Russell Howard reveals his fears over EDL threats

Comedian Russell Howard has revealed how he lived in fear of being beaten up after making jokes about the English Defence League.

The far right group’s supporters posted threats on the internet and protested outside one of his gigs after he made fun of them on his BBC3 show. He showed footage of an EDL march held in Blackburn, where it was reported that because they could not clash with anti-fascist opponents, they ended up fighting each other.

The comic said Russell Howard’s Good News show: “I imagine they were like ‘Oi Terry, You’ve given me a black eye. Now I hate my own eye!’ I wouldn’t be surprised if one of them started a fight with their own shadow. ‘Stop following me, you black b******’.”

A Facebook group sprung up after the programme, urging people to demonstrate outside the funnyman’s gig in Chorley, Lancashire, in May. The EDL also criticised his “three minute rant on how ‘thick’ we all are’, with one supporter adding: “We’re going to be loud and he’s going to know we’re there. Hopefully, next time he’ll think twice before opening his middle class mouth about things he knows nothing about.”

Other supporters used racist terms for Muslims and made threats against him.

Midland-based Russell says: “It was quite hairy. I am an absolute coward, and I admit that for a while I imagined that everyone coming near me was going to beat me up. I had a pretty tough month. Every time we filmed the Mystery Guest section of Good News, where we get someone on and I have to guess who they are, I thought it would be an EDL supporter who was going to hit me. But I think you have to stand by your jokes. They may have been cruel, but they were about people I believe are idiots.”

Russell’s pop at the EDL is unusual for him, as his comedy style is playful and good-natured. Though sitting opposite acerbic Frankie Boyle on Mock The Week made him appear even nicer. He does, however, defend a comic’s right to be cruel in their act.

“Everyone likes a good cruel joke,” insists the 31-year-old. “But you have to stay true to yourself. If you are going out of your way to be vicious, it will just have diminishing returns. Light and shade is good, rather than being unremittingly nasty.”

Russell lives in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire with his girlfriend Cerys and Jack Russell dog Archie. On December 14 he returns to Birmingham’s LG Arena at the NEC for another of his shows on his Right Here, Right Now tour. Russell moved to Leamington three years ago when Cerys was a medical student at Warwick University, and now she’s qualified as a doctor and working in the region, he expects to live here for at least another two years.

“I love it,” he says. “When I’m recording my TV show I stay in London, but then it’s so nice to come back home. When I’m in Leamington I’m not working. I just walk the dog, play five-a-side with my mates and hang out in the pub.”

Sunday Mercury

Thanks to Zaahid for the heads-up

Man aged 50 arrested over trouble at EDL protest

Police investigating offences committed during an English Defence League demonstrations in Halifax have arrested a 50-year-old man. The suspect, from Bolton, has since been bailed, pending further inquiries.

The arrest was made after officers trawled through hours of CCTV footage from earlier this year when the EDL protested in the town.

Police have estimated that there were 450 EDL supporters, with 70 counter-demonstrators also taking place in the area. As a result of their work, nine men were identified as wanted over public order offences, with officers believing they could be living in West and South Yorkshire, the West Midlands, Greater Manchester and Merseyside.

Senior Investigating Officer Detective Superintendent Dave Pervin, of West Yorkshire Police’s Homicide and Major Enquiry Team, said: “Like any large-scale operation it is not always possible to tackle every single incident at the time and this is where our follow-up enquiries begin.”

So far six offenders have been dealt with, either through court appearances or with fixed penalties.

Yorkshire Post

Halifax EDL rally 'wanted men' CCTV released by police

The police said any criminal offences would be robustly dealt with

CCTV images have been released of 10 men police want to speak to over public order offences which took place in West Yorkshire earlier this year.

Police are investigating disorder during an English Defence League (EDL) demonstration in Halifax on 9 July. So far six people have been arrested for public offences related to the disturbance. West Yorkshire Police are urging anyone who recognises the men or has information to contact the police.

Det Supt Dave Pervin from West Yorkshire Police's homicide and major inquiry team said: "Like any large scale operation it is not always possible to tackle every single incident at the time and this is where our follow up inquiries begin. Subsequent inquiries have revealed that some individuals were seen to be committing offences and were captured on CCTV. Someone must know who they are and where they live and we ask them to ring us so this investigation can begin to draw to a close."

