Bolton anti-EDL demo charges dropped

News reaches us that all charges against anti-EDL protestors that were made when the English Defence League invaded Bolton back in March of this year have been dropped.

Rumour has it that ALL outstanding charges against anti-EDL demonstrators have been dropped (though I'm sure our readers will update us on that if necessary) but what is certain is that the ludicrous 'conspiracy to incite violent disorder' charge against UAF's Weyman Bennett and Rhetta Moran has been dumped.

Conspiracy - a catch-all charge much used by the police when they couldn't think of a real charge against animal rights protestors in the past - can carry a substantial jail term if proven. Anti-fascists have argued that the unprecedented use of conspiracy laws was a threat not just to the right to protest against fascism, but could curtail the right to any public protest.

Popular garage falls victim to graffiti vandals

Police have launched an investigation after a petrol station in Toddington was daubed with racist graffiti at the weekend.

The busy BP garage and its Spar supermarket in Dunstable Road were targeted by vandals overnight on Friday, with the letters ‘BNP’ sprayed repeatedly on walls, the forecourt, pumps and shop shutters. It is believed the vandalism happened between 11pm on Friday and 6am on Saturday, when the garage re-opened for business.

A spokesman for Bedfordshire Police said the incident was being treated as criminal damage, and on Saturday morning officers were at the scene photographing the graffiti.

The garage, which has several Asian members of staff, last month had one of its pumps damaged when workers tried to stop a motorist driving away without paying for petrol. The garden fence of a house opposite the filling station was also damaged in a similar incident.

Jim Gledhill, chairman of Toddington Parish Council, said he was disappointed with the attack on a business popular with villagers. He said: “These are people who provide a really good service to the village, and it shouldn’t matter to anybody what their background is. It disgusts me. They had managed to clean up a lot of it but it was still very visible on the brickwork.”

Councillor Gledhill said he would be raising the issue at the parish council’s meeting last night (Wednesday), and hoped the council would be able to help the garage with the cost of the clean-up. Asked whether support for the BNP was an issue in the village, Councillor Gledhill said he thought there were a small number of people in the village with “racist views”.

“It’s a problem you wouldn’t really expect in Toddington,” he said. “I hope it’s just stupid children who will learn better in the future.”

Dunstable Today

Man jailed for posting racist video clips on YouTube

A man has been jailed for 15 months for uploading racist video clips on to YouTube.

Gareth Hemingway, 29, of Bognor Regis, earlier pleaded guilty to five offences under the Public Order Act at Leeds Crown Court. The clips called for a "racial holy war" and were designed to provoke violence against ethnic minorities, particularly in Dewsbury. When he was arrested, police found Nazi and racist memorabilia at his home.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said the material came to the attention of police when a journalist researching Dewsbury on the internet came across videos Hemingway, of Longford Road, had posted and reported them. The CPS said they included titles such as 'red, white and blue through and through' and 'Dewsbury needs help'. They also featured racist references and imagery including an assault on a black man by a white man.

Stuart Laidlaw, reviewing lawyer for the CPS, said: "Gareth Hemingway decided to use the very public forum of YouTube to distribute videos of racist and inflammatory nature which he had edited, and which were designed to provoke violence against ethnic minorities, particularly those living in Dewsbury. They called for a 'racial holy war', described acts of violence and made supportive references to far right groups such as Combat 18 and Patriots of White European Resistance."

Mr Laidlaw added: "Freedom of speech carries with it responsibilities. Publishing something that is abusive and insulting and that is likely to stir racial hatred is against the law and the CPS will work with the police to prosecute robustly anyone who does so."

BBC

Who Owns Remembrance Day?

One of the greatest, and most insidious, myths of “Nationalism” is that Remembrance Day is somehow “theirs”.

