Police made one arrest this afternoon during a demonstration by the English Defence League (EDL) in Shotton Colliery, County Durham.
There was also a counter protest by the Tyne and Wear Anti-Fascist Association.
A spokeswoman for Durham Police said that some 200 people were involved in the demonstration, which took place in the centre of the village between 1.30 and 2.30pm this afternoon.
The Times has an interview with Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary, who among a number of other ill-thought-out opinions calls for the “burka” to be outlawed.
The second Islamophobia Awareness Month has been launched. The month-long campaign will see activities and projects held throughout Britain to combat the continuing rising tide of Islamophobia.
Islamophobia Awareness Month is being spearheaded by the Enough Coalition Against Islamophobia, the Muslim Council of Britain and ENGAGE, and other partners.
Exeter EDL News has an excellent piece demolishing the EDL’s justifications for their forthcoming protest in Exeter, as presented in their video promoting the event.
Exeter EDL News points out that most of the EDL’s accusations against the University of Exeter are lifted straight from a witch-hunting article posted on the website of Sam Westrop‘s misnamed organisation Stand for Peace.
Following the publication in Dispatch International of Ingrid Carlqvist and Lars Hedegaard’s interview with Stephen Lennon, CBN News has published an adulatory report on the former English Defence League leader, based on an interview apparently conducted shortly before his departure from the organisation. In the accompanying video, Lennon is hailed by right-wing televangelist Pat Robertson as a hero who is “fighting to save Britain’s future”.
A man was arrested at a Thatcham rally for the English Defence League, Newbury magistrates heard.
The trouble flared during the demonstration on October 5 this year, the court was told. In the dock on Thursday, October 24, was 38-year-old Brian Barnes [pictured], who had travelled from his home in Rectory Road, Hook in Hampshire, for the event.
Helen Waite, prosecuting, said: “The defendant was taking part in an EDL demonstration and was crossing Station Road in Thatcham.” She added that he was heard to shout abuse and swear at someone and that “there were three children nearby.”
A former pit village in east Durham will be the scene of opposing demonstrations over plans for a Muslim education centre at the weekend.
County Durham Unites Against Racism said it will hold a peaceful counter-demonstration in Shotton Colliery, near Peterlee, to protest against the English Defence League (EDL) and North East Infidels (NEI) demonstration on Saturday (November 9).
It is the second time the EDL and NEI have demonstrated in the village over plans to open a Muslim education centre. In December last year about 200 EDL supporters converged on Shotton Colliery to protest plans by local businessman, Kaiser Choudry’s to turn a former The Melrose Arms pub into a Muslim education centre.
Dispatch International co-editors Lars Hedegaard and Ingrid Carlqvist in London with ex-EDL leader Stephen Lennon
Following the humiliating failure of their recent efforts to organise a Scandinavian speaking tour for the English Defence League leadership, Lars Hedegaard and Ingrid Carlqvist, co-editors of the notorious “counterjihad” publication Dispatch International, have travelled to the UK to talk to Stephen Lennon. The results of their discussions with the former head of the EDL can be found here and here.
We’ve had some harsh words to say about Cristina Odone in the past, but this article on her Telegraph blog, responding to Kenneth Clarke’s offensive remarks about the veil, is pretty good.
A trustee of a Hainault community centre that is under investigation by Redbridge Council believes it is being unfairly targeted.
New North Road Community Centre in New North Road, Hainault, opened on September 1 as a multi-faith community centre. But last week, a group of residents submitted a petition to the council, as they believe it is being used as a mosque, making people of no or other faiths feel excluded.
Dr Sohail Hameed says the centre does provide for the whole community. He said: “Our main aim at the moment is raising the standard of education. The hall is mostly used by teachers. People do their daily prayers here but I am a GP and I pray in my office too. There is no breach of planning conditions.”