Category Archives: English Defence League

English Defence League in disarray after Birmingham fracas

Posted on by Bob Pitt

EDL Birmingham 8.8.09

A rightwing group which promised a summer of peaceful demonstrations against British Islamic extremists was in disarray today after its first significant protest ended in violence and 35 arrests.

The English Defence League staged a march near the Bullring shopping centre in Birmingham this weekend but its small band of supporters was drastically outnumbered by anti-fascist campaigners and riot police. The protest ended in violent skirmishes and running battles through the city’s busy shopping streets on Saturday evening.

Members of the League resorted to bitter in-fighting today as supporters labelled the organisers “ridiculous” and the event a “shambles”. Despite efforts to promote the event, fewer than 100 were thought to have gathered. Left-wing groups including Unite Against Fascism were alerted to the march and were able to organise a counter demonstration.

One member of the League’s online forum, registered as Adder, wrote: “I support you guys but yesterday was a shambles and you made us English look like an embarrassment. What exactly happened to supposed ‘In the high hundreds’ who were supposed to turn up? I saw the video and it seemed like there was barely 70 of you.” Neil Edy, another member of the website, said: “I went to the march … the turn out to the event wasnt good enuf only a few of us were there supporting the cause.”

Despite the failure of the first large event, the League insists it will continue to hold demonstrations. Comments on the group’s website, and the affiliated football hooliganism site Casuals United said that the next one would be bigger. One message on the Casuals United site read: “We will arrange it via the Inner Circles secret forums, so we will arrive unnanounced and neither the police or the scum will know any details.”

Times Online, 10 August 2009

Update:  See also the Guardian, 11 August 2009

Birmingham sees anti-fascist action

Posted on by Bob Pitt

salma-yaqoob-anti-fascist-demoPolice attempting to keep rival demonstrators apart in Birmingham city centre during early Saturday evening made a total of 33 arrests following sporadic clashes involving rival gangs of far right and anti-fascist protestors. Earlier events, organised by the right-wing English Defence League (EDL) and the anti-racist group Unite Against Fascism (UAF), passed off without the large-scale incidents that some had feared. Police reported two injuries during the evening, neither of which are believed to be serious.

The UAF protest in front of the Bull Ring at Rotunda Square was called in response to the EDL’s proposed demonstration at the same spot, the far right group having staged a previous protest there in early July. A crowd of around 300 heard speeches by, amongst others, Respect Councillor Salma Yaqoob and Dave Hughes of the Birmingham Trades Council. The event appeared predominantly good natured, although there were minor scuffles as a handful of right-wing sympathisers in lower New Street appeared to taunt sections of the crowd.

As the UAF event was winding down, the English Defence League were holding their re-scheduled demonstration in Victoria Square where around 80 protestors were outnumbered by a multi-racial crowd of onlookers. A heavy police presence was in place at both events and this prevented serious disorder as a group of predominantly Asian youths broke away from the anti-racist demonstration in an attempt to confront the EDL meeting. Police (including some officers in riot gear) later cordoned off sections of New Street and High Street, and there were further clashes as members of both groups attempted to attack each other.

The Stirrer, 9 August 2009

See also UAF statement on last Saturday’s Birmingham protest against the ‘English Defence League’, 8 October 2009.

Salma Yaqoob condemns racist protestors

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Salma_YaqoobOn Saturday 8 August a group under the name of “English Defence League” will attempt to stage a demonstration in Birmingham which they claim is directed against “Islamic extremism”. The English Defence League staged a similar protest in Birmingham on 4 July. Adrian Goldberg interviewed one of their leaders on his Talksport radio show during which he confirmed their “opposition to all Muslims practising their faith in Britain”, and admitted links with the BNP. The broad-based campaign, Unite Against Fascism, is calling for a peaceful counter-demonstration to assemble at 5pm on Saturday outside Waterstones bookshop in the Bull Ring.

Councillor Salma Yaqoob commented:

“The instigators of this demonstration are fascist thugs. They are coming to our city with one intention only: to sow racist division by stirring up anti-Muslim hatred.

“One of their ringleaders made their intentions very clear when he publicily stated his opposition to all Muslims practising their faith in Britain”, and admitted links with the BNP.

