The EDL isnt a surprising development. Whether it is a spontanous development or set up by the BNP, either way it provides a militant street group with a veneer of plausible deniability (similar to the relationship between the DUP and UUP and Loyalist paramilitaries in the past). It was 15 years ago that current BNP leader Nick Griffin outlined such a development for the British Nationalist movement (a moderate legalist BNP and a semi-legal street fighting group with no formal connection to act as provocateurs and milita).
All the pieces are falling right into place for the far-right.
Its a good time to be a fascist. Pretty much sucks for the rest of us.
How can an anti-fascist movement develop to take on these challenges? Anti-fascists and anti-imperialists and just people in communities who want to see dont want to see these ugly developments need to come together with progressives, go deep into our communities, network and build unity between organisations and initiatives.
Sukant Chandan
Sons of Malcolm
=================================
From a 'concerned local' on Indymedia:
The English Defence League are coming back to Brum [Birmingham] in greater numbers.
It is clear from the events of yesterday (July 4th) the the EDL do not conform to any pre-existing stereotypes of fascists as "sad old men in ill fitting suits". They appear to represent a union of football firms. They are up for it and more than capable.
They are planning a return to the city on August 8th and have the following post on their facebook group:
"40 of the english defence league were in london yesterday to confront the islamic rd show, the same islamic rd show that converted an 11 yr old white boy ti islam in birmingham last month. because of our presence choudry and his mob of extremists cancelled there wood green event. good news, we are going to chase them down where ever they raise there head. we are gutted we could not be in brum yesterday to stand shoulder to shoulder with u all. we are hearing another march for brum is being planned for 8th august. we will defo be there and bring all our placards and banners. we will push the march against sharia law as a focus. we have already got a 25 seater coming from luton and many other london firms are on it, qpr and arsenal for defo. so everyone who turned ouy yesterday make the effort again for 8th august, details will follow, if we make enough noise as we have in luton the authorities will be worried about backlashes from our communties when making local decisions,god bless"
Yesterday the opposition to the EDL was sporadic with no organisation. If this is the case on 8th August then the implication is that the city belongs to fascist mobs and the police.
These are worrying times.
=================================
From the Tequila Kid on Class Crisis
Sons of Malcolm would like to point out that the multiculturalism that is talked about here is not an attack on emphasising what is positive about the interaction of different ethnic communities, but about the way that consecutive British governments have used 'multiculturalism' to actually ghettoise working class communities from each other and doverting people from focusing on common issues amongst us all. However, seperate organisations of oppressed communities based on cultural commonalities are not neccessarily divisive, what has to be always stressed is the unity of peoples against inadequate/poor housing, decent living wage, safety in our communities and re-building our communities, lack of resources for our children and young people and other social issues. Also, one cannot build a anti-fascist movement here until and unless the anti-fascist and working class movement opposes war, occupation and sanctions, as people in the Third World are fighting against our enemies too: the financial-capitalists who run our government
Today Birmingham witnessed the sight of approximately 100 football casuals walking through the streets of Birmingham in a protest called in response to Muslim extremism. The English Defence League (EDL) is a group of football hooligans, BNP members and assorted fascists who formed in the wake of the protest against british troops by Anjem Choudry's far-right Islamic extremist group in Luton earlier this year.
After slipping through a heavy police presence the self titled English Defence League (EDL) stopped outside Waterstones and was promptly surrounded by police. As the group chanted slogans such as "we want our country back" and "in-ger-lund, in-ger-lund, In-ger-lund" a group of locals began to gather around them and shout back leaving police to deal with two sets of very angry people. A group of asian lads at the front of the counter demo started shouting "Pakistan" and "Allahu Akbar", but these chants soon changed when some locals struck up a chorus of "Nazi scum get out of Brum" which was duly taken up by all in the crowd. After a bit of banter between the EDL and locals the police decided they'd had enough and positioned two police vans in between the EDL and counter demo which drew derisive chants of "cherio, cherio, cherio" from the locals. As the police did this the EDL broke from the other side of the cordon and after a few scuffles with police fled down High Street in an attempt to avoid being nicked. Locals on the other side of the police cordon remained where they were half expecting the EDL to come up around the other side of the bullring and many were more than willing to satisfy the EDL's apparent desire for a ruck. Police remained in the area as both sets of demonstrators dispersed in dribs and drabs.
