “seventh century book in its barbaric form.”

Although it is the demonstrations, violence and anti-social behaviour that make the headlines, a new study published by Demos this week revealed that the majority of EDL supporters have never been on a march. When asked about their recent involvement in the organisation, 52% of supporters claimed that they had taken part in some form of online activism.

Press interest in the organisation has led to a growth in the number of supporters, and this has largely manifested through the internet and social networking sites, in particular Facebook. The EDL is reliant on Facebook as it is their central communicative and organisation tool. There are a number of fan pages dedicated to the organisation and Demos estimate that the group has an active membership of 25,000 – 35,000 people. Amongst those supporters surveyed it found that the BNP is the most popular political party amongst EDL supporters, followed by the UK Independence Party.

The EDL is indicative of a wider trend of new far-right groups that have sprung up across Europe in recent years and has tried to form ties with other ‘European Defences Leagues’ in Germany, Poland and France. The EDL also publically supported the Dutch far-right politician Geert Wilders when he visited the UK to screen his anti-Islam film in the House of Lords in 2010.

The EDL have also been accused of having links to terrorist Anders Behring Breivik, who carried out twin terror attacks that claimed 77 lives in Norway this summer. When Norwegian police began their investigation it was revealed that Breivik claimed to have 600 EDL supporters as Facebook friends, was a fan of the EDL Facebook page and had previously praised the organisation.

In this high-tech digital age, new technology has changed the way that organisations such as the EDL spread their message and organise their activities. By using the internet, supporters can publish their opinions anonymously and without facing the same consequences that they might encounter should such opinions be shared in the pub or at work. The EDL is a chaotic and disorganised organisation that has no official membership procedures, and were it not for Facebook and other social networking sites then it is most likely that they would not exist.

New Federalist

Thanks to Zaahid for the heads-up

Face of Tory "Become a Councillor" campaign is EDL sympathiser

The face of the Conservative Party’s official “Become a Councillor” campaign is an EDL sympathiser who attended an organising meeting for their controversial Tower Hamlets demonstration, Political Scrapbook can reveal. Cllr Blaine Robin was publicly praised by EDL leader Tommy Robinson for his presence at the meeting in Southend-On-Sea.

The gathering of EDL organisers included leaders of all the group’s so-called “southern divisions” and was designed to build momentum for the action in Tower Hamlets which cost hundreds of thousands of pounds to police and led to sixty arrests for offences including assault on a police office, common assault, drunk and disorderly and affray.

Video footage below shows Tommy Robinson appearing to point to the councillor while saying he was “proud” that he attended the meeting. Robin is prominently featured on the Conservative Party website as part of the Become a Councillor campaign, which encourages people to stand as Tory candidates to “make a difference to their local community”.

“I’m proud that the first politician, I’ve ever met who actually represents his constituents was a man outside … who’s a local politician in Southend [points to person in crowd] … It’s even greater to see that he has heard the free message of the English Defence League not the distorted media attempt [sic]”

While Blaine has denied being an official member of the EDL, the councillor’s sympathies can not be in doubt, having praised the far right group’s “good intentions” on his Facebook page and posted their propaganda on his website. David Cameron has claimed “there’s none sicker than the EDL”.

But it seems that not all Conservative politicians agree.

Political Scrapbook

Thanks to NewsHound and others for the heads-up

Cable Street memories: The day that every horse went down

Sir Oswald Mosley reviews his ‘troops’ before the
Cable Street stand-off, at which the fascists were defeated

For Cable Street veteran, Michael Sherbourne, the famous battle against the fascists in Whitechapel, 75 years ago next Tuesday, was a foregone conclusion.

"It was a deliberate provocation. We knew we were going to stop them."

The 94-year-old, who fought in Israel in 1948 and campaigned for Soviet Jews, doesn't consider his story of that October day to be unusual. "Every young Jew in London was there. I was 19 - to say that I was there is nothing special."

Few veterans of the Battle of Cable Street are still alive to recall the day when Jews, trade unionists, and Communists barricaded Whitechapel against the police-protected march of Sir Oswald Mosley's "blackshirts", forcing them out of the East End. This Sunday, members of Jewish, Socialist and Bengali groups will march from Aldgate to a rally in Cable Street to mark the anniversary. Speakers include members of the TUC, anti-racism group Searchlight, Labour councillors and original Cable Street participants.

Writer David Rosenberg, of the Jewish Socialists' Group, is one of the organisers and author of a book on Jewish responses to fascism in the 1930s. "I've been involved in anti-fascist activities for 25 years and demonstrated against the National Front as a teenager," he said. "I keep hearing new things all the time about what happened. But there are very few still able to remember it personally, which is why it is still important. The issues haven't gone away; there's still the BNP and the EDL."

One of the speakers at the rally will be Max Levitas, 96, a Jewish East Ender and former Communist councillor in Tower Hamlets. He was arrested in 1934 for daubing anti-fascist slogans on Nelson's Column in Trafalgar Square, against a Mosley-organised rally in Hyde Park.

He said: "What was happening in Germany made us determined that fascism should not take control in this country. On the day in 1936 when we heard they intended to come up Cable Street, we started to build barricades with rubbish and furniture. I was a runner, passing messages to the leadership. It went on for hours, until we heard the march was banned by the Home Secretary. You should have been there to hear the cry, and see people jumping and shouting in joy. People who had never drunk beer in their lives, drank a glass of beer. We had won."

But he added: "We had asked the Board of Deputies to represent us to the government, asking them to ban the march. And they wouldn't. They said all the Jewish people should stay at home. We disagreed entirely. The more you stay at home, the stronger they get."

