Mainly excellent article on the English Defence League by Owen Jones in the Independent, slightly marred by an ultra-left line on the question of banning EDL marches.
Category Archives: English Defence League
Muslim demographics, rabid Islamophobia and The Commentator
The Islamophobic myth that Muslims are engaged in the gradual but inexorable conquest of the West takes different forms, depending on where you live.
In Tea Party circles in the USA you’ll encounter bizarre conspiracy theories about Muslim Brotherhood operatives having infiltrated the White House or even the top ranks of the Republican Party. In Europe the Islamic conquest myth more usually takes the form of scaremongering over demography – though US Islamophobes promote this version of the myth as well, presenting it as a horrible warning of the fate that will befall North America if it goes down the same road as Western Europe.
A notorious YouTube video entitled “Muslim Demographics” has proved particularly popular in such circles, having so far attracted nearly 14 million viewers. It claims that, as a result of population growth within European Muslim communities, “in 39 years France will be an Islamic Republic” and Germany “will be a Muslim state by the year 2050”.
This paranoid statistical gibberish has been debunked many times, notably by Doug Saunders in his book The Myth of the Muslim Tide: Do Immigrants Threaten the West? But that didn’t prevent The Commentator blog, which is an arm of the neocon-Zionist outfit the Henry Jackson Society, from posting an article last week under the headline “The Islamic future of Britain”. Subtitled “Britain is in denial. If population trends continue, by the year 2050, Britain will be a majority Muslim nation”, the article presents the usual nonsense about demographic change bringing about the downfall of western civilisation.
EDL leader claims he ‘hates Nazis’
The head of the English Defence League leader Stephen Lennon was interviewed by Andrew Neil on the BBC’s Sunday Politics show earlier today. The Daily Telegraph reports that Lennon dismissed images of EDL supporters giving Nazi salutes as a “manipulated photo”. He told Neil: “I am not a Nazi, I hate Nazis, I hate fascism.”
If Robinson/Lennon is as vehemently opposed to Nazis as he claims, it’s odd that he raises no objections to the EDL engaging in joint activities with them – as shown in the picture above, which is from last September when the North East EDL joined the National Front and other neo-Nazis in organising a violent attack on a peaceful counter-Jubilee party in Newcastle.
As for Lennon’s professed hatred of fascism, it’s worth recalling that the EDL’s North East regional organiser is the fascist thug Alan Spence, a former British National Party parliamentary candidate who was given a 7-month prison sentence in 2011 for his part in an attack on a left-wing meeting. During the EDL demonstration in Newcastle last month, Spence was heard interrupting Lennon’s speech with the shout “send the black cunts home”, to loud applause from the ranks of the EDL.
And if Lennon is looking for evidence of fascist sympathies within the EDL, he can find it even closer to home. Hel Gower is an open admirer of both the BNP and the neo-Nazi group the British First Party, and she has publicly expressed her support for unity between the EDL and BNP. You’d have thought the EDL leader would be aware of that. Gower is, after all, his PA.
EDL’s Ashton-Under-Lyne protest a ‘shambolic mess’
The English Defence League in Ashton-Under-Lyne (Photos: Hope Not Hate)
Happily, today’s English Defence League demonstration in Ashton-Under-Lyne appears to have been a bit of a disaster all round. Turnout was only around 200-250, it featured the usual embarrassing Nazi salutes and arrests, and it has resulted in renewed conflict between the EDL leadership and the various fascist and neo-Nazi fragments with whom they had lately been trying to mend fences.
The issue over which the protest was called was an altercation at an Ashton-Under-Lyne bus stop a week ago between two groups of youths, one of which was of Asian heritage while the other was white. Mobile phone footage of this minor incident went viral and was seized on by the EDL and other sections of the far right as an example of virulent anti-white racism. Tweeting a link to the video, EDL leader Stephen Lennon described it as: “Muslims launch violent attack on innocent English boys and girls in Ashton.”
The EDL immediately announced a march to protest against this latest Islamic atrocity. “Wherever the barbaric 7th century cult strikes we will be there,” they declared. “TOMORROW Ashton-Under-Lyne NO SURRENDER.” The Ashton-Under-Lyne division of this self-styled non-racist organisation urged its supporters: “come on! Lets show em we ain’t Asian under Lyne, we’re Ashton under Lyne, lets have the biggest and best demo yet!”
Muswell Hill Islamic centre fire group to use library
A Muslim group in north London will be temporarily housed in a library after their community centre was destroyed in a suspicious fire.
Barnet Council confirmed that members of the Bravanese Community Centre would use East Finchley Library from Monday. The centre, also known as the Al-Rahma Islamic Centre, in Muswell Hill was gutted by fire on 5 June. The Somali Bravanese community will use the library from 17:00 BST on weekdays, Saturday afternoons and on Sundays.
Hull councillor calls for ban on EDL marches
HULL: Councillors are to be asked to support calls for police to ban future planned marches by the English Defence League (EDL).
A recent EDL march in Spring Bank saw ten people being arrested. At next week’s full council meeting, Myton ward councillor Colin Inglis has tabled a motion calling on the police to ban future marches in Hull by the group to avoid “blatant attempts to incite racial hatred”.
Shrewsbury Muslim prayer centre plan moves a step closer
Plans for Shrewsbury’s first Muslim prayer centre have moved a major step closer to getting the go-ahead after winning the support of planners. They are recommending councillors approve changing the use of the former registry office at Column Lodge in Preston Street when they meet next week.
The issue has divided opinion with Shropshire Council receiving more than 500 letters about the application, 227 in support and 278 against. It has also led to the English Defence League protesting in the town, while anti-racism group Hope Not Hate held its first meeting in Shrewsbury earlier this week. It is putting together a petition for people to sign which will be presented to next week’s meeting.
Scotland: increase in anti-Islamic hate crime due mainly to SDL
Ministers have condemned prejudicial behaviour as “completely unacceptable” following the publication of new figures on hate crimes.
While there was an overall reduction in racial and religious hate crime in 2012/13, statistics show a rise in anti-Islamic charges and those relating to disabled people, compared with 2011/12. The figures were revealed in a series of reports on hate crime, religiously aggravated offending and the first annual statistics from the Offensive Behaviour Act.
Charges where conduct was derogatory towards Islam totalled 80 in 2012/13 compared with just 19 the previous year, however 57 of these were from one event, the Campaign to Welcome Refugees march in Glasgow, where there was a counter demonstration by the Scottish Defence League (SDL).
CxF member claims Exeter Strong march has nothing to do with far right
Antifascists in Exeter are concerned about a planned march against terrorism in the city.
Dean Westlake, a former section commander with the Devon and Dorset Regiment, said he is organising the Exeter Stand Strong March for June 23, as part of a national initiative following the recent murder of Drummer Lee Rigby by alleged terrorists in Woolwich. Mr Westlake, 45, is meeting representatives from the police, the city council and Stagecoach to discuss the logistics of the march.
The Stand Strong movement calls for people across the country to unite against extremism, terrorism and oppression. But as previously reported by the Echo, Mr Westlake, along with some of the organisers of other demonstrations, has been accused of being affiliated with far right groups such as the English Defence League (EDL).
Concerns raised over ‘far-right links’ to Harlow charity march
The organiser of a ‘charity march’ in memory of murdered soldier Lee Rigby has dismissed claims the event is a front for far-right political group the English Defence League.
Harlow Strong, which is set to take place next Sunday, is being billed as a “peaceful t-shirt charity march” – despite similar events organised under the banner of the ‘Woolwich Strong’ movement being exposed as having direct links to far-right groups.