Category Archives: English Defence League

EDL joins poppy protest outside Portsmouth mosque

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Portsmouth mosque graffitiPolice say they will investigate the protests which took place outside a Portsmouth mosque on Saturday.

Scores of demonstrators gathered outside Portsmouth’s Jami Mosque. 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 about 40. It broke for Pompey’s home game against Doncaster, and gathered again shortly after 5pm this time with about 100 taking part.

Peace protesters who had heard about the protest also gathered outside the mosque. Shouting between the two groups then ensued with firecrackers, an egg and a golf ball being thrown into the peace campaigners.

A 6ft poppy had also been graffitied on the mosque the day before.

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EDL leader charged with assault

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Stephen Lennon arrestedThe founder of the English Defence League has been charged with assaulting a police officer during clashes with Islamic protesters in London.

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. Father-of-two Lennon, also known as Yaxley-Lennon and Tommy Robinson, has spoken on behalf of the EDL after a series of violent and intimidating confrontations.

Five others associated with his group were also arrested as members of Muslims Against Crusades burned remembrance poppies.

Press Association, 12 November 2010

Jews against EDL launch unity voice

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Jews Against the EDLThe 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.

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.”

Jewish Chronicle, 11 November 2010

Surbiton man faces charges over anti-Islam demo fight

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Three men accused of fighting with Muslims have been temporarily banned from attending marches organised by far-right group the English Defence League (EDL) as part of their bail conditions. The trio appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on November 3 to jointly face charges of affray and threatening, abusive and insulting words or behaviour.

The allegations followed a protest march organised by the EDL, which opposes the spread of Islam and Sharia law. All three men were at the demonstration, which began outside the Israeli Embassy in Kensington on October 24, before marching to Speakers’ Corner in Hyde Park, the court heard.

Christopher Long, 38, from Kent Way, Surbiton, was accused of kicking, overturning a table and fighting with an Asian man. Bryan Kelso, 28, who told the court he was homeless, was accused of grabbing a banner belonging to a counter-demonstrator and smashing it. Brian Bristow, 37, who is also homeless, has been staying on friends’ floors, having been evicted from his council house, the court heard.

All three were granted bail by District Judge Elizabeth Roscoe on the condition they did not attend any marches, demonstrations or counter-demonstrations organised by the English Defence League. A prosecution request to bar the men from entering Westminster or going back to Speakers’ Corner as part of their bail conditions was rejected by the judge.

Mr Kelso and Mr Bristow were ordered to report to their nearest police station, which the court was told was Doncaster. All three will reappear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on December 15 for their next hearing.

Surrey Comet, 8 November 2010

Exuberant demo says no to racism, fascism and Islamophobia

Posted on by Bob Pitt

November 2010 demo

Around 5,000 black, white and Asian people marched through central London today in a lively and spirited demonstration against racism, fascism and Islamophobia.

The march, called by UAF and Love Music Hate Racism, was supported by the TUC and the Muslim Council of Britain. But it was the presence of large number of young people, school and university students that gave the demo its exuberant character.

Marchers showed their opposition to the fascist British National Party and the racist thugs of the English Defence League – which particularly targets Muslims.

The demonstrators chanted: “Whose streets? Our streets” and “EDL, go to hell – take your Nazi mates as well” as the march wound out of the West End and down Whitehall to Westminster.

Along with the chanting, many danced along behind carnival floats, with music from artists supporting LMHR.

At Westminster, the protesters heard from a range of speakers, including George Galloway, Hugh Lanning, deputy general secretary of the PCS civil service union and poet Zita Holbourne of Black Activists Rising Against Cuts.

UAF officer and LMHR national coordinator Martin Smith told the crowd that it was important for antiracists and antifascists to mobilise against the EDL, criticising those who argued that we should “stay away or hide behind doors”. He said:

If you give an inch to fascists they will come for more – we must not give an inch. We have to stand together, united.

He urged everyone to join a national mobilisation against the EDL in Luton in February.

There was more music, featuring artists including radical rapper Lowkey and up-and-coming young band Flow Dem, who caught the mood with their song Racial Ting: “It’s not a racial ting, it’s a white black mixed race Asian ting!”

