Bradford delegation calls for ban on EDL march

A delegation of politicians, religious leaders and campaigners from Bradford will arrive in London tomorrow to ask the home secretary to ban a planned demonstration in the Yorkshire city by the far-right English Defence League (EDL).

The delegation, which includes the Bradford West MP, Marsha Singh, says the proposed demonstration is an attempt to provoke trouble in a city still recovering from the riots in 2001 that followed an attempted march by the National Front.

“The EDL is a racist, anti-Muslim organisation that is coming to Bradford with the sole intention of whipping up tensions and trying to provoke a riot,” said Singh. “Unfortunately, we know only too well what this type of terror can bring and Bradford is still recovering from the disturbances of 2001.”

Guardian, 10 August 2010

Packed organising meeting for ‘We are Bradford’ event

We Are Bradford

Around 150 people crowded into a meeting called to organise for the “We are Bradford” unity event on Saturday 28 August. The “We are Bradford” event will be a peaceful, united and multicultural response to plans by the racist English Defence League to bring their anti-Muslim hatred to Bradford.

Last night’s meeting brought together a broad mix of local people, including black, white and Asian people, Muslims and members of other faith groups, trade unionists and young people. The mood of the meeting was positive but serious, with participants resolved not to abandon their city to the EDL. The meeting heard confirmation from the police that a static demonstration by the EDL would not be banned.

Bradford East MP David Ward told the meeting that he wanted to attend the “We are Bradford” celebration to show that the EDL was not welcome in the city.

UAF joint secretary Weyman Bennett said a peaceful, multicultural event in Bradford was essential. The experience of Stoke and Luton has shown that where the EDL is unopposed its supporters are more likely to go on the rampage. Weyman poined out that support for the “We are Bradford” event is coming from across the country, with the trade unions PCS, CWU, UCU and TSSA already giving their backing.

The Rev Chris Howson, City Mission priest and one of the ‘We Are Bradford’ organisers, called for a peaceful response to the EDL to show the world that the EDL only wanted to use racism to divide the city. ‘We are Bradford’ unites all those who stand for peace and unity, he argued.

The meeting also heard Kanja Sesay, Black students’ officer for the National Union of Students speak about the importance of providing a safe focus for young people to show their opposition to the racism of the EDL.

Bradford trade unionists from the PCS civil servants’ union and the NUT teachers’ union spoke from the floor about how they were building the event.

Local activist Ashiq Hussain, who chaired the meeting, urged everyone to play their part in building a peaceful, united response to the EDL, to sign the campaign statement and volunteer as stewards for the event.

Thousands of leaflets were distributed to be handed out across the city.

What you can do

UAF is mobilising for the event nationally. You can download aleaflet here. Please see our transport page for regularly updated coach details.

UAF news report, 6 August 2010

EDL members arrested over suspected mosque bomb plot

Several English Defence League members were sensationally arrested last week by police investigating an apparent plot to bomb a British mosque.

Tim Ablitt, partner Tanya, Alfred and Tracy Saint, and a man known only at this stage as “Poole Knight” were arrested by officers in Dorset on Thursday evening and held for 24 hours while police investigated their potential involvement in an bomb plot thought to involve Bournemouth mosque.

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EDL accused of threatening, intimidating and harassing Luton residents

EDL Luton July 2010

Luton Mayor Councillor Tom Shaw and council leader Hazel Simmons have said that threatening or intimidating behaviour in the town will not be tolerated after a stand off between EDL members and opposing groups yesterday afternoon.

Crowds of EDL members, in the town to support Kevin Carroll, who was in court appealing against public order offences relating to an incident at the Poachers’ homecoming parade last March, had to be separated from groups of other men by lines of police in St George’s Square. Officers from the Metropolitan Police, some on horseback, and the British Transport Police had to be drafted in to help keep the peace as angry exchanges broke out.