The queasy spectacle of Griffin grandstanding at whatever Cenotaph he decides to fetch up at each year has become an annual treat for his dim-bulb followers, and their mantra of “The Britain Of Today Isn't What They Fought For” has been so often repeated that it has entered the Lexicon of Nationalist Truths alongside such old favourites as “Asylum Seekers Get Free Houses And A 52” Plasma Telly” and “They Won't Even Let Us Have Christmas Now”.

Yesterday, along with a few hundred others, my family and I went along to our local War Memorial to pay our respects.

We walked back with a neighbour, “Mr C”. You'll know the sort - getting on for 90, but fit as a flea and still thinks it's fine to try climbing a ladder three storeys to clean out his own guttering. In January.

He never fought in the War. Like my own dad (who worked at Rolls Royce building Merlin engines), he was in a Reserved Occupation (Railway Engineer), but lost a Brother in the Merchant Navy.

Walking home, Some of the talk was about the Poppy Burning Incident. Naturally enough, everyone condemned it out of hand as the stupid piece of rabble-rousing it was. Refreshingly, Mr C's perspective on the whole affair is just a little more sanguine than some.

Like so many people who've reached a great age, he's seen it all before: Apparently, in the late 30's, a group of Communists burned the Flag on Remembrance Day as an anti-war protest. Predictably, there was universal condemnation (including, loudly, from the Communist Party) and Mosley's British Union of Fascists thought all their birthdays had come at once...

To quote Griffin: “There is a strong, direct link from Oswald Mosley to me.”

You don't say.

Just as arrogant stupidity by tiny groups of dimwits runs down the ages, so, it seems, does the propensity for equally revolting groups to capitalise upon it to their own ends.

As with the BUF, who would make a great show of their fake “Patriotism” on Remembrance Day, so with the BNP.

As Mr C said: “That lot aren't fit to show their faces.”

He's right. The BNP, the EDL and all the other groups of flagwaving, xenophobic cretins who like to shout their supposed “Patriotism” have no place at an annual memorial to people who died seeing their lot off the first time around.

P.S: Later on, we had a screening at The Ritz (Derbyshire's Finest Independent Cinema TM) for Remembrance Sunday of Alberto Cavalcanti's 1942 thriller “Went The Day Well?”. Track it down if you've never seen it before: Great, exciting Anti-Nazi propaganda. And if that isn't enough you also get Thora Hird packing a rifle.

Mosque protest is condemned

Portsmouth's muslim leaders have condemned those who protested outside the city's mosque.

Scores of demonstrators gathered outside Portsmouth's Jami Mosque yesterday. They were protesting after a small group of Muslims - not from the city - burned poppies in London during the two minutes' silence on Armistice Day.

The protest, led by former soldier David Tallard, congregated outside the mosque at midday and numbered only a few. It broke for Pompey's home game against Doncaster, and gathered again shortly after 5pm this time with scores more taking part.

Peace protesters who had heard about the protest also gathered outside the mosque. Shouting between the two groups then ensued with fireworks being thrown into the peace campaigners. There was a strong police presence with one man from the demonstrators being arrested after a confrontation. A poppy had also been graffitied on the mosque the day before.

The Muslim community in Portsmouth said they condemned the burning of the poppies and that they would have joined any protest, had it not been directed at the Jami Mosque. Akf Suyeb, of the mosque, said: 'When these people are pointing their fingers at us about this, it's not right. We condemn the people who burnt the poppies, and we do show our respect to the people who died in war. After all, Indian people, Muslim people, also died during the first and second world wars.'

'We should remember that. As Muslims, we are not allowed to wear images of animals, but flowers are fine. And we would have been happy to have a poppy painted on the mosque - but it was graffiti, and they should have asked our permission before painting on our building. We would have absolutely joined in a protest, because the Muslim community condemns this act, but not when it is against our mosque.'

Former soldier Mr Tallard, 25, who was injured while serving in Iraq in 2004, insisted the protest was not racially motivated despite the location outside the mosque on Victoria Road South. He said: 'It is a busy road, and someone had already painted a poppy on the outside of the mosque. This protest has nothing to do with religion. We just don't want to see poppies being burned. It's just not right.'