Mr Sherbourne and his brother were caught up in different parts of the protest. "We were given brown paper bags, with about 100 glass marbles in each. We waited, and saw the police get on horseback, preparing to charge. As they did, we threw the marbles along the ground. And every horse went down."

His brother Cyril, now 88, watched the struggle unfold. "We heard choruses of 'they shall not pass' all day. If they had got through, it would have been a massacre. It was a great turning point."

Mr Levitas felt that today's East End has learnt from the Battle of Cable Street about standing up to racism, most recently opposing the English Defence League march through Tower Hamlets.

"The majority of people in this country are against racism. But you have to educate them to speak out, and in a united fashion."

Jewish Chronicle

Silverdale Tours coach trashed for carrying English Defence League

Silverdale Tours has been revealed to be the latest company companies prepared to profit from transporting the English Defence League (EDL).

The EDL had planned a march through Tower Hamlets to the East London Mosque on 3rd September 2011. The planned demonstration was in the vein of loyalist Orange marches in Northern Ireland.

A heavy police presence kept groups separate throughout the day but, at around 6pm, a group of EDL supporters, travelling in a vehicle hired from Silverdale coaches, drove past the East London mosque hurling insults. The coach was pursued and set upon by a crowd who broke windows and hurled street furniture. As the news spread around Whitechapel, hundreds of local people poured onto the streets and confronted police who had moved in to protect the EDL.

In 2010, Ausden Clark, the official coach company for Leicester City football club, confirmed that it would no longer provide services to the EDL after Corporate Watch revealed they had transported EDL supporters to a rally in Bradford (see here).

In February 2011 Andrews of Tideswell, another company used by the EDL in Bradford, made a statement that it would not carry the EDL (or other protesters) again after several of its coaches had their tyres slashed by anti-fascists prior to the EDL's Luton demo.

Johnsons Coaches have contacted Corporate Watch and informed us that on the occasions that they have provided services to the EDL they have done so at the request of West Midlands police. The company did not, however, pledge not to provide services to the EDL in the future.

Silverdale Tours are based in Nottingham at Little Tennis Street South, Nottingham,NG2 4EU.Tel: 0115 912 1000(0115) 912 1000, Fax: (0115) 912 1558, Email: info@silverdaletours.co.uk.

Companies that have provided services to the EDL in the past and have not pledged not to do it again include:

Confidence Bus & Coach Hire Ltd
30 Spalding Street
Leicester LE5 4PH
Tel: (0116) 2762171, (0116) 2762171
Email: confidencebus@btclick.com
www.confidencebus.co.uk

Ribble Valley Coaches
Slaters Farm
Whittingham Lane
Preston, PR3 2JJ
Tel: (01772) 865575, (01772) 865575
Fax: (01772) 865242

Marshalls Coaches
Firbank Way
Leighton Buzzard
Bedfordshire, LU7 4YP
Tel: (01525) 376077 and (01525) 376077
www.marshalls-coaches.co.uk

Airshuttle
The Old Foundry, Tat Bank Road
Oldbury, West Midlands B69 4NB
www.airshuttlecoaches.co.uk
Airshuttle is a member of the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB)

Watersons
21 Market Street, Hemsworth
Pontefract, West Yorkshire WF9 4JY
and
1 Station Lane, Featherstone,
West Yorkshire, WF7 5BE
and
68 Highfield Road, Hemsworth, Pontefract
West Yorkshire WF9 4EA
www.watersonholidays.co.uk

Johnsons
Johnsons Coaches, Liveridge House
Liveridge Hill, Henley in Arden
Warwickshire, West Mids, B95 5QS

Corporate Watch

EDL protester jailed for punching Cumbrian policeman at London demonstration

An English Defence League protester who punched a Cumbrian policeman during a banned demo in east London has been jailed for five months.

Darrell Copeland, 44, charged a line of police and smashed Sergeant James Lloyd, from west Cumbria, in the face as the officers struggled to control demonstrators from the far-Right group.

Sgt Lloyd was one of a group of 25 officers from the county who were sent to London to help officers in the capital police the demo, which saw more than 60 arrests.

Copeland, who had been drinking, struggled violently as he was arrested, headbutting a window, threatening to do the same to police and shouting anti-Muslim abuse, City of Westminster magistrates were told.

He was held in custody after the protest on September 3 until his court appearance, when he admitted assault. District Judge Daphne Wickham heard that Copeland, from Milton Keynes, had previously been jailed for racist abuse.

Victoria Forbes, prosecuting, said he had joined EDL demonstrators at Aldgate station as officers tried to control the crowd.

He claimed he had come to London to visit his mother, not specifically to take part in the demonstration.

The Metropolitan Police said 61 suspects were arrested with 46 bailed to return to a north London police station in November.

Seven people – including Copeland – were charged with offences including assaulting officers and public order offences.

The EDL told Scotland Yard it planned a “static demonstration” following a 30-day ban by Home Secretary Theresa May on marching in six London areas.

It was the first time since the Brixton riots 30 years ago that police have requested powers to stop marches in London.

Scuffles broke out and bottles and firecrackers were thrown by members of the EDL as riot police, mounted police and dogs turned out on the streets in large numbers to maintain control.

More than 3,000 officers were made available amid fears of violence and clashes with opposition groups including Unite Against Fascism.

Police vans from forces including Cumbria, Lancashire and Grampian could be seen on the streets.

News and Star

The EDL Notts Division Coach Fiasco

A bizarre fiasco occured on the Nottingham Division Coach at Saturday's Tower Hamlets demo.