What this sorry event demonstrated is that politics in britain is being turned into a racial and cultural battle ground. People are seeing their problems in life as being linked to race, religion and nationality. Apparently it isn't our money grabbing bosses fault that we're unemployed it's the fault of a migrant worker whose on minimum wage. It isn't the governments fault that the NHS is crumbling it's those foreigners fault. It isn't the divisive policy of political multiculturalism that is dividing our communities it's the muslims fault. In this climate people with the same interests in life find themselves on opposite sides of police cordons shouting abuse at one another and looking to give the other a good hiding. It is of the utmost importance that if we are to address and overcome the iniquities of contemporary capitalism then we have to stand together regardless of our race, religion, nationality or any other artificial dividing line. The BNP and the multiculturalists in the Labour government are desperate to ensure we don't unite to fight our common enemy, it is far more practical for them that we fight amongst each other and ignore those who pick us up and dispose of us as it suits their profit chart.
The English Defence League are right to oppose Islamic extremism and this is what many people of islamic faith have been doing in Luton recently and what we should all be doing, however they are wrong to think that it is our religion or nationality that separates us. If the EDL want to tackle religious extremism then they should tackle it's roots, shouting "we want our country back" at a group of asians isn't going to do that, it isn't the asians who've taken the country from us it's the people who profit from our labour and their chums in whitehall who've had it all along!
They are planning a return to the city on August 8th and have the following post on their facebook group:
"40 of the english defence league were in london yesterday to confront the islamic rd show, the same islamic rd show that converted an 11 yr old white boy ti islam in birmingham last month. because of our presence choudry and his mob of extremists cancelled there wood green event. good news, we are going to chase them down where ever they raise there head. we are gutted we could not be in brum yesterday to stand shoulder to shoulder with u all. we are hearing another march for brum is being planned for 8th august. we will defo be there and bring all our placards and banners. we will push the march against sharia law as a focus. we have already got a 25 seater coming from luton and many other london firms are on it, qpr and arsenal for defo. so everyone who turned ouy yesterday make the effort again for 8th august, details will follow, if we make enough noise as we have in luton the authorities will be worried about backlashes from our communties when making local decisions,god bless"
Yesterday the opposition to the EDL was sporadic with no organisation. If this is the case on 8th August then the implication is that the city belongs to fascist mobs and the police.
These are worrying times.
=================================
From the Tequila Kid on Class Crisis
Sons of Malcolm would like to point out that the multiculturalism that is talked about here is not an attack on emphasising what is positive about the interaction of different ethnic communities, but about the way that consecutive British governments have used 'multiculturalism' to actually ghettoise working class communities from each other and doverting people from focusing on common issues amongst us all. However, seperate organisations of oppressed communities based on cultural commonalities are not neccessarily divisive, what has to be always stressed is the unity of peoples against inadequate/poor housing, decent living wage, safety in our communities and re-building our communities, lack of resources for our children and young people and other social issues. Also, one cannot build a anti-fascist movement here until and unless the anti-fascist and working class movement opposes war, occupation and sanctions, as people in the Third World are fighting against our enemies too: the financial-capitalists who run our government
Today Birmingham witnessed the sight of approximately 100 football casuals walking through the streets of Birmingham in a protest called in response to Muslim extremism. The English Defence League (EDL) is a group of football hooligans, BNP members and assorted fascists who formed in the wake of the protest against british troops by Anjem Choudry's far-right Islamic extremist group in Luton earlier this year.
