Significant numbers of far-right supporters in the UK consider violence and “armed conflict” a legitimate form of political expression, experts will warn this week.
The first audit into the attitudes and beliefs of Britain’s rightwing extremists, collated in a report by the thinktank Chatham House, will reveal that there is a “significant level of support” for planned violent attacks.
A father-to-be has been jailed after he was caught on camera throwing lumps of brick or concrete at police lines during violent clashes at an English Defence League protest in Bradford city centre.
A judge heard yesterday that 28-year-old Michael Currie was the only person to have ended up at the city’s crown court following the disturbance in August 2010. Prosecutor Paul Gallagher told Recorder Peter Pimm 13 other people were arrested, but the majority had been dealt with by way of fixed penalty notices for disorderly conduct.
The court was shown aerial footage taken from a police helicopter of the protest, which took place at the Westfield Broadway building site. The judge then watched another recording which showed Currie throwing missiles towards officers after he and others in the crowd had scaled a hoarding surrounding the site.
About 100 gathered in the Memorial Gardens, Heywood town centre, to hear speeches from National Front members at 1pm today. Some carried placards while others held union flags. The group had then wanted to march through the town centre but their request was refused by Greater Manchester Police.
A number of minor flashpoints saw two protesters arrested for public order offences. Earlier in the day a 49-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of committing racially-aggravated public order offences.
London 24 reports the case of John McAndrew.
EDL leader Stephen Yaxley Lennon – AKA “Tommy Robinson” – was given an extensive platform to make unchallenged racist comments about Muslims, and to issue self-justifying claims that he is “not racist”. The one revealing moment – when a drunken “Tommy Robinson” taunted a Muslim man and pretended he was Anders Behring Breivik, the fascist who massacred 76 people in Norway – was given little prominence in the hour-long programme.
Unite Against Fascism reviews Channel 4’s Proud and Prejudiced documentary.
See also “Proud and Prejudiced documentary ‘not fair on Luton'”,Luton Today, 28 February 2012
Update: See Reyhana Patel, “Channel 4’s Proud and Prejudiced portrays inaccurate impression of extremism”, Huffington Post, 29 February 2012
Also Assed Baig, “Proud and Prejudiced – a critique”, Huffington Post, 29 February 2012
If the English Defence League has its way, UK anti-Muslim protests could soon feature extremists from across the world, the Independent reports.
Police arrested eleven people for minor public order offences as a march by the English Defence League today passed off without major incident.
About 600 people who had come from all over England marched through Hyde in protest over the alleged attack on trainee baker Daniel Stringer-Prince. The 17-year-old suffered a fractured skull in an alleged attack by up to eight Asian men. His family pleaded with the EDL to abandon the march but it went ahead anyway.
The march began shortly after 1pm when about 600 EDL supporters marched from the town’s train station to a car park, where they held a mini rally. The British National Party also had about 50 supporters in the town.
Greater Manchester Police mounted a huge security operation with dozens of officers on the ground, on horse-back as well as India 99, the force helicopter, overhead, while dog handlers were also on hand.
Manchester Evening News, 25 February 2012
See also “Local people protect mosque as fascists try to stir racism in Hyde”, UAF news report, 25 February 2012
Around “200 officers” were on hand to police an unauthorised demonstration by an extremist group on Saturday, an MSP claimed.
Police and riot vans gathered at Glasgow’s St Enoch Square to meet demonstrators from the Scottish Defence League (SDL), an anti-Islamic organisation which claims to campaign against radical Islam and Sharia.
The SDL had applied to Glasgow City Council to hold a parade through the city, but their application was withdrawn after a civic coalition of political party leaders, trade unions, religious groups and campaigners signed an open letter in protest at the march. The SDL indicated that they intended to hold a “static demonstration” instead.
Some SDL demonstrators are understood to have gathered in St Enoch subway station beneath the square shortly before 12pm. One entrance to the station was sealed off. A counter-demonstration by anti-fascist groups, trade unions and political parties also took place in nearby George Square.
Police have stepped up patrols in the Heywood area of Rochdale following violent disturbances which saw officers pelted with bricks and other missiles.
A Greater Manchester Police officer suffered bruising to his legs and arms during the trouble which erupted on Thursday. No other injuries were reported.
Windows were damaged at a fast food outlet, believed to be an Asian takeaway business, in Bridge Street, while three police vehicles and a car belonging to a member of the public were also damaged.
Five men including a serving soldier and seven juveniles will appear in court tomorrow charged in connection with a disturbance at an anti-racism concert.
The 12 will appear at Leeds Magistrates Court charged with affray in relation to fighting which interrupted the “Rage Against Racism” event at The Well bar in Chorley Lane, Leeds, on June 18.
During the concert attended by around 150, a group of people allegedly chanting support for the English Defence League attempted to enter. It was reported rocks and bottles were thrown and one person suffered a serious facial injury and others minor injuries. Damage included broken windows.