After they were contained in Aldgate East (which a fair distance from Tower Hamlets), Notts Division's coach was diverted and allegedly came under attack on Whitechapel Road. Video evidence suggests there was a fracas on the bus and the window went through. EDL 'Angel' Joanne Dickens was dragged off the bus toilet, through the emergency exit and violently assaulted by Asians outside the bus.

Video evidence does not show this happening and it was thought she opened the door, shouted racist abuse at some locals and fell off the bus, only to be helped to safety by a local Asian man.

In the aftermath of these events, police arrested all 44 members of the EDL coach and bailed them on suspicion of an earlier incident. Dickens is a violent thug who has been to prison several time and boasted of 'ripping part of a girl's chest off' in a recent post she made bragging on Facebook.

Dickens contacted us on Facebook this morning to reaffirm her story and claimed she had a broken jaw.

We are not sure if this video was taken before or after the alleged incident.


After contacting us Dickens vanished after screenshots of vile racist abuse were produced.

The EDL Leadership were quick to support her and claim she would not use racist language but these screenshots suggest that Dickens is a proven hard core racist , massive nazi and possibly has a white nationalist tattoo on her left breast.

This screenshot shows Dickens mocking an Asian woman who died on a fun fair ride

Click on image for full-size

and this screenshot shows the following Facebook status update

'fuck all you dirty imagrant, muslim, paki, foreign cunts, get out of my country (england)'

Click on image for full-size

It didn't stop there, click on the image to read on.

EDL News asked the EDL support group whether step will be taken to stop her attending the next demo but we did not get any reply. Notts Division have since released this awesome comedy 'Statment'. Click here to read it.

EDL News

Thanks to Greg for the heads-up

Note from LU: According to the EDL 'Statment', the coach was at one point surrounded by 'a estimated 1000 strong muslim group'. Not according to the film we've seen, it wasn't. Take a look at the screenshot below for the truth.

Click on image for full-size

English Defense League - who are they?

Interview with Suzette Bronkhorst, General Manager of the Internet Center for Anti-Racism in Europe

Last time we talked we discussed the tactics used by neo-Nazi groups. One of them was provocation. Can you tell our listeners about the choice of the location for the demonstration by the English Defense League (EDL) in Britain?

They went to Tower Hamlets. There is a big mosque there. Actually, the Ministry for the Interior [?] forbade marches for 30 days, so they organized what is called a “static” demonstration – they were standing still. It couldn’t be forbidden. But a thousand people turned up and 3,000 policemen at the other side, opposing demonstrations, that stood near the mosque to protect it. They were with 1,500 people. And a riot broke out between the police and EDL. The funny thing that happened in England is that Scotland Yard have been accused of underestimating the threat from EDL, because the head of the unit monitoring hate groups declared it’s not an extremist organization, because he looked at their website and said it was not extreme. But they did after all deem it necessary to invite 3,000 policemen to keep a group of a thousand people down. That’s strange. But Breivik shouldn’t work in favour of EDL.

I think after the Breivik tragedy they got a lot of press attention. They wouldn’t have got otherwise.

Yes, but if you get attention like being involved into a huge terrorist attack, that wouldn’t be in your favor, would it?

No, it wouldn’t. And I think maybe their activities had quieted down a little bit. So, I was surprised to hear that they were still holding big demonstration.

I’m sorry to say but this is a kind of vermin and they never quiet down.

Was there a special reason why they chose this day, in particular? Neo-Nazi groups love to play with numbers, dates and stuff.

No, not that I can see. They just want to keep their momentum of demonstrations going, I guess. In Britain, they have a lot of opposition from the state that tries to stop demonstrations because of public order, or to be precise disorder. Then, of course, they started to talk about freedom of speech.

Was there any connection between the last time we talked and now when there were huge riots in Great Britain? Was EDL involved in those extensively, with football fans etc?

As far as I can see, the rioting that went on was a strange mix of things because there were a lot of just ordinary looters. But it started, of course, at a black man getting shot by the police. So, there were a lot of things at the same time. And it’s not in particular EDL. What they did do is they started these neighborhood watch patrols.

The EDL did?

Yes, although they didn’t announce it like that. If you would see those neighborhood watch groups walking through the streets and what they were saying – they were definitely part of it.

They tried to pretend to be like Citizens Vigilante group or something?

Yes, to protect the streets.

Strange.

Not so strange. It’s actually quite smart, if you can control the people that are in these Vigilante groups.

It’s just strange that this group would be allowed to do that.

Well, they are not allowed – they do it, so what are you going to do.

Do the events in London have any relationship to the events that happened a few hours ago in Dortmund, Germany?

No, the rioting in Dortmund has no connection to the demonstration in London. The problem was that Dortmund police tried to keep the opposing demonstration, the counter-demonstration and the neo-Nazi apart, and that didn’t work out.

How accurate do you think are reports that anti-Nazi demonstrators attacked the police?

The anti-Nazi? They didn’t. Actually, the neo-Nazi did. As it’s called in the media, the left-wing protesters. I don’t know why anti-racism or anti-fascism has to be left-wing.

They broke through the barriers?

That was separating the two groups. Then a scuffle broke out, in which a police officer was seriously injured, because they stood in between the two groups.

I was alarmed to see that the two events happened so closely together in two different European cities. Have you picked up anything on your radar about any further activities or protests like this in Europe in the near future?

No. EDL is planning more marching in Great Britain. But there is a lot of going on in Europe, which is very concerning, I think.

Could you give us some examples?

With the whole atmosphere of groups standing opposite each other, the extreme right wing that moves up in politics, the intolerance – it’s very extreme, very worrisome.