After slipping through a heavy police presence the self titled English Defence League (EDL) stopped outside Waterstones and was promptly surrounded by police. As the group chanted slogans such as "we want our country back" and "in-ger-lund, in-ger-lund, In-ger-lund" a group of locals began to gather around them and shout back leaving police to deal with two sets of very angry people. A group of asian lads at the front of the counter demo started shouting "Pakistan" and "Allahu Akbar", but these chants soon changed when some locals struck up a chorus of "Nazi scum get out of Brum" which was duly taken up by all in the crowd. After a bit of banter between the EDL and locals the police decided they'd had enough and positioned two police vans in between the EDL and counter demo which drew derisive chants of "cherio, cherio, cherio" from the locals. As the police did this the EDL broke from the other side of the cordon and after a few scuffles with police fled down High Street in an attempt to avoid being nicked. Locals on the other side of the police cordon remained where they were half expecting the EDL to come up around the other side of the bullring and many were more than willing to satisfy the EDL's apparent desire for a ruck. Police remained in the area as both sets of demonstrators dispersed in dribs and drabs.
What this sorry event demonstrated is that politics in britain is being turned into a racial and cultural battle ground. People are seeing their problems in life as being linked to race, religion and nationality. Apparently it isn't our money grabbing bosses fault that we're unemployed it's the fault of a migrant worker whose on minimum wage. It isn't the governments fault that the NHS is crumbling it's those foreigners fault. It isn't the divisive policy of political multiculturalism that is dividing our communities it's the muslims fault. In this climate people with the same interests in life find themselves on opposite sides of police cordons shouting abuse at one another and looking to give the other a good hiding. It is of the utmost importance that if we are to address and overcome the iniquities of contemporary capitalism then we have to stand together regardless of our race, religion, nationality or any other artificial dividing line. The BNP and the multiculturalists in the Labour government are desperate to ensure we don't unite to fight our common enemy, it is far more practical for them that we fight amongst each other and ignore those who pick us up and dispose of us as it suits their profit chart.
The English Defence League are right to oppose Islamic extremism and this is what many people of islamic faith have been doing in Luton recently and what we should all be doing, however they are wrong to think that it is our religion or nationality that separates us. If the EDL want to tackle religious extremism then they should tackle it's roots, shouting "we want our country back" at a group of asians isn't going to do that, it isn't the asians who've taken the country from us it's the people who profit from our labour and their chums in whitehall who've had it all along!
22 comments:
You can find out all the latest goings on via the Lancaster Unity Blog (please link to this blog:)
www.lancasteruaf.blogspot.com
I'm a Birmingham local and i was there on the day of the protest shopping in the city centre and came across what was happening. I don't know what you were looking at, but most of the locals of Birmingham were behind the lads that were protesting. Go and watch the videos on Youtube and you will see that the only people who were against the English Defence League was the Asian (specifically Pakistani) lads. There were Whites, Blacks and Indians joining in with the chanting because Islamic Extremism is something that is effecting the Birmingham community as a whole. Stop trying to make out that the protesters were in the wrong, because Brummies of all colours were behind them. There is another protest in August and i'm going to make sure i'm there on that one. And this is coming from a 19 year old mixed race female before you start assuming that i am some racist old man.
I was also at the demo and there was plenty of opposition to the EDL apart from the Asian lads, there were also white and black lads and ladies who had a bit of banter with the EDL. Most people thought them to be a funny spectacle and the crowd on the side near the bull ring all had a good laugh when those big tough football casuals ran as fast as their chubby little legs could carry them when the police moved in.
Islamic extremism is a problem in some communities but it's pretty small compared to problems such as housing shortages, the NHS and mass unemployment. It's also not a problem that i'd want the BNP to be tackling, after all the EDL is run by the BNP's Chris Renton. You don't confront reactionary Islamist politics with reactionary white nationalism.
you people must be mentally ill not to have noticed the quite considerable number of mixed race lads with these "fascists"
Interesting piece of far left propaganda. I always find it amusing that you so called anti-fascists never protest at the events held by Islamic extremists who spite out the most astonishing sickening racist bile imaginable; clearly you’re not anti-fascists as you seem to be very selective about those groups you protest against.