Police said the 10 men they want to trace could be living in the Midlands and the north of England. Police estimated that about 450 people were on the EDL march, with about 70 taking part in a counter-protest by Unite Against Fascism.

BBC

Thanks to Zaahid for the heads-up

Occupy Newcastle attacked by EDL

Click on image for full-size

This morning [30th] at about 4am, the camp was attacked by 20-30 EDL supporters [pictured below], who had been demonstrating earlier in the day. I think people are still okay, no one was hospitalised… but protestors where held down and punched and kicked. Bricks where thrown and an occupier was stamped on. The police were called, it took them ten minutes to arrive, by which time the EDL thugs had vanished. The occupiers are understandably fragile today, and attempting to rebuild their camp.

Click on image for full-size

For more info, go here.

Indymedia

Birmingham EDL demo given two-hour time limit

Demonstrators from the English Defence League have been slapped with a two-hour time limit on their protests in a fresh bid to prevent scenes of violence which have marred previous visits.

West Midlands Police had also told the group that their protest must take place in Centenary Square and must be over by 3pm. Conditions have also been imposed on the community event, ‘Unity and Celebration of Differences’ and any counter demonstration.

Organisers have been told that their event can last no longer than three-and-a-half hours and must be over by 4pm. They must also confine the activities to Chamberlain Square.

The EDL said they were expecting between 700 to 2,500 of its members to turn up. The last time the far-right group was in Birmingham was in 2009 and it ended in ugly scenes of violence and dozens of arrests as they clashed with members of the Unite Against Fascism (UAF).

Asst Chief Con Marcus Beale, who will lead the policing operation, said: “We have to balance the desires of those involved with the safety requirements for the event, and ultimately this has to take precedence.

“We want people to feel reassured and in response to community concerns, we will be staging a large-scale operation on the day to ensure that everyone who comes to the city centre, be it to take part in the protests, or to go about their day to day business, can do so in safety.”

Birmingham Mail

MP urges police to ban English Defence League demo in Birmingham

Fears of more violence on the streets of Birmingham have been raised after it emerged the English Defence League was planning a second march in the city.

The organisation’s supporters are set to take to the streets on October 29, more than two years after their last visit ended in confrontations with anti-fascist groups. The Unite Against Fascism group, whose supporters clashed with EDL followers during clashes in Birmingham in 2009, has also announced plans for a counter-demonstration in Birmingham on the same day.

Selly Oak Labour MP Steve McCabe urged West Midlands Police to apply to Home Secretary Theresa May for the EDL protest to be banned as it would cost too much money to patrol. Two protests by the EDL in Dudley last year cost West Midlands Police and Dudley Council £1.1 million.

“I used to say that the EDL should be allowed to demonstrate but having seen the trouble they cause, I’ve changed my mind,” Mr McCabe said. “Birmingham people can’t afford to waste that much money on policing and repairing the damage to our retail area. These things are deliberately organised to cause maximum destruction. There’s no element of normal demonstration. This is a rag bag of extremism looking to cause trouble and I don’t think the Birmingham people deserve it.”

The exact location of the EDL’s Birmingham event was being kept secret until nearer the time but 575 supporters had confirmed their attendance online yesterday.

Unite Against Fascism confirmed it was organising an anti-EDL demonstration, to start at noon in High Street. A spokesman said: “The EDL wants to bring its vicious, anti-Muslim racist hatred to the multi-racial, multi-cultural city.”

A Birmingham City Council spokesman said they were liaising with police. A police spokesman said: “West Midlands Police is aware of a planned protest in Birmingham city centre on October 29. As on previous occasions, police have no power to ban a static protest.

“Police will be monitoring the situation to ensure maintenance of public order and officers will be deployed throughout the city centre to provide a visible reassurance to retailers, shoppers and all those visiting Birmingham. Any criminal or public order offences will be robustly dealt with.”

Birmingham Mail

Nazi salutes amid fiasco for EDL’s so-called ‘Angels’

Click on image for full-size

Angels Demo Degenerates into Homophobic Abuse and Nazi Salutes

The first national mobilisation by the English Defence League’s so-called “Angels” women’s division presented a farcical spectacle at Downing Street [last week], with women EDL members heavily outnumbered by men.

The EDL is an organisation of racists and fascists – and its “Angels” division is no exception – so UAF organised a counter-protest, led by women antifascists. But when the so-called ‘Angels’ arrived, they were only around 100-strong, despite pulling in EDL members from as far away as Coventry – and only around 15 or 20 of them were women!