It’s growing?

Oh, yes. And they are getting into political power now more and more in several countries.

Is there anything people can do to prevent it?

These groups and political parties just come out with what is wrong with the country but they never come with solutions. And therefore it’s like “it’s a war against Islam!” or “a war against the Roma,” war guns writing non-democratic measures.

But they have no intelligent solution to anything, right?

They have no solution. Period.

So, you don’t see anything happening in Europe in the near future. What about the upcoming anniversary of September 11 events in the US? Are neo-Nazi groups in Europe or anywhere that you know planning events for that date?

Yes, in the US, a lot. Probably, in Europe, you will have some activity, because it’s always a good opportunity to bash some more Muslims.

Voice of Russia

Thanks to I-CARE for the heads-up

Eye-witness backs up NUJ account of EDL attacks

A journalist on the scene has spoken to Press Gazette about how photographers came under attack whilst covering an English Defence League demonstration in east London on Saturday afternoon.

The journalist, who said they did not wish to be named for fear of reprisals from the far-right group, backed up reports by the National Union of Journalists that a photographer was set on fire and that a female journalist had made a complaint of a sexual assault.

He said that it appeared that the photographer might have been sprayed with lighter fluid setting light to their shirt. The photographer carried on working but was later treated in hospital for minor burns, the source said.

He said: “There were a group of about 20 photographers standing on a raised piece of land behind the police line while Tommy Robinson [the EDL leader) was speaking near Aldgate. One of my colleagues was punched and a female photographer was hit inappropriately, they are classing it as a sexual assault.”

He added: “The EDL has a history attacking members of the media. I think they turn on photographers because we are more visible than writers who can blend in more easily.

“They don’t like journalists covering their events because it leads to reports and pictures coming out showing their violence.”

He said that he has covered a number of EDL events and knows of other incidents where journalists have been attacked, intimidated and even followed home by suspected EDL supporters.

A video emerged yesterday of Saturday afternoon's demonstration (link below) which showed an apparent EDL supporter scuffling with a photographer and then being detained by police.

A spokesman for the Met Police said: "We are investigating an allegation of an assault in which a 17-year-old male had his clothing set alight during the demonstrations in the Aldgate area at around 2.10pm on Saturday, 3 September, 2011. The victim’s outer clothing was scorched and he suffered small partial thickness burns to his hip. Officers on scene administered initial first aid and advised the male to attend hospital. The victim later attended hospital and was treated for the injury and released.

"No arrests at this stage and enquiries continue. Anyone with any information about this incident can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111."

The English Defence League has yet to respond to a request for a comment.

Yesterday NUJ leader Michelle Stanistreet said: “These violent attacks are an appalling abuse of press freedom and a clear attempt by members of the EDL to deter journalists from carrying out their work.

“These attacks are designed to intimidate NUJ members and those in the local community who are determined to stand up to far-right groups.

“The police need to take decisive action to ensure that the thugs who attacked journalists during the EDL protest are identified and prosecuted."

You can view the video here

The Press Gazette

Thanks to Newshound for the heads up.

Five months for protester who hit policeman at far-Right demo

An English Defence League protester who punched a policeman during last weekend's banned demo in east London has been jailed for five months.

Darrell Copeland, 44, charged a line of police and smashed Sergeant James Lloyd in the face as the officers struggled to control demonstrators from the far-Right group.

Copeland, who had been drinking, struggled violently as he was arrested, headbutting a window, threatening to do the same to police and shouting anti-Muslim abuse, City of Westminster magistrates' court was told.

He was held in custody after Saturday's protest until his court appearance, when he admitted assault. District Judge Daphne Wickham heard that Copeland, from Milton Keynes, had previously been jailed for racist abuse.

Victoria Forbes, prosecuting, said he had joined EDL demonstrators at Aldgate station, where they chanted: "Let's go f**king mental," as officers tried to control the crowd.

He claimed he had come to London to visit his mother, not specifically to take part in the demonstration.

Evening Standard

NUJ offers support and assistance to members following attacks during EDL protest

The NUJ has condemned attacks on journalists during the EDL protest in London on Saturday and the union has offered support and assistance to journalists who were abused.

Following the EDL event in East London, the union has received numerous reports of harassment, threats and abuse including physical assaults, racist abuse, bottles and fireworks being thrown at the press and photographers being punched and kicked. One journalist was subjected to a sexual assault and another NUJ member suffered minor burns after an EDL supporter used a flammable accelerant to set the photographer on fire.

Violence directed towards journalists who are simply doing their job is totally unacceptable and the deliberate targeting of journalists by the far-right is a violation of press freedom.

Michelle Stanistreet, NUJ general secretary said: “These violent attacks are an appalling abuse of press freedom and a clear attempt by members of the EDL to deter journalists from carrying out their work. These attacks are designed to intimidate NUJ members and those in the local community who are determined to stand up to far-right groups. The police need to take decisive action to ensure that the thugs who attacked journalists during the EDL protest are identified and prosecuted."

Jason N. Parkinson, NUJ London photographers' branch secretary said: "London Photographers' Branch condemns the attacks on journalists by supporters of the EDL during Saturday's protest. These attacks are just the latest in a long history of violence, threats and even fatwas issued against the press and there is only one reason behind them all - to intimidate and deter the media exposing the violent and racist behaviour of the far-right. An attack on the press is an attack on press freedom and on our democracy."

