Category Archives: Far right racists

EDL returns to Sheffield

Posted on by Bob Pitt

EDL Sheffield June 2013Hundreds of English Defence League supporters who protested in Sheffield city centre were able to lay their wreath – but have been accused of inciting counter demonstrators.

Sheffield Central MP Paul Blomfield claimed EDL supporters made Nazi salutes as well as Churchill-style “V” signs when they entered Barker’s Pool and approached the war memorial to lay the wreath.

Shouts of “there’s only one Lee Rigby” were chanted by the EDL as they entered, after leader Tommy Robinson had grabbed a megaphone and urged them to hold a “peaceful protest”. The Star filmed EDL supporters, who initially shouted “Yorkshire” changing their chants to “Allah is a paedophile” and “if you wear a yellow jacket, you’re a ****” at police.

Labour MP Mr Blomfield said: “I congratulate The Star for exposing the EDL for what they are. They claimed to be coming here peacefully but I am disgusted that they stood in front of the war memorial and gave a Nazi salute, then chanted obscenities at the police and towards Sheffield’s Muslim citizens.”

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Lincoln anti-mosque protest meets counter-demonstration

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Anti-mosque protest Lincoln
Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Hundreds of people took to the streets of Lincoln on Saturday, June 8, for a protest against plans to build a mosque in Lincoln, as well as a separate anti-racism demonstration.

Around 250 anti-mosque protestors were in the City Square area, while around 100 people took part in the counter-demonstration in Cornhill. There was a strong police presence in the city throughout the day, with Lincolnshire Police getting assistance from Thames Valley and Metropolitan Police forces. No arrests were made.

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Salma Yaqoob threat allegations lead to arrest

Posted on by Bob Pitt

A man has been arrested after death threats were allegedly made on Facebook following a TV appearance by a former Birmingham City Councillor.

Salma Yaqoob, a former Respect councillor, shared the threats with her Twitter followers after she appeared on the BBC’s Question Time on Thursday.

West Midlands Police said a 37-year-old man from Corby has been arrested on suspicion of malicious communications. He is being held by Northamptonshire police, a spokesperson said.

BBC News, 8 June 2013

‘Anti-Muslim backlash’ has been grotesquely exaggerated: Britain remains peaceful and tolerant

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Tony ParsonsThat’s the headline to Tony Parsons’ column in today’s Daily Mirror.

Parsons assures his readers that most of the Islamophobic incidents that followed Lee Rigby’s murder took place online, and “some cretin foaming at the mouth on Twitter or Facebook is simply not the same as having someone stick a bottle through your window, or attack you in the street” (which of course ignores the fact that the former may well inspire the latter). He asserts: “The ‘anti-Muslim backlash’ is somewhere between a grotesque exaggeration and a plain old lie.”

This is just a rehash of the discredited Gilligan thesis. Parsons, however, adds a few ignorant and incoherent arguments of his own.

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Vicious attack on young Muslim woman in Argenteuil

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Rabia B.

The Coordination contre le Racisme et l’Islamophobie reports that on 20 May in the town of Argenteuil near Paris a 17-year-old Muslim woman named Rabia B., who was wearing a headscarf, was attacked by three men who punched and kicked her, and tore off her headscarf, while shouting “dirty Arab” and “dirty Muslim”. The CRI condemns the inadequate response of the police and local council to the incident.

In an interview with Oumma TV, Rabia describes the attackers as skinheads.

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Fox News mainstreams EDL

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Stephen Lennon on Bill O'Reilly showFox News’ Bill O’Reilly provided a platform for Tommy Robinson, head of the English Defence League, a violent, extremist anti-Muslim hate group in Great Britain.

O’Reilly hosted Robinson on The O’Reilly Factor to discuss the EDL’s efforts to, as Robinson described, “fight for Christianity, fight for our children’s future, fight for our culture, and fight for our country’s identity, which is completely under attack.” Robinson went on to claim that British politicians aren’t doing enough to suppress the growth of Muslim communities in the United Kingdom, adding “actions speak a lot louder than words.”

Although O’Reilly mentioned press reports describing the EDL as “fascist” and “racist” and described the group’s views as “militant” at the beginning of the segment, he failed to note the EDL’s history of incendiary and often violent actions. A 2010 “undercover investigation” by The Guardian found that the organization planned protests against Muslim communities in “a blatant attempt to provoke mayhem and disorder”:

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EDL supporter threatens to cut Salma Yaqoob’s throat

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Former Respect leader Salma Yaqoob’s appearance on BBC’s Question Time last night was typically impressive and won her at least one unlikely admirer.

Salma’s appreciation of the support she received was soured by the revelation that an EDL supporter with the Facebook identity of Steve Littlejohn had posted threats against both Salma and Unite Against Fascism joint secretary Weyman Bennett.

He wrote: “if that salma yaqueb’s there, cut her fucking throat, rip weyman bennets teeth out with pliers and carve edl across all the asian scum who try and attack us”.

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Hundreds turn out for vigil in support of Islamic centre destroyed by fire

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Muswell Hill vigil

Hundreds of people came together this evening to hold a vigil outside the Islamic community centre in Muswell Hill that was destroyed in a suspected arson attack.

Residents, politicians and anti-fascist groups turned out to show their solidarity with staff and users of the Somali Bravanese Centre in Coppetts Road, which burnt down in the early hours of Wednesday morning.

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EDL supporter facing jail term over Walsall protest

Posted on by Bob Pitt

An English Defence League supporter who shouted abuse and used threatening behaviour during a demonstration in Walsall has been warned he could face a jail term.

Jack Beasley travelled from Durham to take part in the protest which brought Walsall town centre to a standstill on September 29 last year. Miss Rhiannon Jones, prosecuting, told yesterday’s hearing at Walsall Magistrates Court that the 23-year-old also allegedly threw a “missile” towards police. She said Beasley was seen on CCTV pointing aggressively at police and swearing.

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Lincoln prepares for hundreds of anti-Islam protestors

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Urgent talks have been taking place this week as police, council officials and business leaders prepare for hundreds of protestors to descend on Lincoln city centre.

At 1pm on Saturday, members of the East Anglian Patriots will gather at Lincoln Central Station in St Mary’s Street. They will then be escorted 300 metres by police to City Square, where they stage a two-hour protest at plans to build a mosque in Boultham Park Road.

The group claims its mission is to show anger at the “increasing Islamic encroachment on our way of life”.

Lincolnshire Echo, 6 June 2013