Churchill once said that the next danger from fascism we’ll have to put down will be from the anti-fascists, he is right.
EDL is a group of people from all sections of our multi-racial community fighting to ensure we remain free from you lot, the real fascists in our broken society, a broken society you lot created.
It was not suprising the media gave little coverage to this event as it could start off race riots elsewhere. However what is never asked of those opposed to Islam is why? Those who say we must celebrate multi culturalism miss the point that the UK is now culturally divided. There are those that want to enjoy the benefits of this western life style but have no intention of being integrated into it. With veils and dress that clearly belongs in in another cluture, continual resistance to the English language and a call for religious laws is there little wonder we have problems?Sadly, it all appear to stem form one religion. Its funny that the UK does not have the same problems with other religions or indeed the large Chinese community. We are too frightened to ask why. We are giving a platform the facism.
The EDL is highly suspect and is most likely to be an offshoot of the fascist BNP, themselves a laughable facade for neo-Nazis in the UK and thankfully, continuously ridiculed and outnumbered on street marches by anti-fascist demonstrators.
The real issue is far more serious. It is the blind stupidity of the anti-fascists themselves and peace-loving Muslims who are the majority in British Muslim communities who fail to recognise that Muslim extremists are just as much a bunch of fascists as the Nazi BNP.
It's only when Muslim communities grasp responsibility and root out the cancer of Islamic fascism which demands that Sharia law become the law of the land, and when anti-fascists realise that just because you are a Muslim doesn't mean you are not susceptible to fall into the grips
of hate filled Muslim extremist groups who preach pan-Islamic global domination....it's only then that we can stop the fascist BNP from high jacking the fight against fascist Muslim extremists for their own racist and fascist agenda.
And if that time comes all communities will march together against hatred, whether it’s religious or nationalistic.
Ever actually consider why people from all backgrounds, classes and ethnicities in the UK are fed up with islamic groups and their blatant malevolence towards the country that has given them a home and all the opportunities that come from a C21st western society?
You people are making me laugh on here! You talk about people having their own laws is not acceptable in this country but you don't seem to realise that other religous groups have had their laws here for decades along side English law! The EDL seem like a bunch of Sun reading chavs with no organisational skills whatsoever. You lot have just jumped onto the band wagon of anti islamic rhetoric being pumped out by the tabloids thats all. You seem to hate something with a passion which you don't even understand, have you read the Quran, Bible or yet even the Torah? Try picking up a Quran and read what it says and learn from your so called enemy. The only problem I see in this country is the government has divided every community by recognising each and every groups religious/ethnic backgrounds so that the people don't unite against the governments slowly and encroaching switch from a democratic country to a dictatorship. And when the rich have taken power and got the country by the balls, you won't be able to do shit because you've spent your time wasting it arguing with eachother about petty bullshit differences which they've highlighted in the papers that have no relevance to you whatsoever. Wake up before our country is taken by these f***ing bankers. Peace
Benito Mussolini stated in 1922, "For us the nation is not just territory but something spiritual... A nation is great when it translates into reality the force of its spirit."
as an ENGLISH MAN we have loss our spirit as a nation
in the news they say we are british but if i was born in scotland id be scotish, im born in ENGLAND I AM ENGLISH NOT british if i was born in a country serving under our QUEENthen yes you would be british
All of you on both sides of this sordid debate should learn some rules of spelling and grammar if you wish to be taken seriously.
Most people I talk to believe that islam is the biggest threat to humanity in the world today. Other religions are just as ridiculous, but they're not as dangerous. The EDF are not what we need.... PR-wise they've already completely messed it up - but we do need some kind of anti-islam alliance to stop this evil, life-destroying virus from spreading.
Mussolini was an Atheist Socialist who founded Fascism as a more moderate form of Socialism. That's why the majority of Italy's Jews supported the Fascist Party. Fascism actually had no interest in Race, anyone could become a member of "The Nation".
Nazi stands for "National Socialist". Hitler's political party was the "National Socialist German Workers Party". Compare that to the Trotskyist "Socialist Workers Party".