Further information:

Fatwas issued against the press
Redwatch targets the NUJ
Teenager who assaulted journalist jailed for football brawl
Outrage at far-right call to treat photographers as hostile

NUJ

EDL protest in East London sees 60 arrested

Not quite the trip of a lifetime for a heavily kettled EDL mob
Thanks to Paul Maul for the image link

Sixty people have been arrested after English Defence League (EDL) members clashed with police in East London.

Police said 16 arrests were made during a demonstration by the group, while 44 people on a coach were held later on suspicion of violent disorder. The protest went ahead despite a ban on marches in the area, with police estimating 1,000 EDL supporters and 1,500 counter-protesters had gathered. Missiles were thrown by activists as 3,000 police tried to maintain control.

The supporters of the EDL, which says it is protesting against Islamic extremism in the UK, assembled near Aldgate Tube station, with the counter-protesters gathering in nearby Whitechapel Road. The EDL protesters were later led to Tower Bridge by police to disperse.

The 16 arrests during the demonstration were for offences including assault on a police officer, common assault, drunk and disorderly and affray. The later arrests came after a coach taking EDL supporters away following the protest broke down outside Stepney Green Tube station, at about 18:30 BST. Police said there had already been one altercation with local youths after the vehicle stopped in Whitechapel Road and some passengers got off the coach. When the coach broke down outside the station there was a further disturbance, the Metropolitan Police said, and all the passengers were arrested.

Officers from London were joined in patrolling the protests by colleagues from around the UK. Vans from forces as far away as Cumbria, Lancashire and Grampian were in action, with riot police, mounted officers and dogs also employed.

EDL founder Stephen Lennon, 28, breached his bail conditions by attending the protest in Aldgate, but was not one of those arrested. He stood to address the crowd disguised in a wide-brimmed hat and fake beard before revealing his identity.

He said: "I'm meant to sign on at a police station on a Saturday, I'm not doing that. I'm not allowed to go to a demonstration, I'm not doing that. The credible outcome is I will be put on remand in prison for my democratic right."

Lennon was convicted in July of leading a street brawl with 100 football fans in August last year.

Home Secretary Theresa May had imposed a ban on marching in Newham, Tower Hamlets, Waltham Forest, Islington, Hackney and the City of London. The EDL had claimed the ban on marching sent out "completely the wrong message" and insisted a static demonstration would go ahead.

The activists were supposedly prevented from chanting or waving their flags while walking as that would constitute a march. The protest was moved however, at the behest of police, as the EDL protesters were led towards Tower Bridge by mounted and riot police. They were held on the bridge for about 40 minutes before being allowed to disperse.

Police had not requested powers to stop marches in London since the Brixton riots 30 years ago.

BBC

Thanks to NewsHound for the heads-up

Tommy Robinson breaches bail again!

Photo of Tommy Robinson making speech and breaking bail conditions (again) at Static EDL demo in Aldgate carpark. Rumours that the police arrested him are unconfirmed (at the moment).

EDL supporters clash with police

English Defence League members have clashed with police in east London

Far-right demonstrators clashed with police as they protested in east London.

Scuffles broke out and bottles and firecrackers were thrown by members of the English Defence League (EDL) as riot police, mounted police and dogs turned out on the streets in large numbers to maintain control.

The clashes broke out as EDL leader Stephen "Tommy" Lennon addressed the crowd, telling them he had broken his bail conditions to be at the protest. The far-right group told Scotland Yard it planned to lead a "static demonstration" in the wake of a 30-day ban by Home Secretary Theresa May on marching in six areas.

There had been fears of potential unrest ahead of the protest, centred on the deprived inner city borough of Tower Hamlets. Mrs May also banned marches in Newham, Waltham Forest, Islington, Hackney and the City of London. More than 3,000 officers were expected to be available amid fears of violence and clashes with opposition groups including Unite Against Fascism.

Campaigners have been in ongoing negotiations with police chiefs in the wake of tough measures introduced by Mrs May. It is the first time since the Brixton riots 30 years ago that police have requested powers to stop marches in London.

Your Local Guardian

Muslims criticise Scotland Yard for telling them to engage with EDL

Metropolitan police say English Defence League is 'not extreme', but sends 3,000 officers to planned demonstration

Scotland Yard has been accused of underestimating the threat from the English Defence League (EDL) after the head of the unit monitoring hate groups declared it was not an extremist organisation. In an email obtained by the Guardian, Adrian Tudway, National Co-ordinator for Domestic Extremism, said he formed the view the EDL were not extreme after reading their website.

Today the EDL, accused by Muslims of fostering hate against them, will stage a "static" demonstration in Tower Hamlets, east London, in one of their most potentially provocative displays so far.

The Metropolitan police obtained a ban against a planned march through east London by the EDL, fearing clashes with anti-fascist groups and also the prospect of British Muslim youths taking to the streets to defend their communities against feared racist attacks.

British Muslims have claimed police have not done enough to protect them against the EDL. In an email sent on 27 April 2011, Tudway told a Muslim group they should try opening up a "line of dialogue" with the EDL, who have been accused of staging attacks and directing hostility at British Muslims.

Tudway wrote: "In terms of the position with EDL, the original stance stands, they are not extreme right wing as a group, indeed if you look at their published material on their web-site, they are actively moving away from the right and violence with their mission statement etc. As we discussed last time we met, I really think you need to open a direct line of dialogue with them, that might be the best way to engage them and re-direct their activity?"

Last night Tudway's email was sent to the National Association of Muslim Police, which had been pressing him and his unit for tough action.

Zaheer Ahmad, president of the National Association of Muslim Police, said: "There is a strong perception in the Muslim communities that the police service does not take the threat of right wing extremism seriously. This perception is fast becoming reality when communities witness an inconsistent, somewhat relaxed police approach to EDL demonstrations resulting in very few arrests and prosecutions.

