Category Archives: English Defence League

EDL founder Tommy Robinson speaks at the Oxford Union

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Lennon at Oxford UnionEnglish Defence League (EDL) founder Tommy Robinson has given a talk to an audience of 250 at the Oxford Union as demonstrators gathered outside.

Unite Against Fascism (UAF) criticised the union for allowing him the platform, saying he had not renounced the views of the EDL since leaving.

Mr Robinson, 31, said: “I have a difference of opinion to them and they’re the ones acting fascist.” The union said it was founded to promote the freedom of speech.

It was the third attempt to get Mr Robinson, real name Stephen Lennon, to talk at the union – the first having been cancelled amid security concerns and the second because he was sent back to prison.

Protesters from the Socialist Workers Party, Unite, Unison, and UAF gathered outside.

Speaking to the BBC afterwards, Mr Robinson said: “It was a good reaction. A lot of people said I was not what they expected and what the media had portrayed, and that they were happy to hear what I had to say from my own mouth.

“Some people would demonstrate over the rain in that UAF organisation. If you’re not going to allow people to talk about these serious issues that need talking about in places like the Oxford Union, don’t moan about them on street corners.

“I was completely honoured and privileged and I don’t think many people get to have that opportunity, especially from a working class town and community like Luton. To know that William Gladstone spoke there, to know that Winston Churchill spoke there, for me, is a huge honour.”

Speaking for two hours, Mr Robinson criticised politicians, the media and police for failing to tackle certain criminal activities because of the fear of being labelled Islamaphobic. “No-one wants to rock the multi-cultural boat,” he said.

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Four EDL members guilty of violent disorder during July 2013 protest

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Gary Watts, Anthony Webster and Simon Reeve
Gary Watts, Anthony Webster and Simon Reeve

A further four members of the English Defence League (EDL) have been found guilty of violent disorder during a bloody demonstration in Birmingham city centre.

Following a trial, the jury convicted Adrian Rimmel, 50, of Swallow Avenue, Smithswood, Simon Reeve, 43, of London Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk, Gary Watts, 29, of Parsoles Avenue, Dagenham, Essex and Anthony Webster, 38, of Strathmore Crescent, Newcastle, of the offence on July 20, 2013.

Footage from the incident – which included demonstrators trying to use a portaloo as a weapon against cops – was shown to the jury.

His Honour Judge Richard Bond adjourned their case for pre-sentence reports to be drawn up, but he warned them a prison sentence was inevitable.

Granting the four bail, he said: “Do not think because I have adjourned this case for pre-sentence reports anything other than an immediate custodial sentence will follow. You know how serious this offence is and I am taking this violent disorder very seriously. The starting point (for sentence) is a quite lengthy custodial sentence,”

At the end of the trial, in which the jury viewed police footage from the demonstration, Judge Bond told the panel that around 50 EDL members would face sentence next month for offences committed during the same incident.

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EDL protest in Luton draws around 400

Posted on by Bob Pitt

22/11/14 Policing the English Defence League marchToday’s English Defence League (EDL) march in Luton passed without incident this afternoon (Saturday).

This was down to a high police presence and both the EDL march and protest being kept at a distance from a counter protest organised by groups such as United Against Fascism. Officers from police forces all over the country were brought in, from as far afield as the East Midlands and Essex, to contain the protest.

There was a small incident when speeches were being given by EDL members in the centre of Luton, when some members of the counter protest appeared, with a small number of EDL members trying to confront them, but swift action by the police prevented any violence.

Around 400 members of the EDL, with over a hundred present at the counter demonstration. Six were arrested for breach of the peace in Inkerman Street. One of those arrested, a 43-year-old Luton woman was found in possession of an offensive weapon.

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Racist EDL not welcome in Luton this Saturday

Posted on by Bob Pitt

We are Luton

SATURDAY 22 NOVEMBER 2014
TIME: 12PM
ASSEMBLE OUTSIDE BURY PARK COMMUNITY CENTRE, DUNSTABLE ROAD, LU1 1BW

EDL Not welcome in Luton!

The racist and Islamophobic EDL have announced that they will hold an Islamophobic demonstration, in Luton on 22 November.

In April and May 2009 the violent and racist EDL held its first protests in Luton. Such mobilisations saw hundreds of thugs rampage through the town attacking the Asian community. Since then the EDL has held a number of protests around Britain. They’ve attacked people and protesters, caused damage to buildings and smashed up a Hindu temple in Dudley when they couldn’t get close to the mosque.