A coach-load of members of the English Defence League nationalist group made the trip to Southsea from London to join in the protest. The EDL has a reputation for anti-Muslim protests and acts, though the group insists it only opposes Muslim extremists.

Mr Tallard, who served as a private with the Princess of Wales' Royal Regiment, added: 'I don't know too much about the EDL but I do agree with some of what they say and it was good to see them here giving us their support.'

Simon Magorian, of the Unite Against Fascism group, said he believed the poppy issue had been 'hijacked' by members of the EDL. He said: 'They don't care about it, they just want to stir up as much ill feeling against Islam as possible.'

The News

Thanks to NewsHound for the heads-up.

Anger as BNP gives speech to kids of 10

A Euro Mp from the racist BNP has given a speech to Sea Cadets - sparking outrage among parents.

Former National Front chairman Andrew Brons - who sits with BNP chief Nick Griffin in the European parliament - was guest of honour at a prize-giving ceremony. Horrified staff and guests watched as Brons shook hands with the cadets - some as young as 10 - and gave the main speech of the evening.

Brons, 63, steered clear of the BNP's more extreme themes but told his impressionable audience in Doncaster, S Yorks: "Preparing from one's youth and even one's childhood to be equipped mentally, physically and by training to protect one's country is about as serious as one can get."

The BNP leadership quickly seized the opportunity to hijack the event - publishing an article about Brons' speech on the party's website. One member said: "Another example of how the party, and the ideas attached to it, is slowly but steadily becoming more mainstream."

Sea Cadets bosses have launched an investigation after condemning Brons' appearance. Brons said: "There were no political messages."

Mirror

Police to take no further action over plot to kill head of BNP Nick Griffin

Cops investigating an alleged plot to kill the head of the BNP are taking no further action against a former member accused of planning to kill him.

Mark Collett, 30, from Rothley, Leicestershire, was arrested by Humberside police in April over alleged threats against Nick Griffin. He was sacked as the BNP’s spin doctor the same month for trying to launch what the far-right party described as a “palace coup” against Mr Griffin.

Mr Collett said: “I’m elated, I’m extremely happy, as is my family. I’m very happy and I’m now trying to get on with my life. I’m not connected with the BNP any more, although I’ve still got friends who are. As far as I’m concerned, justice was done.”

Sunday Mercury

An Urgent Appeal From Lancaster Unity! (Because if Cyclops is still at it, I don't see why I shouldn't give it a punt as well...)

Fellow Patriots;

These are, indeed, dark days for Lancaster Unity. The threat of the BNP grows stronger every day, as they steamroller their way to one electoral victory after another, guided by the brilliant political strategies and wise leadership of their charismatic Chairman, Nick Griffin.

There is a very real threat that, at the next European Elections, the BNP will take EVERY SEAT and could easily follow this by SWEEPING TO POWER in Britain at the next General Election.

All that stands in their way are the occasionally amusing, but more often rambling and incoherent, articles on this blog by me - Andy Minion.

Currently produced, by hand, on a cumbersome and slow laptop that still runs Windows Vista, for Christ's sake; just imagine how much more effectively the fight against the POLITICAL JUGGERNAUT that is the BNP would be conducted if I were to have THE LATEST TABLET TECHNOLOGY at my disposal, the 64 Gigabyte iPad, with its 9.7-inch, high-resolution LED-backlit IPS display and incredible Multi-Touch capability, and its thousands of Apps available from the iTunes App Store.

CLICK HERE TO DONATE NOW!

Obviously, I don't mind continuing to produce my Posts on this antiquated laptop, but just imagine how the assorted Nazis, Racists, Nationalists and Enemies of Our Country would QUAIL if they knew that I was now able to submit my pieces using the POWERFUL 3G CAPABILITIES of the 64 Gigabyte iPad!