"The community perception is reinforced by the position of the National Domestic Extremism Unit which does not view EDL as right wing extremists. There is a considerable body of independent evidence, which is growing at staggering pace, to highlight the serious threat of EDL to our communities."

The national domestic extremism unit used to be run by the Association of Chief Police Officers. But this year it was moved into the Metropolitan police, where it is part of its specialist operations unit. Tudway's unit was charged with investigating any links between the right wing Norwegian mass murderer Anders Breivik and the English Defence League.

Defending Tudway's views, the Met police said: "The EDL are not a proscribed group. Police are committed to taking robust action against anyone who causes harm by crossing into criminality in support of any issue."

It did not answer whether the force shared his views that the EDL were not extremist.

Dan Hodges, from anti-fascism charity Searchlight, said the charity had been privately telling police more resources needed to be devoted to countering the threat of far right violence: "It's staggering given the EDL's record of violence, intimidation and the outspoken support of many of its members for far right wing politicians and politics."

He said police should classify the EDL as extremist and linked to violence and spend more time and effort trying to thwart their plans: "It's difficult to see what further evidence one would want to see them as extremist. Every EDL demo ends in disorder and physical violence."

The EDL emerged in Luton and has staged a number of demonstrations over the past two years – many of which have descended into violence. The group came under scrutiny earlier this year after Anders Behring Breivik repeatedly praised it in his 1,500-page manifesto, saying he had 600 EDL supporters as Facebook friends and had spoken with "tens of EDL members and leaders".

Members of the group deny any official contact with Breivik and insist their organisation is peaceful, non-racist and opposed to extremism. A Guardian investigation into the EDL found repeated racism and threats of violence among supporters.

Several hundred EDL supporters are expected to meet in two pubs in the Euston area of the capital from around midday on Saturdaybefore being escorted by police to a static demonstration in Tower Hamlets that is due to start at 3pm. Police chiefs said more than 3,000 officers will be on duty amid fears of violence and unrest.

After a police request, the home secretary agreed to a ban on marches for 30 days across five London boroughs and the City of London. It will cover Tower Hamlets, Newham, Waltham Forest, Islington, Hackney and the City of London.

Some anti-racist activists are planning to hold a counter demonstration. Unite Against Fascism is holding a static demonstration in Whitechapel with music and speeches from 11am.

Guardian

Opinion: Tower Hamlets Demo Ban

After all the tub thumping coming from Tommy Robinson, he should be grateful to Theresa May for banning the Tower Hamlets march. With ever decreasing demo attendance figures, their new Facebook group struggling to get more than 12,000 members (including trolls, police, European/American racists and journos) and the last couple of 'big one's' being a damp squib with less than a couple of thousand attendees bothering to turn up, the EDL would have been ran out of town by the massive opposition they would have faced from local people of all colours and religions. It would have been a humiliating experience for all concerned in the movement and possibly the end of the EDL.

This demo was to officially stated to be a protest against extremists in the East London Mosque, a mosque that has largely rid itself of it's extremists which you would have thought to be what the EDL wanted but in the real world it was to be a provocative demo in a Muslim against all Muslims. A chance to get beered up, march through the neighbourhoods of the perceived enemy and look ‘hard’ The average EDL member does not differentiate between a Muslim extremist and peaceful law abiding Muslim.

Tommy can now claim his free speech has been curtailed without actually having to risk his arse in the 'Lion's Den'. In the real world Tommy gets his free speech and so do his members. They are allowed to threaten violence, threaten to burn mosques, threaten to kill Muslims on their Facebook page and despite it being illegal to incite violence and racism, the police largely leave them to get on with it.

That does not mean they will not be run out of town by a lot of residents who do not want the EDL defending them. As with their last few demos up and down the country, the EDL have been penned into a car park and surrounded by huge metal fences. When they have not been able to fight with the police or the opposition they have fought amongst themselves.

The ban will almost certainly reduce the figures of EDL members attending dramatically . Many are disillusioned with having to stand pissed up in a car park and hear the same old speeches by the same old people. The hard core want a fight and the authorities won't let them. They are treated like the children they are and caged which serves the purpose of protecting the local people and minimising the negative effect they have on.

We have all seen what happened when the EDL are allowed to have a march. Just look for the videos of EDL members running amok, attacking people and smashing up property in Leicester and Dudley. Just look at the Plymouth Division's meet and greet where their members got drunk and violently attacked a local kebab house, purely because it was Muslim owned. The four members that were accused of the attack were charged with a variety of racially aggravated offences today and have to answer bail in Plymouth at 2pm on the day of the demonstration.

The Home Office's ban will not restrict the EDL's free speech. If they want to have another pointless drunken meeting in a car park they will get that and it will minimize the destruction and the violence aimed towards the peaceful local people who make Tower Hamlets the wonderful place it is.

Tommy intends to go anyway, in this video made shortly after the ban was announced by the Home Office, he states in his usual petulant way, that he will attend regardless and is happy to break his bail conditions. His conditions ban him from any EDL activity or demonstrations and he has to report to Luton police station at 2pm on Saturdays. This was put in place following him being charged for headbutting an ex-serviceman in Preston earlier this year.

The police have not been very strict with his bail conditions so far as he has been spotted attending various EDL meetings and currently has a Channel Four Despatches film crew following him around and the police have done nothing. One rule for the EDL and one for everyone else. We really can't see them ignoring him not turning up to answer bail on the day of the march so when he is arrested and remanded for breaking British law he will no doubt whine about it and claim a two tier system.