In a joint statement, Councillors Shaw and Simmons said: “It is not for us to comment on the decisions made in court, and it would not be appropriate for us to do so. We can say, however, that any behaviour carried out by any person to threaten, intimidate or harass others is completely unacceptable and we will not tolerate behaviour of this type in Luton.

“Luton is a diverse and vibrant town, with many people from all over the world coming together and living in harmony. The absolutely unacceptable behaviour of a small group of trouble-makers will be viewed with anger and dismay by the overwhelming majority of people in our town. We understand that most of those gathering in Luton today came from other parts of the country.

“We fully support the police in their actions to protect public safety.”

Luton Today, 23 July 2010

Most of the media coverage of yesterday’s events referred to “rival groups of protestors”, but what appears to have happened is that the EDL racists who had come to Luton to support Carroll staged a provocative and intimidatory demonstration in the town centre and local people understandably reacted angrily against this.

Dudley: police continue to disperse EDL members

Police and EDL in DudleyPolice are still trying to disperse pocket groups of EDL members who are still in the town centre following today’s protests.

Trouble again flared following a seemingly calm protest of around 500 gathered English Defence League protesters, who converged on Stafford Street. At around 3.30pm, as the protest finished, some members flooded out of the car park and began a further stand off with police, as they began loading on to their coaches.

Despite EDL leaders promising today’s protest would be peaceful, a group of around a couple of hundred supporters tried to get down The Inhedge, as they tried to make their way into the town centre and the Unite Against Fascism counter protest.

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EDL’s latest provocation in Dudley condemned

Faith representatives, politicians and community leaders have spoken out against the return of the English Defence League to Dudley Town Centre.

The Bishop of Dudley said: “People in Dudley from across cultures and faiths have lived and worked together for decades. EDL, by their repeated and unwanted visits are only trying to undermine the town with its reputation and relationships. We want as many residents to show we belong together; that Dudley is home for all of us.”

A peaceful, community rally, aimed at celebrating the diversity and unity of Dudley is set to take place on Saturday afternoon. The event, which has been organised by Dudley Borough Interfaith Network and supported by Unite Against Fascism, will take place between 1.30pm and 3.30pm. It will take place at the same time as a rally by the English Defence League, which will be taking place in Stafford Street.

Steve Sparrow, Coordinator of Dudley Borough Interfaith Network, said: “Dudley is a great place to live with warm and welcoming people. This celebration event shows just how futile the EDL’s attempts to separate us are.”

Dudley News, 15 July 2010

See also Dudley demo assembly details on the UAF website

And “Dudley unites against the EDL”, The Stirrer, 15 July 2010

EDL supporters in court charged with violent disorder and threatening behaviour

Three English Defence League supporters appeared at Aylesbury Magistrates Court on Friday over alleged offences on the day the group protested in May. Among them was Brian Price, 40, the EDL’s West Midlands co-ordinator.

Mr Price, of Stonehouse Lane in Quinton, gave no indication to his plea on a charge of violent disorder. Collum Keyes, 23, of Somerton Drive in Birmingham, pleaded not guilty to violent disorder. Prosecutor Shahreena Coker said the pair were arrested after EDL members surged through police lines after their Market Square protest on May 1.

Also in court was Daryl Hobson, 43, of Newland Road in Worthing, West Sussex. Wearing an EDL jersey, he pleaded not guilty to a charge of threatening and abusive behaviour.

Mr Price and Mr Keyes were told that their case would be heard at Aylesbury Crown Court, and were released on conditional bail – which prevents them taking part in EDL rallies – for a commital hearing on August 20. Mr Hobson was released on unconditional bail, with his trial at Aylesbury Magistrates Court set to start on November 8.

Bucks Herald, 10 July 2010


Postscript:  Over at the Casuals United blog the EDL are boasting that yesterday they disrupted a meeting organised by the Islamic Association of Lincoln for the local Muslim community to discuss plans for a new mosque and community centre in the town. According to the EDL, they were confronted by “jihadists” and “politely asked to vacate the premises”. I mean, “politely asked to vacate the premises”. Are there no extremes to which these jihadists will not go in their efforts to oppress patriotic Britons?