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Vandals scrawl swear word on Portsmouth mosque wall

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Vandals daubed offensive graffiti on a mosque in the city. People have reacted with shock and upset after a vulgar term was written in thin purple letters on a white wall on the outside of the Jami Mosque in Southsea.

The Victoria Road North place of worship was previously vandalised in 2010 when someone painted a large red poppy on a wall outside. More recently members of the English Defence League have protested outside the mosque.

The latest act of vandalism comes just weeks after the exterior of the mosque had been refurbished.

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Former EDL leader fined for public order offences

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Stephen Lennon addresses EDL protest 7.9.13The founder and former leader of the English Defence League Tommy Robinson has been fined £200 by magistrates over public order offences.

He appeared at Hammersmith Magistrates’ Court under his real name of Stephen Yaxley-Lennon on Monday.

Yaxley-Lennon, of Luton, was convicted of incitement and behaviour leading to breakdown of order relating to a march in London on 7 September 2013. He was also ordered to pay a £20 victim surcharge and £80 court costs.

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Glasgow: Scottish Defence League march banned

Posted on by Bob Pitt

SDL Glasgow February 2012(2)A march by a far-right group has been banned after police said it would have incited violence.

The Scottish Defence League planned to demonstrate in Glasgow on Saturday against what they claim is the cover up of child-grooming gangs operating in Scotland.

But senior officers objected to the march taking place on the grounds that it “may incite or provoke reaction from the local Muslim community”.

Yesterday, Glasgow City Council’s public procession committee agreed and stopped the parade taking place. Councillor Jim Coleman said: “The march has been refused because of the clear risk to the public and to the peaceful life of the community.”

Police Scotland voiced their concerns after monitoring exchanges between SDL members on social media.

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Far-right activists stage anti-Muslim demo in Sunderland park

Posted on by Bob Pitt

NEI protest Mowbray ParkFar-right protestors held an anti-Islamic demo in a Sunderland park.

About 100 supporters of the North East Infidels and the Sunderland Defence League, as well as a small number of English Defence League members, were flanked by dozens of police in Mowbray Park this afternoon.

Protesters shouted “English ‘til I die” and held up banners promoting their cause.

Officers formed a line around the city centre park to ensure that the protest, which got underway at about 2.15pm, passed by peacefully.

The groups, many of whom had English and union flags draped around them, dispersed when the rally finished shortly before 3pm.

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EDL whips up hatred and violence against Muslim taxi drivers in Weston‑super‑Mare

Posted on by Bob Pitt

John SheridanReports of taxi drivers telling passengers to remove poppies before they will accept the fare has led to a Weston firm promising to sack any employee who is prejudicial against the Remembrance Day symbol.

Social media has been abuzz with stories of multiple Apple Central Taxis’ customers being asked to take off poppies – allegations, which although unproven at this stage, have led to company cars being smashed and verbal abuse aimed at staff.

The taxi firm started an investigation last week despite no customers issuing an official complaint, although owner Iftikhar Ul-Haq promised the company is taking the claims seriously. He said: “I am Asian and I have never seen anyone say ‘I don’t want to wear a poppy’. I would sack any guilty driver there and then… I wouldn’t even let them come into the office.”

The Royal British Legion (RBL), which co-ordinates the poppy campaign, said Apple taxis is – and always had been – a supporter of the appeal and urged people to remain calm.

The Mercury has been told of two occasions where customers were allegedly asked to remove a poppy, one on October 26 and another on October 30. One of the customers described the driver’s stance as ‘disgusting’.

Apple taxis’ general manager Steve Tedd stressed it has no anti-poppy policy but said unless someone comes forward officially with a time and date, it cannot discover if the rumours are true or dispel them.

The allegations – which led to Weston’s English Defence League branch calling for a boycott of Apple taxis – have provoked revenge attacks.

Mr Tedd said: “A couple of drivers have had car windows smashed. We also had a soldier on Saturday afternoon walk into our office, having heard the rumours and was angry, and wanted to talk it out with our telephonist. Thankfully after half an hour it ended peacefully.

“The allegations have had a bad effect on my staff and drivers. I have heard four different versions of the same story. If I have anything factual, then I will act, but if I hear nothing officially then I will have to class it as a vicious hoax. We are talking about people’s livelihoods and I’m not going to sack people on say-so.”

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