CLICK HERE TO DONATE NOW!

Picture, for a moment, how the enemies of our long-fought freedoms would SHUDDER at the thought that I will also be able to download MOVIES, FAVOURITE TV SHOWS and THOUSANDS OF TUNES, as well as being able to play THOUSANDS OF GAMES on my new, personally engraved, 64 Gigabyte iPad.

CLICK HERE TO DONATE NOW!

I understand that this is a bad time of year to be asking for donations, but, as you can see, this REALLY IS VITAL TO THE CONTINUATION OF OUR STRUGGLE. Also, my Wife refuses to let me buy one for myself, dismissing the GOOD OF HER NATION with the offhand, and, frankly, ill-considered remark that “It's just another techie fad. It's the boy's equivalent of a Breadmaker...”

If our struggle is to continue, I need an iPad by the morning of December 25th.

I cannot be held responsible for the future of OUR GREAT COUNTRY if I don't get one.

Thank You,

Andy Minion

BNP's Euro-funds closely scrutinised

Concern has been expressed that the BNP could syphon off thousands of pounds of European Union money to pay off its reported mounting debts.

Party leader Nick Griffin and his colleague Andrew Brons are entitled to a combined financial package worth around £600,000 a year because they are MEPs. It includes their annual MEP salaries and a general expenditure allowance to cover office costs, worth £86,000 for both MEPs. But concern has been raised over the use of an allowance for an MEP's support staff being used to pay for BNP activities in the UK.

Nick Griffin reluctantly revealed his European spending this year after other MEPs voluntarily disclosed their financial costs. He uses up to £145,000 of his annual staff allowance on eight personnel, who officially are only allowed to carry out duties concerned with his European parliamentary activities.

Only six are named and four also work for the BNP in the UK. They include party chairman Simon Darby, UK staff manager Adam Walker, and party spokesman John Walker. The website still lists ex-campaigns director Eddy Butler, expelled from the party three weeks ago. Four other staff are also employed twice by both MEPs.

Details of the BNP's financial crisis have been emerging following last week's letter from the party's ex-chief fundraiser James Dowson describing a "very grave" situation in which the party could only pay a fraction of its debts, estimated at over £500,000. They include thousands owed to printing firms for election material, an out-of-court settlement over copyright infringement to Marmite, thought to be £170,000, and the cost of fighting this week's court battle with the Equality and Human Rights Commission.

Conservative North West MEP Sajjad Karim said he and other MEPs were closely watching the BNP's finances to ensure that European funds could not be used for any purposes other than their parliamentary activities. However, he admitted: "Someone could actually quite easily use fair amounts of those funds for party purposes without anybody finding out, unless a thorough investigation were to be carried out."

The BNP did not respond to questions on the issue.

Jewish Chronicle

EDL founder charged with assault

Stephen Lennon is arrested by police at a
Remembrance Day protest on Exhibition Road in London

The founder of the English Defence League (EDL) has been charged with assaulting a police officer during clashes with Islamic protesters.

Stephen Lennon, 27, of Layham Drive, Luton, was held by police in Kensington, west London, as the nation stopped to mark the anniversary of Armistice Day. Five others associated with his group were also arrested as members of Muslims Against Crusades (MAC) burned remembrance poppies.

Two Islamic protesters, aged 30 and 25, were arrested for public order offences after the poppies were set alight and protesters chanted "British soldiers burn in hell" during the two-minute silence.

One officer was taken to hospital with a head injury during clashes as about 50 men linked to EDL were kept separate as they shouted abuse.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said Lennon had been released on bail and would appear at West London magistrates' court on November 22. He said four other men, aged 41, 42, 19 and 18, all arrested on suspicion of affray, were released on bail until mid-December. It is not yet known what happened to a fifth man who was held on suspicion of possession of class A drugs.