The EDL also claim that there are no go areas for white people in Tower Hamlets and anyone who has actually been there know that is patently rubbish. Tommy himself even had his stag night there. This is the sort of rubbish that likes of the EDL and other far right groups like to pedal in order to scare people into joining their crusade against an imaginary threat.

Whilst the EDL might have some sort of rightful concerns as stated in their mission statement, they should stick to that. If they removed all of their Nazis, football thugs and general run of the mill racists, stop getting drunk, fighting and smashing things up, people might take what will be a very small group of vocal people a bit more seriously and not see them as a bunch of racist petulant teenagers who are out for a fight with brown people.

Their last demo in Telford resulted in over fifty arrests for a variety of public order and racially aggregated offences and as with all EDL demonstrations, there is substantial threat to public order, we do not think the police and the Home Office had any choice, especially so soon after the riots.

EDL News

English Defence League march through Tower Hamlets banned by Theresa May

English Defence League members listen to the group's founder Stephen Lennon

Home secretary agrees to police request for ban of march planned through one of UK's biggest Muslim communities

The home secretary has agreed to a police request to ban the far-right English Defence League from staging a march through one of the UK's biggest Muslim communities in east London. Theresa May said she would outlaw any marches in Tower Hamlets and four neighbouring boroughs – whether by the EDL or any other groups – for the next 30 days, having "balanced rights to protest against the need to ensure local communities and property are protected".

She added: "I know that the Metropolitan police are committed to using their powers to ensure communities and properties are protected."

Police sought the ban after the EDL – which has seen widespread public disorder at earlier rallies – planned to march on 3 September through Tower Hamlets, which has a significant Muslim community, many of Bangladeshi origin. In a statement the force said it made the request following information that prompted fears that the march could cause "serious public disorder, violence and damage". It added: "Tactically we believe this is the best option to prevent this."

Chief Superintendent Julia Pendry warned EDL supporters to stay away. "We have made this decision [to seek the ban] based on specific intelligence and information, and our message is clear: we do not want people coming into the areas to attend these events."

The march had been vehemently opposed by community leaders, among them the two local MPs and the borough's mayor, as well as a series of Muslim and Jewish groups. Fears that it could spark violence were exacerbated following this month's rioting in many parts of London.

The EDL emerged in Luton, another strongly Muslim area, in 2009. While it purports to oppose "Islamic extremism" the group insists it is not racist. However, its marches, aimed mainly at Muslim communities, have been seen as extremely provocative. A Guardian investigation into the EDL found repeated racism and threats of violence among supporters.

Nick Lowles, director of the anti-extremist campaign group Searchlight, called May's decision a victory for common sense. He said: "The EDL clearly intended to use the proposed march to bring violence and disorder to the streets of Tower Hamlets. Their plan has been foiled."

The veteran campaigner Peter Tatchell said that while he abhorred the EDL, he believed the blanket 30-day ban was a "complete overreaction" and would prove counter-productive. He said: "I'm not sure we can defeat anti-democratic groups like the EDL using anti-democratic methods like banning marches. A far better tactic would be mass counter protests and exposing the bigoted and violent views of the EDL."

Earlier this month May banned an EDL march through Telford, although the group was still able to congregate. Opponents urged the home secretary to follow suit in east London, particularly after links emerged between the EDL and the Norwegian mass killer Anders Behring Breivik.

The gunman repeatedly praised the group in his rambling manifesto and claimed he had hundreds of EDL supporters as Facebook friends.

The EDL insisted any admiration was one way and it did not condone his views.

The group has struggled for legitimacy, even amid evidence it has picked up supporters as the better established far-right British National Party has been beset by internal divisions. According to Searchlight, the EDL has active support from people involved in earlier far-right groups, including the even more extreme Combat 18 and National Front.

In February it attracted some unexpected support from the Daily Star, which tacitly endorsed its views and said 98% of its readers supported them. But this lasted less than a week, with the paper's owner, Richard Desmond, saying it had been done without his knowledge.

Guardian

Thanks to NewsHound for the heads-up

EDL ban cuts both ways

The application from the Metropolitan Police to the Home Secretary to ban an English Defence League march through Tower Hamlets on September 3 is a double-edged sword.

Clearly, the EDL intention is not to raise questions of theological dispute with Islam. It is to swagger through areas hosting large communities of Bangladeshi and other Asian descent, stirring up hatred.

There is no reason why the good people of Tower Hamlets and neighbouring boroughs should have to put up with the EDL and its ignorant, bigoted followers. Anti-fascist campaigners Hope Not Hate, civic leaders and local community organisations are to be congratulated on securing police support for a ban, backed by a 25,000-strong petition.

Doubtless the EDL will now try to organise a "static" demonstration which would still pose a threat to public safety. If so, the duty of trade unionists, socialists, anti-racists and anti-fascists will be to stand in solidarity with the local people of Tower Hamlets and east London on September 3. The duty of the police will be to deny EDL supporters any opportunity to disturb the peace with their provocative, racist behaviour.

But the Met application also seeks to ban all marches in five London boroughs over a 30-day period. This could include anti-fascist, trade union and other progressive marches. Whether the blanket will be thrown over the proposed Cable Street 75th anniversary events is not yet clear.

Police permission has already been granted for a march on October 2 from Aldgate East to Cable Street, supported by more than 40 organisations including national trade unions, trades councils, Searchlight, the Communist Party, the Jewish Socialist Group and a host of Bangladeshi and other local community bodies.