Casuals United go on to claim that “Lincolns Mosque is due to be funded by Tablighi Jamaat the extreme Saudi sect behind 9/11”. In reality, the funding for the new mosque is being raised through an appeal to the Muslim community. As for Tablighi Jamaat, it is of course an organisation originating in South Asia that has no connection with Saudi Arabia, still less 9/11.

The EDL – not only violent but thick with it.

Lincoln Casuals disrupt pro Mosque meeting

EDL protestor found guilty of religiously aggravated harassment

An EDL protester, Kevin Smith, has been given a suspended eight-week prison sentence for putting a pig’s head on the wall of Dudley central mosque in the Castle Hill area of the town on 29 May.

Police believe Smith, 52, of Brierley Hill, was on his way to the Newcastle demonstration when the act took place. He was arrested on 2 June and has been found guilty of religiously aggravated intentional harassment at Dudley magistrates court.

Smith was sentenced to eight weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months, and among the conditions imposed was an order that he stay out of the Castle Hill area.

Guardian, 9 July 2010

Council calls on EDL to scrap planned protest in Dudley

English Defence League Protest

Councillors are calling on the English Defence League (EDL) to scrap a planned protest in Dudley town centre. The proposed demonstration is set for Saturday July 17 and the authority has no powers in law to ban the event which it branded “a pointless waste of taxpayers’ money”.

A previous protest by the group in the town last April cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of pounds for a massive operation involving large numbers of police officers and council workers. Dudley traders also paid a high price in lost business after Dudley town centre was closed for the day, which ended with ugly scenes when EDL marchers clashed with cops after breaking out of their designated protest area on Flood Street car park.

A council spokesperson said: “The EDL has opposed the former proposal for a mosque but the council has reiterated the fact that the authority and the Dudley Muslim Association have agreed to pursue an alternative site, making the EDL’s visit pointless. Council bosses have made it clear outside extremists can make no contribution to local decisions and reminded the EDL that the plans for a mosque on Hall Street are not currently being pursued.”

Dudley News, 6 July 2010

EDL rioted at St George’s Day parade, court told

The English Defence League, a far-right anti-Islamic political group, have been blamed for “hijacking” a St George’s Day parade in Ruislip and rioting in the street.

One of the police officers who dealt with the trouble outside The Bell pub in West End Road, on April 23, told a court today (Wednesday) that many of those causing trouble were seen to be wearing polo shirts emblazoned with the English Defence League (EDL).

At the trial of a 24-year-old man, charged with assaulting a police officer and with a public order offence during the incident, Uxbridge Magistrates Court heard that between 70 and 80 people were involved in disrupting the parade from RAF Northolt.

Martyn Harris, 24, from Greenford, pleaded guilty to using threatening and abusive behaviour but denied assaulting PC Williamson. The officer said: “Mr Harris’s behaviour was consistent of the entire crowd. There were a lot of people claiming to be from the English Defence League, that had hijacked the parade.”

Up to 500 people had gathered to enjoy a barbecue, live music and the arrival of the parade outside The Bell when trouble began and a group began fighting. There has not been any violence at the event before and the pub landlord said at the time that “outsiders” were to blame.

Judge Deborah Wright said: “This sounds like it was a riot. A very serious matter where police were struggling to control the crowd.”

It was heard that Mr Harris had been one of the aggressors in the violence. Prosecution lawyer, Nikki Onuma-Elliot, said: “Mr Harris lunged toward PC Williamson, f-ing and shouting. He continued this behaviour and was warned to stand back.

“But he kept pushing the officer and swinging arms, trying to provoke violence. He was pushed back but kept advancing. As he was being arrested Harris was being extremely violent and said ‘f-ing mug’ and ‘I’m f-ing going to do you.'”

Uxbridge Gazette, 30 June 2010