A coalition of faith groups, trade unions and community organisations vowed today to do all it could to oppose a planned march by the English Defence League (EDL). The group, called We are Norwich, said it would do “all in its power” to peacefully oppose the EDL demonstration.
Category Archives: English Defence League
Public attitudes toward the EDL: new survey
Who supports the English Defence League? YouGov has conducted an interesting survey of public attitudes towards the EDL that was commissioned by the Extremis Project.
13 arrests at Sunderland mosque protest
Police made 13 arrests when a protest at the site of a recently-approved new mosque turned violent. Around 200 people were involved in the demonstration on St Mark’s Road, which saw members of far-right groups including the English Defence League clashing with anti-fascists and members of the Muslim community.
Scores of police armed with batons were called in as the disorder escalated, and a firecracker in a glass bottle was seen being thrown at officers. Despite numerous objects hitting police officers and nearby homes, it is understood there were no injuries and no damage to property.
Two men both aged 32 have since been charged with being drunk and disorderly. They are both due to appear before Sunderland magistrates on October 26. Eight men arrested on suspicion of public order offences and another three arrested on suspicion of affray have been bailed pending further enquires.
The National Front has pledged to make the demonstrations a monthly fixture, although supporters were asked not the bring NF flags to the event on pain of being removed by far-right organisers who said they would create the wrong impression. A number of protesters among the far-right groups were not from Sunderland, with some travelling from Bradford and Edinburgh.
Plans to convert a former council transport depot into a new mosque were put forward in 2011 and approved by Sunderland City Council in August. The application by the Pakistan Islamic Centre attracted almost 700 letters of objection and a petition of more than 1,400 signatures.
Sky Tyne and Wear, 7 October 2012
See also “Sunderland antiracists stand firm against EDL, NEI, NF and BNP”, UAF news report, 6 October 2012
Update: Spark FM has an interview with Gary Duncan of Sunderland Anti-Fascist Coalition.
‘Sharia mosque four times the size of St Paul’s Cathedral’ – Daily Star resumes campaign against Newham Riverine project
Britain could have its first Sharia-controlled zone if plans for a mega-mosque more than four times the size of St Paul’s Cathedral get the go-ahead.
The East London mosque, known as the Riverine Centre, will hold 9,312 worshippers, compared to 2,400 at St Paul’s. The 16-acre site in West Ham will include 40ft minarets, an Islamic library, a dining hall, multi-use games areas, tennis courts, sports facilities and eight flats for visiting Muslim clerics.
Fascists hold protest against ‘Muslim grooming’
The Sunderland mosque protest wasn’t the only far-right anti-Muslim demonstration in the UK yesterday. Britain First, a small fascist grouping led by former British National Party councillor Paul Golding and the party’s ex-fundraiser Jim Dowson, held a protest in London demanding “justice for victims of Muslim grooming”. They demonstrated outside Downing Street before marching down the road to Parliament Square where they burnt a Saudi flag. (There is of course a clear connection between the Saudi monarchy and the disappearance of Charlene Downes in Blackpool.)
Britain First claims that their demonstration was attended by “around 80-100 patriots, from several organisations”. Judging by the photographs on their own website it looks like no more than a couple of dozen were there. However, Paul Golding’s claim that a “disciplined delegation from the English Defence League” was among those participating is interesting, given that other organisations that were represented included the BNP and the ex-EDL breakaway group the Infidels. According to Hope Not Hateanother participant was the veteran neo-Nazi Eddie Stamton, who a year ago was proscribed by the EDL, along with the Infidels.
Hope not hate Norfolk defends democratic right of Nick Griffin admirer to incite hatred against Muslims
The Reverend Alan Clifford of Norwich Reformed Church first came to prominence back in 2004 when the local paper published a front-page article under the headline “I Think Islam Is Evil, Says Pastor”, with the subheading “Church leader backs BNP view on faith”.
The story concerned a letter Clifford had written to the Norwich Evening News declaring his support for the views on Islam expressed by Nick Griffin. The British National Party leader had been exposed in a BBC TV documentary which showed him telling a party meeting that Islam is a “wicked, vicious faith” and accusing Muslims of raping white girls as “part of their plan for conquering countries”. In his letter Clifford said that Islam was indeed an “evil religion” and that Griffin had been correct to describe it as “a monster in our midst”.
Anti-fascists planning rally to counter EDL’s Rotherham demo
Anti-fascist protesters have called for a peaceful multi-cultural rally on the day the extreme right English Defence League descends on Rotherham.
EDL member who made death threats against Muslims gets community order
A South Tyneside ex-soldier used his Facebook page to make racist comments about Muslims.
Kenneth Holden wrote the anti-Islamic messages after he started supporting the far-right English Defence League (EDL). The 30-year-old was arrested after police were alerted to the abusive comments that were written on his personal page.
Holden, of Winskell Road, South Shields, pleaded guilty to two counts of sending an offensive message by a public communication network at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court last week.
Magistrates adjourned the case until yesterday for the probation service to write a report about him. The report recommended that Holden be placed under the supervision of probation so his attitudes towards Muslims could be looked at.
Kevin Smallcombe, defending, asked the magistrates to go along with the report’s recommendation. Holden was given a 12-month community order with supervision.
Right-wing Christian bigot says EDL ‘rightly’ endorse his views on Islam
Rev Alan Clifford backs British National Party leader Nick Griffin in 2004
A minister whose ban by a council sparked the English Defence League to organise a march has denied having links to the right-wing group.
EDL Walsall protest arrests rise to 30 as police say they are powerless
Police who made 30 arrests at an English Defence League protest in the Midlands have insisted they are powerless to stop the far-right group returning.
As traders in Walsall tried to return to normal after Saturday’s gathering, officers said their hands were tied in the eyes of the law. A West Midlands Police spokeswoman said: “Even if we get intelligence to suggest a future protest isn’t going to be peaceful, the law states a static protest is a human right and needs to be facilitated. A march can be banned, but not a static protest.”