The true nature of the EDL was on display as one of the fascists gave Hitler’s “sieg heil” salute.

On the counter-protest, women antifascists made up a majority of demonstrators, with young women, trade unionists and pensioners, black, white and Asian, all determined to voice their opposition to the racists and fascists of the EDL.

The national banner of the PCS civil servants’ union, RMT rail union flags, and banners and placards from women’s groups were on proud display on the upbeat and noisy UAF counter-protest. As it became clear that the “Angels” had failed to show on what was supposededly their own demo, the antifascsists began to chant “Where are the women?” and “Where’s your angels gone?” alongside “Black and white, unite and fight” and “EDL go to hell, take your Nazi mates as well”.

The overwhelmingly male EDL members showed what they really think of women – and gave the lie to their claims to support LGBT people – with chants of “lesbian scum” and “back to the kitchen”. Individual antifascist women were called “dykes” by EDL members in a further display of sexism and homophobia.

The EDL’s poisonous politics have nothing to offer women – or men. Last Saturday’s fiasco shows what a lie it is when the EDL claims to support women’s rights.

Click on image for full-size

Pics by Kelvin Williams

Unite Against Fascism

Thanks to NewsHound for the heads-up

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

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

Council tells May: Ban EDL march or face judicial review

Tower Hamlets council is threatening to take the Government to court if it refuses to ban a march by far-Right group the English Defence League.

Leaders are warning of violence if the event goes ahead on September 3 and will seek a judicial review if Home Secretary Theresa May does not ban it. A council source said: "Something must be done to prevent this demonstration. If a judicial review is the only way then that is what we will do."

The EDL told members in an online message to take "our message into the heart of militant Islam within our own country". The message added: "We will go where we want, when we want."

Last week the Home Secretary banned an EDL march in Telford, Shropshire, saying she was acting to protect communities and property.

A Home Office spokesman said: "The Home Secretary can only ban a march in London following a formal application from the Commissioner of the Metropolitan police. No such application has been received. The Home Secretary will carefully consider any formal application, subject to the relevant legal tests."

Tower Hamlets Labour group leader Josh Peck said: "The EDL march should be banned. The police are more than capable of keeping them under control, but that won't stop the tension and anger that could exist long after they have left."

London Evening Standard

Thanks to Zaahid for the heads-up

Thousands back call to ban EDL march

The far right English Defence League plans to march through Tower Hamlets in September

More than 25,000 people have signed a petition urging the Home Secretary to ban a march organised by a far right group. Campaigners presented their petition to Scotland Yard today in a bid to stop the English Defense League (EDL) marching in London on September 3. The organisation was set up to combat a perceived threat of Islam on British culture.

Jevais Marche, of north London told The Voice: “I happily signed the petition. We cannot allow groups to use the recent riots as a stimulus for society to move backwards and resort to racial conflict. These groups are in the minority and can be quashed if the average member of the public stands up against them.”

The petition was handed in by a delegation from the Hope Not Hate coalition of East End community groups, led by London Assembly’s John Biggs and MP Rushanara Ali.

The Bethnal Green and Bow MP told the East London Advertiser: “What people need is reassurance and to know police are on their side. It’s important the Met listens to the public who are concerned about the disorder. We need police to act to protect the public, to safeguard all law-abiding citizens in this current climate of provocation by extremists stirring up racial hatred.

In a statement issued today, Ken Livingstone has put further pressure on Tory Home Secretary, Theresa May, to outlaw the demonstration. He said: "My case to the Home Secretary would be this: the last thing we need in the uneasy aftermath of the riots is a march through one of London's most diverse areas by far right provocateurs intent on stirring up division. We need calm and peace on our streets, not the threat of further street violence. It should be obvious that an EDL march in East London could be extremely dangerous."

The Voice

£172,000 EDL police bill ‘could have kept two libraries open’

A DEMONSTRATION in Dewsbury by the right-wing English Defence League left taxpayers with a police bill of £4,300 per minute, it was revealed today.

Concerns have been raised about the strain on the public purse after it was revealed the 40-minute rally in June cost £172,000 to police.

Kirklees Council leader Mehboob Khan said: “Forty minutes - that’s £4,300 pounds for policing. Every citizen has the right to be heard but the EDL need to be aware that their demonstrations are taking money from essential front line services at a time when the country is struggling. With £172,000 we could have kept two libraries open for a year.”