Hitler was obsessed with Race, considering people to be mere objects, who couldn't help blindly following whatever their genes and environment, or "Blood and Soil" dictated. It's not hard to see the parallel with the views of people like Richard Dawkins. One of Dawkins' Atheist scientist colleagues recently claimed that Africa could never truly develop because "Africans had too low an IQ". This, despite the fact that many parts of Africa are developing once they shrug off failed socialist policies. Not to mention the many successful Afican & Caribbean scientists, businessmen/women, lawyers, etc. It's education combined with worldview and attitude that makes the difference, not race.
The BNP are a Far-Left organisation who use Leftist "Identity Politics" to categorise people and enact a policy of divide-and-rule. Sounds just like typical Socialism.
Destroy all fascism. Starting with Islamic Extremism. Defenders of ENGLAND unite. Stop the spread of this vile paedophilic doctrine of islam. “Islam” – the word means maker of peace – so if you are a moslem -and you are not making peace then you are not a real moslem – just another dirty scumbag paedophile hiding behind a paedo-sympathising so called ‘religion’ who’s leaders seem to be able to change their views to suit the actions of whichever paedophile is talking about it. God is Great. England is Great. Long live Lleogr. Get the greatness back- destroy fascism- start with the eradication of islam extremism. Then lets get rid of the ‘unite against fascism’ party – uh? what the heck are they about- er guys- you are missing the point- extreme ISLAM = FASCISM-. UAF must be mainly made up of thick middle class educated idiots I suspect. Come and live on the Ladypool Road mate then you will see … Choudary has a place in hell next to his friend mohamed the paedophile. SAY NO TO SHARIA LAW IN BRITAIN. Young impressionable pakis WAKE UP! your mullahs are deceiving you! there aint no virgins waiting for you! it is a lie! If it was true then why are they getting you to do their dirty work? check out the COUNCIL OF EX MOSLEMS OF BRITAIN- good moslems who have seen the light and denounced extremist islam for what it is- an excuse for paedophiles and other repressed bullies who cant get it up unless they are totally controlling someone who they have power over……www.ex-muslim.org.uk/ and women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life. TRUE MAKERS OF PEACE STAND UP AND BE COUNTED BEFORE YOU ARE LUMPED IN WITH THE EXTREMISTS AND ERADICATED.
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More information about the EDL and the BNP is available on my blog including news and articles about our local campaign against racism.
Whitehaven Against Racism
http://whitehavenagainstracism.wordpress.com/
We have a real problem in our country. We talk about multiculturalism but what we have (particularly here in East Lancashire) are polarised cultural groups who co-exist in an uneasy, uncomfortable state of intolerance.
The middle classes play at multi-culturalism but the working classes fear and detest the other racial/cultural groups. Both Muslims and English Whites fear "cultural contamination",
I don't know what the answer is but I'm damn sure the EDL isn't it.
The EPL claim on their website to "peacefully protest against militant Islam", & claim to only oppose "islamic extremists"...but only this weekend they protested a peaceful demonstration against the ongoing oppression of Palestinians attended by a variety of groups, all the while shouting "scum, scum, scum".
Don't be fooled by these people. They do not represent a "peaceful protest against militant islam"...they are politically ignorant, intellectually subnormal football hooligans & are simply interested in violence.
For those cretins voicing their support for these morons...it is YOU who represent the real menace to Britain, not militant islam. If you geniuses were genuinely interested in solutions to the problems facing the world, you would not be exacerbating them by staging violent protests & chanting "scum, scum, scum".
You shame Britain and make sick to the pit of my white British stomach.
Good article and I take your point on the real culprits of the situation of the lack equality we feel we live within in the UK.
The problem spawns from the rich minority safely tucked away in their ring fenced communities feasting on their ring-fenced wealth which a system geared towards their benefit has yielded.
Problem is, do you really see people getting of their backsides and going to these places and asking why someone with a glorified non productive office job earns 50x's what a binman earns.