The spokesman added that the two members of Muslims Against Crusades had been bailed until mid-December pending further inquiries. Meanwhile, parents of British soldiers killed in Afghanistan condemned the inflammatory protest by the hard-line group.

AOL News

Jews against EDL launch unity voice

The first joint initiative to combat Jewish support for the English Defence League within the community has been launched.

The "Not in our name - Jews against the EDL" campaign is backed by more than a dozen organisations, including the Board of Deputies, Community Security Trust, the Israeli Embassy, and Jews for Justice for Palestinians. More than 500 people have already pledged their support.

But Roberta Moore, head of the EDL Jewish Division, claimed the campaigners had "betrayed the Jewish community" and challenged them to a filmed public debate. She said: "Let's have it all out in the open once and for all."

The initiative of the Union of Jewish Students, the campaign is a response to the creation of a "Jewish division" by the extreme right-wing anti-Islamic-fundamentalist group earlier this year, and the EDL's pro-Israel protest outside the Israeli Embassy last month, which was supported by American rabbi Nachum Shifren.

The "Not in our name" group's founding pledge states: "The Jewish community has always been at the forefront of anti-fascism. From Cable Street to defeating the BNP at the ballot box, we have been unafraid to speak out against those who seek to spread fear and hatred in our communities. Now our community faces a new threat. The EDL claims to be our allies in the fight against extremism. In reality, they are violent racists with BNP members and Nazi sympathisers among their ranks. It is time for the Jewish community to come together as one to expose the EDL as the racist thugs they are."

UJS campaigns director Carly McKenzie said: "We felt this was a prime opportunity to bring the whole community together with one loud voice."

Edie Friedman, director of the Jewish Council for Racial Equality, which is backing the initiative, said: "It's terribly important for different sections of the community, as well as individuals, to stand up and say categorically, 'not in our name'. It's unbelievable that such an organisation can appropriate Jewish support."

Karen Pollock, chief executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust, said: "At the HET we educate about the dangers of racism and discrimination and it is vital that we stand up against groups such as the EDL who preach hatred and division in our communities."

Ms Moore responded: "We are not bothered by their futile threats and attempts to silence us. We, and much of the Jewish community, know they lack the courage to address the issues we highlight. They have not been doing their job for a long time, and seem to have not only abandoned but betrayed the Jewish community in general."

Jewish Chronicle

A plague on both their houses

(left ) Supporters of the Muslims Against Crusades,
and (right) the English Defence League in West London [yesterday] morning

Two sides of hate faced each other [yesterday] in West London. As Britain remembered those who had died in past wars, 30 Islamist extremists, under the banner of Muslims Against Crusades (MAC), hurled abuse, burned poppies and waved their hate-filled placards. A few metres away 60 supporters of the English Nationalist Alliance and the English Defence League pushed their own intolerant message.

Let us be quite clear, both groups are as reprehensible as each other. In fact, such is the symbiotic relationship between the two that they actually need each other to justify their own existence. For the MAC the presence and activities of the EDL prove how white British society is the enemy. For the EDL the Islamist extremists are proof of the violent nature of Islam. They are two sides of the same coin of hate.

We stand opposed to both sides. We oppose the racism and Islamophobia of the EDL just as we oppose the religious bigotry and antisemitism of the MAC. To hear these Islamist extremists publicly deny the Holocaust and call for the formation of a Muslim Waffen SS Division – as they did yesterday – should rightly sicken every anti-fascist just as much as the racist bile spat out by the EDL and ENA.

We think it is important to criticise both groups publicly. Failure to condemn one group but remain silent about another leads – correctly – to charges of hypocrisy and double standards. Only by criticising the actions of tiny extremist groups can we say with any validity that neither speaks for the wider communities and religions they claim to represent.

And in criticising both extremist groups I believe that we are in tune with the majority of British people, who want to live in peace and without the hatred and violence extremists bring.

Hope not hate