About 600 supporters of the EDL gathered outside the town’s railway station. 700 officers were drafted in to keep the peace. There were six arrests. West Yorkshire Police said the operation cost £50,000 pounds to plan and £100,000 in overtime payments and extra officers. British Transport Police, which was also involved, said its costs were £22,835 pounds.

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said: “The police operation was necessary to ensure the safety of the demonstrators and also to reassure the local communities and traders who were affected by their presence. The policing operation successfully met its objective.”

An EDL spokesman said: “The EDL have the right to demonstrate and therefore will use that right.”

Yorkshire Post

Wellington: More than 40 arrested in protests

More than 40 people were arrested as rival groups clashed in a Shropshire town where a march was banned by the home secretary on Saturday.

Up to 350 members of the English Defence League and 250 opposition protesters gathered in Wellington. People at both rallies began to disperse after speeches were made but there were "pockets of disorder" afterwards, West Mercia Police said. Ten people were charged, the rest were cautioned or bailed.

Chief Inspector Keith Gee said the arrests were mainly for public order offences. Three police officers were assaulted but none were seriously hurt. He said there had been "few problems during the build up to and during the assemblies and there have been no reports of damage to property or serious injuries."

The leader of Telford and Wrekin Council, Kuldip Sahota, praised the "fantastic effort by council officers, West Mercia Police and the whole community of Wellington."

He said Wellington could now return to normal and community could go about its business peacefully again.

"Our street cleaning team was out immediately after the demonstrations were over and the crowds dispersed and very soon after that were were able to re-open the road that had been closed." he said.

BBC

Telford: community, unions, football fans unite against EDL

Around 400 people demonstrated in the Wellington area of Telford today against the racists and fascists of the English Defence League.

The turnout of people, overwhelmingly from the town itself, included trade unionists, members of the local Muslim community, lots of young people and fans of football club AFC Telford.
Division

The EDL was banned from marching by the home secretary but staged a static demo anyway in a bid to stir up anti-Muslim racism, hatred and division. They mustered up to 300 racists and fascists, despite mobilising from as far afield as London, Berkshire, Essex and Yorkshire.

There was a lively mood and a great feeling of community solidarity at the anti-racist demo, with flags and banners from the local branch of Unite, Telford Unison, Telford and Shropshire Trades Council, the civil servants’ PCS and the teachers’ NUT union.

The antiracist crowd heard speakers from local union branches, faith group leaders and activists, before marching through the town past the local mosque, with chants of “EDL, go to hell!” A speaker from the trades council told the crowd that the EDL were “not welcome here” and never had been. The antiracist demo showed the true feelinng of the community, he said.

The chair of the local mosque said:

'Islamophobia is a blight on our society. Racism is what the EDL edl is using to try and divide communities.'

UAF joint secretary Weyman Bennett told the demo:

'We have to oppose the EDL wherever we are, with multiracial, multicultural demonstrations that fight racism and the Nazis, because banning them doesn’t stop them. Only mass opposition is an effective way to break the EDL.'

He urged people from Telford to join the national demonstration against the EDL in Tower Hamlets, east London, on Saturday 3 September.

The antiracist demo also included a group of football fans, angry that the EDL’s racist event had forced the cancellation of AFC Telford’s home game against Luton Town. They brought a banner with the slogan “Bucks aginst racism”, making reference to the club’s nickname.

One fan, Olly, explained that the fixture would have been Telford’s first in the football conference after being re-established as a supporter-led club. He said:

'We’re gutted that our game was cancelled today. We’ve been waiting seven years for this game. Our goal all that time has been to be back in the conference. The EDL have really alienated themselves from Telford fans – everyone blames them for game being cancelled.'

Local UAF activists collected a list of names of people wanting to go to the national demo.

UAF

Thanks to La Di Da Gunner Graham for the heads-up

Determined to exploit riots, EDL promises to defy police

Tommy Robinson, seen here at a rally in Blackburn in April

The controversial English Defence League will go ahead with its march through the Shropshire town of Telford today, despite the Home Secretary's decision to ban it yesterday, citing the need to "protect communities and property".

But whatever unrest the group's mobilisation there may engender, it is as nothing to that which will erupt if its planned march through the London borough of Tower Hamlets goes ahead in three weeks' time.

The group, whose supporters number in the tens of thousands, gained attention this week when it co-ordinated efforts to defend the streets of Enfield in north London and Eltham in south London from would-be looters and rioters. The police did not welcome the "assistance".

