Category Archives: Far right racists

Police seek EDL thugs who attacked Leeds anti-racism event

Posted on by Bob Pitt

City and Holbeck Police CCTV image

Police have released CCTV images of suspected thugs who threw bottles and bricks at an anti-racism concert crowd in Leeds.

Protestors shouting support for the far right extremists the English Defence League (EDL) stormed the Rage Against Racism event at The Well music venue in Chorley Lane near the city centre. The group, who were chanting “EDL”, smashed windows after going on the rampage after they were refused entry. They hurled projectiles at the 150-strong crowd. Two people were injured, including one man who suffered serious cut to his mouth and had a tooth knocked out in the incident.

It happened at about 2.30pm on Saturday, June 18.

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Birmingham EDL demo given two-hour time limit

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Demonstrators from the English Defence League have been slapped with a two-hour time limit on their protests in a fresh bid to prevent scenes of violence which have marred previous visits.

West Midlands Police had also told the group that their protest must take place in Centenary Square and must be over by 3pm.

Conditions have also been imposed on the community event, “Unity and Celebration of Differences” and any counter demonstration. Organisers have been told that their event can last no longer than three-and-a-half hours and must be over by 4pm. They must also confine the activities to Chamberlain Square.

The EDL said they were expecting between 700 to 2,500 of its members to turn up.

Birmingham Post, 27 October 2011

‘Highly offensive Islamophobic’ graffiti sprayed on Milton Keynes mosques

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Police have opened an investigation into three acts of “religiously aggravated” vandalism in and around two mosques in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire.

Thames Valley Police say the “highly offensive Islamophobic” graffiti was sprayed on Zainabia Islamic Centre in Peverel Drive, Bletchley, between 10.30pm and 11pm on Saturday [September 24] and a shed to the side of the building was set alight and destroyed.

Detectives believe this incident is connected to two other acts of criminal damage at Jamia Al-Karam Masjid in North Street, New Bradwell, and on a white Mercedes Sprinter van in the nearby Harwood Street overnight between Saturday [September 24] and Sunday [September 25].

Offensive messages were sprayed in all the three locations. A worshipper at one of the mosques said the graffiti was “sexually explicit” with reference to “Allah”, while the vandalism on the van was racist in nature.

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Home secretary urged to ban planned EDL march in Birmingham

Posted on by Bob Pitt

A councillor from one of the Birmingham suburbs most affected by the summer riots has written to Home Secretary Theresa May, urging her to ban the proposed EDL march.

Lozells and East Handsworth Labour councillor Waseem Zaffar said the recent disturbances had shown the need for communities to work together.

“During a difficult period for the city when three young Muslim men lost their lives in the disturbances, it was the strength of our communities standing together that defused the tension and allowed the diverse community of Birmingham to move forward together,” he said.

“The EDL must not be able to bring their messages of hate and division to places where diversity is a strength not a weakness. There must be no place for hatred in our communities. Now that EDL’s march in London has been banned by you, you must also ban the march in Birmingham,” he added.

Birmingham Mail, 25 October 2011

See also “Concern over planned EDL march in Birmingham next Saturday”, ENGAGE, 24 October 2011

And “Birmingham: say no to the racist EDL, Saturday 29 October”, Unite Against Fascism, 25 October 2011

Update:  See “EDL Birmingham demo location moved by police”, BBC News, 25 October 2011

Rita Verdonk leaves politics, recommends supporters to join PVV

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Rita Verdonk TONRight-wing populist politician Rita Verdonk is standing down as head of Trots op Nederland (proud of the Netherlands) the political party she founded in 2007, according to media reports on Friday.

TON number two Arthur van der Putte told the Volkskrant Verdonk is standing down. She had been due to announce her decision during a television current affairs show later on Friday evening.

Verdonk set up the party after losing the VVD leadership battle to Mark Rutte and being expelled from the right-wing Liberals. She lost her seat in parliament at the last general election but TON took around 50 seats in the most recent local elections.

Van der Putte said Verdonk had spoken to Geert Wilders, leader of the PVV, and was recommending remaining TON members and councillors switch to supporting the anti-Islam party.

Dutch News, 21 October 2011

Successful conference to defend multiculturalism

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Defend Multiculturalism conference

Over 400 anti-fascist campaigners came to a conference at the TUC’s congress centre in London last Saturday.

The event was titled Celebrate Diversity, Defend Multiculturalism, Oppose Islamophobia and Racism. It was called by Unite Against Fascism (UAF) and One Society Many Cultures, and sponsored by South East Region TUC (SERTUC). It challenged European politicians’ race to demonise Muslims and immigrants as they try to shift blame for the economic crisis and austerity. Speakers and delegates were united in calling for far-right mobilisations to be met with counter-protests.

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EDL thugs attack Ahmadiyya bookstall and Qur’an exhibition in Cradley Heath market

Posted on by Bob Pitt

EDL Cradley Heath protestA Muslim book stall in Cradley Heath market was stormed by over 25 thugs from the English Defence League this weekend.

The shocking attack occurred in front of shoppers, many of which were women and children, at the market at 2.30pm on Saturday. The local Ahmadiyya Muslim book stall and Qur’an exhibition was attacked and volunteers were manhandled and abused by members of the Far Right organisation.

Shocked Ahmadiyya outreach worker Toby Ephram described the scene in the market. He said: “About 25 of the EDL group stormed our stall in Cradley Heath pushing, shoving and threatening our members. We have the book stall to raise awareness of our work in Britain and in the local community we are proud to be British Muslims and this incident saddened us. Our motto is ‘Love for All – Hatred for None’ and we do not meet violence with violence so we just stood there and did not respond to the provocation.”

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EDL leader loses appeal over football brawl

Posted on by Bob Pitt

The founder of the English Defence League has lost an appeal against his conviction for leading a brawl involving 100 football fans.

Stephen Lennon, 28, led Luton Town supporters as they clashed with Newport County fans in Luton, the town’s crown court heard. Lennon, from Luton, was convicted in July of using threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour in August 2010. His claim that he was not in the group was dismissed by a High Court judge.

A confrontation began ahead of the evening game on 24 August when Newport supporters made a mass exodus from the Bedfordshire Yeoman pub just as 50 Luton fans approached. The trouble involved chanting, missiles being thrown, assaults and damage to property, the court heard. Lennon was at the front of the group, with others looking to him for leadership, and it is alleged he was chanting “E …E…EDL” the court was told.

Lennon told Mr Justice Saunders: “I was not with the group. There was a lot of shouting and screaming and some fighting but it looked more like ‘handbags’ to me.” He claimed it had all been about England and Wales and that, while he may have made “sheep” insults, he had never mentioned EDL. “It is ridiculous to suggest that, it is just not relevant.”

Luton magistrates had sentenced Lennon to a 12-month community rehabilitation order, a three-year ban from football and ordered him to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work. Lennon is due to be sentenced in November for an assault on an EDL member at Blackburn, Lancashire, in April.

BBC News, 14 October 2011