Category Archives: English Defence League

Unite joins anti-fascist march in Ipswich on Sunday

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Unite activists in Ipswich, Suffolk will be joining a march for multiculturalism on Sunday (7 July) – a week after members of the far right English Defence League (EDL) tried to force their way into Unite’s offices in the town.

Unite, the country’s largest union, condemned last weekend’s attempt by EDL members to get into the union’s Grimwade Street’s offices and the racist chanting at Unite members attending a meeting in the building.

Unite regional officer Miles Hubbard said: “The actions of EDL members in trying to get into the Unite offices gives the lie to any notion that the EDL is a mainstream political organisation.  In attempting to break up a peaceful meeting through intimidation and racist chanting they have demonstrated all the characteristics of the fascist ideology.

“The EDL is opposed to integration and multiculturalism, and is trying to stir up division. By marching on Sunday we are showing that there is no place for the politics of hatred in Ipswich and throughout Suffolk.”

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Teenager accused of spraying EDL graffiti on mosque

Posted on by Bob Pitt

A teenager accused of spraying racially-aggravated graffiti on the wall of a community centre used as a mosque is due to go on trial in August.

The 17-year-old, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, pleaded not guilty to two charges of committing racially or religiously-aggravated criminal damage at Leicester Magistrates’ Court this morning.

The offences – including spraying the letters EDL and crossed lines, and damaging windows and charity clothing collection bins – are alleged to have been committed on May 13 and June 11 at Oadby Community Centre, in Sandhurst Street, Oadby. The building is used as a place of worship by the local Muslim community.

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Birmingham: Appeal for more action on hate crimes after mosque attacks

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Redditch Central Mosque graffiti

West Midlands Police has been urged to log Islamophobic hate crimes as a separate category following a series of attacks on mosques. The call comes as the anti-Muslim campaign group the English Defence League is gearing up for a demonstration in Birmingham City Centre on Saturday, July 20.

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Another Nazi in the EDL

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Aryan English threatens 'Muslim scum'

His name is Steve Crispin, and he has adopted “Aryan English” as his Facebook identity. EDL News has the details. You may remember Crispin. He was the thug who was was jailed last year for his part in an attack on two Muslims during an EDL anti-mosque protest in Dagenham in 2011, in the course of which he kicked one of the victims and fractured his jaw.

East Lancashire mosque burglars jailed for 22 years

Posted on by Bob Pitt

A plot to burgle mosques and businesses across East Lancashire has seen six men, including three brothers, jailed for more than 22 years.

Worshippers at Plane Tree Road mosque in Little Harwood were left distraught after intruders not only rifled their safe for money, but also stole irreplaceable marriage registers and their original constitution. It also emerged that one of the break-ins led to a Knuzden firm missing out on a £1million contract.

Passing sentence of the gang at Preston Crown Court, Judge Christopher Cornwall said: “To desecrate such a building by making a forcible entry and stealing from a safe is appalling and despicable conduct.”

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Grimsby EDL supporter convicted of religiously aggravated threatening behaviour – Muslim defence lawyer launches attack on media

Posted on by Bob Pitt

A Grimsby solicitor has launched a scathing attack on the media and politicians for “inflaming” hostility towards Muslims after the brutal murder soldier Lee Rigby in London. Ghaff Khan strongly criticised the use of words like “Islamists” and “Islamic – and claimed that comments over people’s origins were not used when “other heinous crimes” were committed by non-Muslims.

He launched his broadside during a court case which featured mentions of the Grimsby mosque at the centre of an arson attack and references to the English Defence League. Christopher Rodger, 25, of Lime Street, Grimsby, admitted using religiously aggravated threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour on June 8.

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Racist graffiti is left on Black Country mosque

Posted on by Bob Pitt

A Black Country mosque which was burnt to the ground in 2009, has been targeted by racist vandals. Racist graffiti has been plastered over one of the walls at Cradley Heath Central Mosque and Islamic Centre on Plant Street.

The graffiti which was discovered yesterday, was daubed in white paint on the red brick wall made reference to the English Defence League. This attack comes four years after the mosque was targeted by arsonists and burnt to the ground on Boxing Day in 2009.

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East End United rally vows to fight on after EDL march is banned

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Campaigners at a rally held last night in the wake of the Home Secretary’s ban on Saturday’s English Defence League march through London’s East End have vowed to continue fighting “the constant threat of neo-fascist organisations.” Around 150 supporters packed the rally by East End United anti-fascist campaign staged at the London Muslim Centre in Whitechapel.

Delegates from 21 community groups, religious organisations and trade unions joined politicians to reaffirm a ‘No Place for Hate’ campaign launched in 2010 when the EDL first attempted a march through Whitechapel. “There is the possibility that the EDL might again attempt to march through east London,” warned campaign orgaiser Weyman Bennett. “Neo-fascist organisations who seek to sow divisions in multi-cultural, working class areas are a constant threat.”

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EDL ‘linked to a third’ of online anti-Muslim incidents

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Anti-Muslim Hate Crime and the Far RightThe mere presence of English Defence League (EDL) flash mobs is enough to induce fear without raising a brick or a baton. But new research by the Centre for Fascist Studies at Teesside University shows the EDL online presence is even more vitriolic and disturbing.

It’s the first study of anti-Muslim sentiment in the UK and is based on data from the monitoring and helpline charity Tell Mama where victims can report details of abuse either on the streets or online.

The data amounts to 584 recorded incidents of anti-Muslim hate crime in the year between April 2012 to April 2013. Almost two in every three cases were not reported to police. The majority of cases – 434 incidents – were online abuse: 300 were linked to the far-right movement, and 147 of those were linked to the EDL – a third of all online anti-Muslim incidents.

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