The group's founder, Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Lennon, said of the Tower Hamlets march: "The police have told us that it will be the most hostile environment they have seen in this country in 20 years. They say marching through there will be absolute suicide. The Met have told us it'll be absolute suicide, but we will go ahead with it, whether it is banned or not."

The English Defence League claims not to be a racist organisation, and was set up with the declared aim of protesting against the spread of Islamic extremism in England.

Its previous marches through Luton, Birmingham, Bradford and Oldham have typically involved young white males singing pro-English football chants, but have occasionally descended into violence.

Tower Hamlets, which is to the east of the City of London, is one of the capital's most ethnically diverse boroughs and contains many of its most impoverished neighbourhoods. It is also home to the large East London Mosque, capable of holding 5,000 people.

"Why do they want to come here?" asked Abdul Azim, 34, emerging from the Mosque after Friday prayers. He is a stallholder at the Whitechapel Road street market, which runs through the area. "They are not from here. They just want to antagonise. They say they're not racist, but there are many thousands of them. How can they say there are not many in their group who want to attack us?"

It is an argument that Mr Robinson does not accept. "There's racists in the Met, there's racists in the Labour Party. When we find racists we kick them out."

The police have agreed to a 1.2-mile route for the march. The Home Office can only move to ban the march when it receives a request to do so from the police or the local council. So far no such request has been made. Mr Robinson believes that if the march is banned, the trouble will be worse. Salman Farsi, a spokesman for the East London Mosque, said: The EDL is an extreme far-right organisation. On their marches many of their members cause disorder and unrest, and they seek to stir up hatred and tension within communities. From our point of view we have advised the local authority to ban this march from taking place. If it does go ahead we can expect to see a repeat of some of the scenes we saw earlier this week."

IoS

Home Secretary bans Telford EDL march

The home secretary has banned an English Defence League (EDL) march through a Shropshire town amid fears of disorder.

Theresa May she had stopped the march in Telford to protect "communities and properties". She said the ban would not stop an EDL presence in Telford on Saturday.

Telford and Wrekin Council had made the request under the Public Order Act on the advice of West Mercia Police.

Mrs May said: "I have given my consent to a ban on marches in Telford this weekend. It is clear that a ban is needed to ensure communities and properties are protected."

However, she said there would be a "significant number" of police deployed on Saturday.

"I encourage all local people to work with the police to ensure community relations are not undermined," she said.

Church Street in Wellington is to be the location of any protest by the EDL.

The council welcomed the ban but said security measures would remain in place.

Councillor Shaun Davies said: "People can be reassured that both organisations (police and the council) have the resources available and the experience to deal with any incidents on the day."

Chief Inspector Keith Gee of West Mercia Police said the ban did "not prevent any static assemblies taking place, which are still lawful provided they remain peaceful and we have no legal powers to prevent them".

He added: "We shall do everything possible to ensure that any assembly on Saturday remains peaceful and poses the least amount of disruption possible for those not involved in the assembly."

The EDL said it was going to Telford because "local people's voices deserve to be heard".

"We are not coming to Telford to inconvenience anyone, and we certainly do not intend to cause any trouble," a spokesman said.

BBC

Let’s chase the racist EDL out of east London

It was standing room only as activists came
together at the anti-EDL rally (Pic: Kelvin Williams)

Activists are ready for a huge march to confront the English Defence League (EDL) when it tries to come to east London on 3 September.

That was the clear message as some 600 people crammed into the London Muslim Centre in east London for a rally against the racists on Friday of last week. The meeting was organised by Unite Against Fascism (UAF) and United East End.

Roses were handed out to people as they came into the room and held aloft during a minute’s silence in solidarity with the people of Norway. Three trade unionists and socialists travelled from Norway to address the meeting. They got huge applause.

Randi, a public sector worker, told the meeting, “People immediately tried to blame Islam for the attacks in Norway. This attack is an attack on us all—the working class and the labour movement.”

The speakers on the platform reflected the meeting itself. There were experienced and first time activists, Muslims, Jews, Christians and socialists, LGBT people, disabled people and others.

Former London mayor Ken Livingstone said, “Londoners came together 75 years ago to stop the fascists in what was then a predominantly Jewish area. We must come together to stop their successors now.”

Leon Silver, from the local Nelson Street Synagogue, was defiant.