In October 1936, the police refused local pleas to stop Oswald Mosley's Blackshirts from marching through the area. Hundreds of thousands of people took their lead from local communist, socialist and Jewish bodies to block the way. Their slogan, borrowed from the defence of Madrid in Spain's anti-fascist war, was "No Pasaran!" - the fascists shall not pass.

The EDL cannot be allowed to pass on September 3. But nothing should stop thousands of people turning out on October 2 to celebrate a famous victory over the British Union of Fascists in 1936 and, it has to be remembered, over the Metropolitan Police too.

Net result

When confronted with social protest or upheaval, the gut instinct of the Britain's ruling class politicians and commentators is to reach for the big stick.

In the aftermath of the recent riots, Prime Minister David Cameron led the way with calls for social networking media to be more tightly policed if not shut down altogether. It seems that cyberspace freedom is an essential accoutrement of democracy in north Africa or China, while in Britain it is a threat to be suppressed.

Wiser heads appear to have prevailed in Thursday's meeting between Twitter, Facebook and BlackBerry bosses and Home Secretary Theresa May. There will be no shutdown in times of unrest. Even so, proposals to monitor such communications more closely could mean that demonstrators organising the peaceful occupation of a tax-dodging chain store, say, or trying to avoid oppressive police kettling, will be shopped to the authorities. That's democracy, British-style.

Morning Star

Welcome moves against the EDL

Great to hear that the police have formally applied to the Home Secretary to get the English Defence League march on Tower Hamlets banned. I’m something of a freedom of speech fundamentalist but this was an open invitation to violence.

I have had my differences with East London Mosque and believe that it is a pernicious political influence in the area. But there are many decent people who attend the mosque and no one deserves to be threatened with violence by these extremist thugs.

Hats off to Hope Not Hate, the anti-fascist organisation, which has been lobbying hard to persuade the authorities to see sense on this issue.

Oddly, Sunny Hundal at Liberal Conspiracy thought the march should go ahead. His argument that EDL violence loses it supporters is very peculiar and I can’t believe he really means it, predicated as it is on other people being hurt or having their property damaged.

Dave Hill gives some good context in his blog. In particular he claims that Lutfur Rahman, the mayor of Tower Hamlets, who has previously been a deeply divisive figure, has worked with his political rivals to bring the community together in opposition to the march. If true, this is a welcome development.

Unfortunately, however, Hill makes the mistake of suggesting that the EDL has been influenced by journalists who have warned about Islamist politics in East London. He provides no evidence for this line of thinking, which veers dangerously close to the nonsense touted by Socialist Worker. In an extract from a new book published on Multiculturalism published in the Trot paper Dilowar Khan, the director of East London Mosque, has even made the outrageous claim that the EDL has been inspired by my journalism and that of Andrew Gilligan.

This would be laughable if it weren’t so irresponsible.

For now, however, let’s be glad that the police have done the right thing and hope that Teresa May does so too.

Spectator

Met police request a ban

This afternoon the Metropolitan Police is formally requesting a ban on the EDL march in Tower Hamlets on 3 September. It seems an almost certainty that the Home Secretary will agree to the request.

This decision is a victory for common sense. The EDL clearly intended to use the proposed march to bring violence and disorder to the streets of Tower Hamlets. Their plan has been foiled.

While the EDL might still decide to hold a static protest they will not now be able to march through residential areas and, most importantly, march past the East London mosque. A static protest will be far easier to police and it will probably also discourage a lot of EDL supporters from travelling.

While we await the formal decision from the Home Secretary I'd like to take this opportunity to thank the 25,300 people who signed our petition, the hundreds of people who donated to the campaign fund and the dozens of people who came out campaigning with us in Tower Hamlets.

Hope not hate

Tower Hamlets mayor in talks with police to ban EDL after legal threat

Tower Hamlets’ police chief is in the middle of two days of talks with community leaders over whether the Met should apply to the Home Office to ban the planned English Defence League march in Whitechapel on September 3.

It follows threats by Tower Hamlets mayor Lutfur Rahman that he will take the Met Police to the High Court if they do not make the application.

Chief Insp Paul Rickett is due at the Town Hall today (Thursday) for a meeting of the Community Contingency Planning and Tension monitoring group. It follows a meeting yesterday with the Independent Police Advisory group held at his Bethnal Green office.

“The EDL tell us if they’re banned they’ll implement a series of unannounced, sporadic demonstrations,” he told the Advertiser. “A ban could mean an EDL demo in the East End that would be a massive challenge to the police – I don’t know if I have the resources to cope.”

The EDL applied weeks ago under the law to demonstrate and is currently negotiating the route and how the march will be managed.

“We can request the Home Office for a ban only if they refuse our conditions,” Mr Rickett warned. “The EDL say they’ll submit application after application to stage a march if we seek a ban – there could be a sustained challenge.”

But he warned a Home Office ban on an EDL march would be an “own goal” which would also stop United East End coalition’s counter march against the EDL planned for the same day.

The mayor of Tower Hamlets has been negotiating with Scotland Yard this week after he publicly warned the Metropolitan Commissioner on Friday that he will go to court unless an application is made by Monday.

Mr Rahman said: “I will instruct lawyers to go to the High Court and seek injunctive relief if the police fail to act. We will not let the EDL or any other bunch of extremists divide our community.”

He challenged Home Secretary Theresa May to use her powers to stop the EDL coming to Whitechapel on grounds of public safety. But no decision had been made by yesterday (Wednesday) by Scotland Yard’s Public Order Office on a ban – despite a 25,000-name petition to stop the EDL handed in last week.

The Town Hall yesterday said: “We are still negotiating with the police and our own lawyers.”

London 24

Thanks to Zaahid for the heads-up