“The police have assured me that they will deal with any troublemakers. I am concerned, though, that the West Midlands Police are playing down the racist nature of this protest, and the links the protestors have with far-right organisations. Everyone has the right to their opinions, but

“No-one has the right to incite hatred against others on the grounds of race or religion. It is very important that the West Midlands Police act firmly to deal with any incitement to racist hatred.

“Birmingham is a multi-cultural city and proud of it. It is also important that people of all faiths and cultures stand together in a spirit of peace and unity. We must show these people that they are not wanted here, and that Birmingham will not be divided by race or faith. I urge everyone attending this protest to show the best of our city and ensure that this is a peaceful and respectful demonstration of unity.”

Socialist Unity, 8 August 2009

Stop the racist hooligans from marching in Birmingham on Saturday 8 August

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Unite Against Fascism supporters in the West Midlands will be joining the local Muslim community in Birmingham city centre on Saturday 8 August to protest against an “anti-Muslim demonstration” planned that day by right-wing thugs linked to the fascist BNP and promoted on openly Nazi internet sites such as Stormfront.

The racist demo is planned by a group of football hooligans operating under the names “Casuals United” and the “English Defence League”. There was a spate of Nazi and BNP graffiti in the local area after their last outing in Birmingham on 4 July.

The English Defence League website was set up by Chris Renton, a BNP activist from Weston-super-Mare.

In May this year the same group ran rampage through Luton attacking Asians and Asian-owned businesses.

The counter-demonstration against the racists meets at 5pm, outside Zavvi/Waterstones, High Street, Birmingham.

Everyone in the area should come along and show these thugs that their brand of vicious racism is not wanted in Birmingham or the West Midlands.

Unite Against Fascism press release, 31 July 2009

Soccer hooligans plan another anti-Muslim protest in Birmingham

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Luton riotPolice are being urged to ban a “sinister” new soccer group – said to include football hooligans – from staging a Midland protest against Muslim extremists.

Casuals United was set up after British soldiers were abused by Islamic radicals at a homecoming parade in Luton earlier this year. The group allegedly includes trouble-makers from soccer clubs across the country, including Aston Villa, Birmingham, Coventry and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The Casuals have already staged a number of protests against Muslim extremists around the UK, including on July 4 at Birmingham Bullring when a 100-strong crowd was held back by riot police. Now the group are planning to return to the second city for a fresh rally on August 8 – leading to fears of violence.

Last night, Perry Barr MP Khalid Mahmood urged police to block the event. He said: “No matter what these groups say, people have to see that they have sinister intentions and only want to promote violence on our streets. This is the kind of thing we saw in the 1970s when the Far Right came to prominence and caused riots in our cities.”

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Paul Ray admits to BNP links

Posted on by Bob Pitt

The far right group responsible for Saturday’s demo against Islamic extremism in Birmingham has revealed its opposition to all Muslims practising their faith in Britain. In an interview with Stirrer editor Adrian Goldberg on Talksport last night, spokesman Paul Ray also admitted their links with the BNP.

As we revealed yesterday, the protest was organised by the English (and Welsh) Defence League. Despite the group’s claim to be non-political, it’s emerged on Indymedia that their website was set up by Chris Renton, a BNP activist who lives in Weston-super-Mare. When EDL spokesman Ray was quizzed about this, he acknowledged Renton’s involvement, but insisted, “people’s political views are their own affair.”

During the course of the interview, it became apparent that Ray’s own view of Islamic extremism isn’t limited to suicide bombers and hook handed preachers of hate. He argued that the Qu’ran teaches all its advocates to wage jihad or holy war in non-Muslim countries, and acknowledged that on this basis, all devout or practising Muslims in Britain, are – in his words – “at war with our country.” When pressed, he said: “They’re ultimately engaged in converting our country to an Islamic state … that is the religious mandate of the Qu’ran that all Muslims must adhere to.”

The Stirrer, 7 July 2009

Update:  See also Bartholomew’s Notes on Religion, 8 July 2009

A setback in the struggle against the Islamification of the West

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Londonistan protestOver at his Lionheart blog, Paul Ray relates the sad tale of the mass anti-Muslim demo that wasn’t. It seems that one Dave Shaw had summoned like-minded patriots to join an “anti-extremist protest through the heart of Londonistan” last Saturday.