“The fascists don’t get it,” he said. “We are united in our diversity and mutual respect.”

Tazmin Ali, a school student in the borough, added, “Growing up in Tower Hamlets, I’ve never faced major racism. People here are accepting of other people.”

Rebecca Shaw from the LGBT group Rainbow Hamlets, which works closely with the East London mosque, told the meeting, “I say to the EDL: LGBT people may be part of your agenda—but you are not part of ours.”

While a number of speakers spoke in favour of banning the EDL march, everyone agreed to march against the EDL.

Socialist Worker says we must confront fascism on the streets, not rely on the state.http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=25575

Martin Smith from UAF and Love Music Hate Racism agrees. He said, “They say Breivik is the devil’s spawn. But where did that spawn grow? In Angela Merkel’s attack on multiculturalism, in Sarkozy banning the veil in France, and when David Cameron said Muslims have failed to integrate here. I don’t want to upset the meeting — but I don’t trust Theresa May.”

Omer Ahmed from the Council of Somali Organisations, said, “Somali immigrants have been fighting racists since the race riots of 1919. It is outrageous that the prime minister has not said a word about this EDL march.”

Adrian Newman, Bishop of Stepney, added, “Martin Luther King said, ‘Our lives begin to end when we stay silent about things that matter’. This matters.”

The EDL must be confronted on 3 September, and not be allowed to rampage through the heart of the East End.

National demonstration against the racist EDL: Assemble from 11am at Weavers Fields, Bethnal Green, London, E2 6HW. Go to www.uaf.org.uk for transport details.

Socialist Worker

Thanks to NewsHound for the heads-up

Traders raise concerns at route taken by EDL march

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

EDL could march again in Cambridgeshire

The English Defence League (EDL) could target Ely following its march in Cambridge. Muslims want to build a ‘miniature mosque’ at Paradise Centre fields, but the EDL could take to Ely’s streets against it.

Police estimated more than 1,000 people attended the two marches on Saturday - the EDL march and counter-protest in Cambridge by Unite Against Fascism and the Trades Council.

Arbury resident Ross Ground, 32, a member of EDL’s Cambridge Division, said: “I cannot confirm there will be a march in Ely but members of the East Anglian branch who came on Saturday said they were looking into it if the plans for a mosque go ahead. I think the march on Saturday went off pretty well and there were only a few arrests. We had about 700 to 1,000 members attend. The police were fully co-operative with us.”

The management committee of the Ely centre told the city’s Muslims it would lease them part of its land if they gained planning permission. The group has around 50 members who gather inside the centre on Fridays.

Mohammed Tahir, from Ely, said: “The EDL have threatened to march in Ely if the Muslim community of Ely go ahead with plans to build a mosque here.”

More than 650 officers and staff from six forces, including Cambridgeshire, policed the EDL and opposition march by the Trade Union Council and Unite Against Fascism, which claimed it had around 2,000 attend. Police praised Cambridge residents following Saturday’s protests.

Insp Robin Sissons said: “They are familiar with and generally supportive of protest activity and this was evident on Saturday. Their tolerance, combined with the joint operation by police and partner agencies, meant the protests were largely peaceful with only minor disorder and some minor disruption to residents, visitors and businesses in the city.”

He added: “It was heartening to hear that members of the community who reported tension before the protests, then praised the tone and nature of the policing operation after it was complete.”

Cambridge News

Thanks to NewsHound for the heads-up

EDL demo: Five people arrested and police officer injured

EDL scumbag at the Eureka Children's Museum with
smuggled-in pint and bag of cocaine. Picture courtesy of Hope not hate.

Hundreds of police officers were deployed in Halifax today to keep English Defence League protesters under control.

Around 450 members of the far-right group came to the town, with coaches arriving from the Midlands and other parts of the country. Some clashed with a counter demonstration in King Cross but were marched to the designated protest site at Eureka car park. There was also some who arrived in Sowerby Bridge and marched from there into Halifax.

Police had to don riot gear when the protesters broke their way out of the car park and onto the childrens museum site. The protesters were herded back onto coaches and trains and out of Halifax by around 5pm.

Five people have been arrested on suspicion of public order offences. A 21-year-old has also been arrested on suspicion of possessing an offensive weapon. A police officer was injured. He suffered a broken collar bone.

Around 70 people were at the counter demonstration in King Cross.

Halifax Courier

Thanks to NewsHound for the heads-up on the pic