It's not going to happen, and if the EDL and UAF do kick the hell out of each other and destroy property something will get done.
I've seen it in Bradford and other places where riots have occured, the authorities condemn the riots but them spend millions on the area's where the riots took place thus rewarding the efforts of the rioters.
Keeping quiet and non-violent protest is not an option if you want to get something done in this present system of "democracy".
the coran clearly states that non muslims are enemys of allah and should be swept aside. sounds pretty evil to me? NO SURENDER TO ISLAM!!!
Do not think that it is only the whites who are sick of this religious barbarism. The EDL is practically the only viable organisation that represents various NON-MUSLIM MINORITIES in England, who are sick and tired of idiots trying to impose medieval theocratic nonsense to this traditionally least religious or otherwise dogmatic of all European nations. Those antifa or whatever idiots calling the EDL "fascists" and practically supporting the most vile of all forms of fascism really have no decent principles whatsoever and basically something less than a group of ball-head football thugs who, at least, have some decency to refuse religious totalitarianism. How sad and pathetic.
As I see it, the EDL has got it spot on! The problem is a lot of people in this country are in denial and dont believe that our traditions and culture will change. Get real! It's happening and we are allowing it to happen. We need to take action now!
Let's look forward to what will happen in 50 years or so if we continue this route down complacency and Sharia Law becomes real.
Want to go down the pub for a beer?
You can't its banned!
Want to go to a rock concert ...
No such thing!
Want to celebrate St Georges Day?
You can't, this is no longer England!
Get the picture????
Wake up England!
Another thing, I am sure that many muslims, although they say they support sharia law would hate it if it actually came to pass! They have had the cushy UK life style for too long to even understand this!
What about the Asian lads who were asked who's side they were on in the war on terror? Not suprisingly, they said the Taliban! Get real ... it's happening. Oh, and once again, I re-iterate I suspect that these lads would hate living under the medieval taliban ....
There are many good muslims, but at least 25% (or more of them) want to control, and convert us all to Islam! Also, I suspect that a lot more of them would involve them selves in terrorism if they had the bottle .... it's only a few that choose that route though in all honesty (thank goodness).
Muslims want the cushy UK way of life, but want their Islam which is at the opposite ends of the spectrum to British Freedom ...
There is not this problem with Black Africans, and Hindus and Chinese ... They just live and let live ... muslim's don't!
Just one final thought. Suppose you are a British soldier returning to your beloved UK, after serving in Iraq or Afghanistan but you live in the middle of an Asian community. Do you think the British solder would be left in peace? Also, what if the soldier was of Asian descent, like the guy who as targeted for be-heading about two years ago (all happening on our shores). Luckily, MI5 once again did a great job foiling the plot.
In fact, I bet MI5 are constantly trying to counter these kinds of threats.
Wake up UK!
Say no to complacency.
Say no to Sharia Law.
Say no to muslim rule.
Say no to losing British traditions.
Say yes to keeping our freedom for our children and beyond (remember the "freedom go to hell" banner the Muslim protesters displayed recently, against Geert Wilder, from Holland.
Say yes to speaking our minds, without fear of being attacked or threatened (and yes that includes opinions about Allah and Mohammed). If any other god can be criticised, then so can Allah and Mohammed.
Wake up UK! Speak our minds and lets not live in denial.
Long live the UK, celebrate those culture and religions which do not try to change existing values, and let the silent majority come forward, and let's not take any more threats from muslims.
EDL have got it right. They are voicing what many English men feel. We have a divided land where everyone keeps totheir selves. But one group stand out and that is the Muslims. Britain Is at war ladies an gentlemen. Islamic extremists are the enemy. We will go all the way to Iraq to fight them yet to challenge then at home is racist and far right??? Our capital city was bombed by homegrown Islamic extremists. They are openly recruiting on streets, their is a sharia law society in Britain that operates it's own courts often used by the Muslim
communities. If there were Nazis in Britain in the 1940s they would r challenged so why when we are atwar are the friends of our enemies not challenged????
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