Speaking after the demo, UAF joint secretary Weyman Bennett said:

Thousands of people turned out on a very lively demo to show they reject racism, fascism and Islamophobia. Now we need to build on that success, building bigger local groups and setting up new ones around the country.

We will also be mobilising for a national counter-demonstration against the EDL in Luton on 5 February 2011.

UAF news report, 6 November 2010

Preston: police say EDL is a peaceful non-racist organisation and UAF is the cause of violence

Posted on by Bob Pitt

EDL in Bradford

A meeting with Preston councillors last week shows the extraordinary measures that police are prepared to use to block protests against the racist English Defence League (EDL). Preston independent socialist councillor Michael Lavalette told Socialist Worker about a police briefing of Preston council. The police asked to meet councillors about an EDL march planned for Saturday 27 November.

“I was shocked at what they came out with in that meeting,” Michael said. “They said that the EDL’s website states that it is a non-racist, peaceful organisation and that they would have to take that at face value. They said that the EDL has a right to protest and the police have to stay neutral. But then they launched a disgraceful attack against Unite Against Fascism (UAF).

“They told us that it is counter protests organised by UAF that cause trouble. They said that UAF is a front for the extremist Socialist Workers Party. The tenor was clear – UAF is as much of a problem, if not more so, than the EDL. I was furious and pointed out that UAF includes several national trade unions, MPs and labour movement activists.”

In the meeting with the police Michael said most EDL protests end in violence. “I pointed out that every protest has involved attacks on the police. In Stoke they ran riot and attacked cars and shops. I think the police wanted to use the meeting with councillors to clamp down on any counter protest and to abuse UAF.

“The EDL is being allowed to assemble outside the main church on the high street which is a five minute walk from Preston’s main mosque. If EDL supporters are allowed to march the 300 metres through the town to the Flag Market, they will be within minutes of Preston’s Asian community.”

Socialist Worker, 2 November 2010

EDL’s pro-Wilders demo in Amsterdam flops

Posted on by Bob Pitt

EDL Amsterdam demoMembers of the English Defence League travelled to the Netherlands in support of far-right Dutch politician Geert Wilders. The European Freedom Initiative group organised a rally against what they claim is the “growing Islamisation” of Europe.

Authorities moved the demonstration from a central Amsterdam location to an industrial site on the outskirts of the city for fear of violence. Hundreds of people were expected to attend, but the rally drew far more police and journalists than marchers.

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Katie Price repudiates EDL

Posted on by Bob Pitt

EDL and Jordan

Jordan is furious after Far-Right extremists posted a picture of her on their Facebook site claiming she supported their views.

The 32-year-old unwittingly posed for the snap with a bloke she thought was a harmless fan while recording at the BBC. But the man was Tommy Robinson, the leader of anti-Islam group the English Defence League – which then uploaded the image to the group’s Facebook site, claiming Kate was a supporter.

She is said to be “horrified” and is fighting to take the snap down. A spokesman for Kate, in Boston, Lincs yesterday to promote her new book You Only Live Once, said: “She is not and will not be associated with the English Defence League. Kate had no reason to suspect he had any connection with any group.”

Daily Star, 30 October 2010

See Holy Moly for the full statement by Jordan’s PR company:

“Katie Price does not and will not be associated with the English Defence League in any way. Katie’s legal team are doing everything in their power to remove this picture from the website. She simply posed for a picture with someone who told her he was a fan, as she does on many occasions. She had no reason to suspect he had any connection with any group, and had she known she would have flatly refused.”

Mayor bans EDL hooligans from centre of Amsterdam

Posted on by Bob Pitt

EDL rioters BradfordAmsterdam mayor Eberhard van der Laan has shifted a pro-Geert Wilders demonstration, organised by the English Defence League, to the western port area in order to minimise the chance of riots.

Van der Laan said he had concrete evidence that members of the far-right EDL were coming to the Netherlands to look for a confrontation with both the police and anti-racist demonstrators.

The demonstration was due to be held on the Museumplein.

Dutch News, 28 October 2010