Alas, it was not to be. Members of Ray’s grandly titled English and Welsh Defence League turned up at the appointed meeting place for the demonstration, outside a pub at Trafalgar Square (see picture), only to find that they were the sole participants at the event.

According to Paul Ray: “With a no-show from ‘Dave Shaw’ and his group members, who all said they were going to be turning up on the day to protest for the sake of their country, no one really knew what we should do next, or where we should go to protest because it was not our organised event. After a few conversations it was decided that we would travel to Whitechapel and protest outside the East London Mosque, and take some group photographs.”

Unfortunately, backward elements within the English and Welsh Defence League proved inadequate to the task. As Ray recounts indignantly:

“At this point sadly, there were deserters amongst the ranks, who chose to entertain themselves in Covent Garden rather than sticking in the ranks with their brothers, and entering enemy territory with the rest of us, as part of the group who had travelled in to protest against Islamic extremists for the sake of their country.

“Desertion is one of the very worst forms of betrayal in the armed forces, with a prison sentence for those who choose to take that path and if we look back to the First World War, deserters were shot for their betrayal against their countrymen.”

So poor Paul Ray was left to march through the East End with what appears to be about a dozen of his mates.

Update:  See also Barthlomew’s Notes on Religion, 2 July 2009

‘Fear and hatred on the streets of Luton’

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Luton riotDavid James Smith reports for the Sunday Times on tensions and conflict between communities in Luton, following the highly-publicised Al-Muhajiroun protest in March.

The article includes an interview with Mikey Birch, one of the organisers of the counter-protests against Al-Muhajiroun, including the notorious 24 May demonstration that ended in rioting.

Birch has presented himself as the voice of moderation, publicly declaring his opposition to fascist involvement in the 24 May protest. The Sunday Times article, however, indicates that Birch’s attitude to far-right racism and violence is rather more sympathetic than he made out:

“Birch said he had no affiliations with a far-right party, but he did say that if the BNP were in charge at the town hall, Luton would not be so biased towards Muslims. ‘I’m not being racist, but…’, he said, ‘…I don’t want my kids being Islamified. I don’t want them forcing their religion on us.’ He was concerned about the number of Muslim councillors in Luton…. ‘Have Al-Muhajiroun or Al-Qaeda infiltrated the council? That’s what people are saying.’ It was Birch who told me that people had talked of storming the town hall in protest. ‘The BNP will get a stronghold here because people feel they are the only party prepared to take on the Muslim extremists. And if the police and the council won’t fight the war against Sayful Islam, then we will fight it for them’.”

Update:  Over at his Lionheart blog Paul Ray, the defender of the 24 May rioters (“No one thinks that removing the militant wing of Islam from our land is going to be easy, and if the government will not do it then the people will, and they will quite obviously be wearing balaclavas to do that”) takes exception to Smith’s report:

“His upper-class Liberal view is that the lower-class white community are all racists, even though I am not a racist, and those involved with UPL including ‘Mikey Birch’ are not racists, but this journalist doesnt care, he just wants his Liberal anti-white, pro-Moslem, racist, story for the Times magazine, and doesnt care what he writes about people so long as it is in line with the Liberal world view according to David James Smith.”

There, there Paul, of course you’re not a racist. Although, to be fair, you are currently on bail facing a charge of incitement to racial hatred, aren’t you?

Further update:  And I can’t resist quoting this introductory paragraph from a post on another far-right blog attacking the Sunday Times report:

“I had the displeasure of reading what has to be one of the worst pieces of journalism in a British broadsheet. It stinks with appeasement and of course its underlying message is that British people should accept multiculturalism. No doubt the author (David James Smith) is either an immigrant, anti British, a student of Marxism or all three.”

The English Defence League: not suited but booted

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Anindya Bhattacharyya provides a useful summary of the campaign by anti-racists against the English Defence League. He notes: “the fact that racist groups such as the EDL have taken to the streets with an explicitly anti-Muslim agenda has clarified what is at stake. Arguments about the nature of Islamophobia that had until now been primarily ideological are now being played out on the streets”.

Socialist Review, October 2009