Category Archives: Far right racists

Glasgow: Scottish Defence League march banned

Posted on by Bob Pitt

SDL Glasgow February 2012(2)A march by a far-right group has been banned after police said it would have incited violence.

The Scottish Defence League planned to demonstrate in Glasgow on Saturday against what they claim is the cover up of child-grooming gangs operating in Scotland.

But senior officers objected to the march taking place on the grounds that it “may incite or provoke reaction from the local Muslim community”.

Yesterday, Glasgow City Council’s public procession committee agreed and stopped the parade taking place. Councillor Jim Coleman said: “The march has been refused because of the clear risk to the public and to the peaceful life of the community.”

Police Scotland voiced their concerns after monitoring exchanges between SDL members on social media.

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National Front try to disrupt Islamic Society peaceful march in Newport

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Newport Ashura processionMembers of far-right party the National Front tried to disrupt a peaceful march of more than 500 Muslims from across Wales in Newport today.

The annual march, organised by the Islamic Society of Wales, commemorates the anniversary of Prophet Mohammad’s grandson, Imam Hussain, who was martyred more than 1,300 years ago.

The 32nd march to be held in Newport should have taken place last Sunday – the 10th day in the Muslim calendar – but was put back so the city’s Muslims could join in the Remembrance Sunday services.

But yesterday afternoon police stepped in when anti-Muslim protestors attempted to disrupt the peaceful march. As the hundreds of men, women and children walked along Commercial Street, two men carrying National Front flags attempted to enter the crowd from a side street.

They were joined by six more protestors who held up British and Welsh flags and shouted abuse including, “These are our streets” and “Muslims, burn in hell”.

Officers from Gwent Police and private security firms formed a barrier around the men. Two of the men were later seen in the Red Lion pub on Stow Hill, shouting abuse from inside while police blocked the entrance.

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‘Hooligans against Salafists’ hold anti‑Islam demonstration in Hanover

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Demo Hooligans gegen Salafisten - ProtesteHundreds of Germans, self-styled hooligans and far-right extremists, gathered in a controversial rally in Hanover on Saturday.

The demonstrators shouted racist slogans: “Germany for the Germans,” “Foreigners out,” “Germany wake up,” during the “Europe against the terror of Islam” rally, organized by a recently formed group “Hooligans against Salafists,” an alliance of hooligans and neo-Nazis, also known as the HoGeSa.

The police have taken heavy security measures in Hanover on Saturday after violent clashes took place in Cologne last month in the first major protest of the extremist group. A series of confrontations occurred during the day when some of the demonstrators tried to break through the barricades; police used pepper spray on several protesters.

On the same day, leftist and anti-fascist groups held counter-demonstrations in the eastern part of the city. Green Party lawmaker and Deputy Speaker of the German Parliament Claudia Roth and Social Democrat mayor of Hannover, Stefan Schostok were among the politicians who participated at the counter-demonstrations.

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Newcastle vandal fined over ISIS‑related graffiti spray-painted on shop wall

Posted on by Bob Pitt

A vandal has been fined after spray-painting graffiti messages about the terrorist group ISIS.

Aryan Mahmood Ramadan, an Iraqi Kurd, was part of a group that scrawled the words ‘Turkish ISIS Supporters’ in yellow paint on the wall of a shop in Newcastle’s West End. It was one of three messages relating to the terrorist organisation that appeared on walls in the area last month.

Ramadan was caught on CCTV spray-painting the graffiti on the wall of Twana Kalil’s business on the West Road on October 8. The 25-year-old, of Prospect Place, Arthur’s Hill, Newcastle, pleaded guilty to one count of criminal damage and one of having an article with intent to destroy property at Newcastle Magistrates’ Court.

He also asked for a further count of criminal damage, also relating to spray-paint and ISIS-related graffiti, to be taken into consideration.

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Far-right activists stage anti-Muslim demo in Sunderland park

Posted on by Bob Pitt

NEI protest Mowbray ParkFar-right protestors held an anti-Islamic demo in a Sunderland park.

About 100 supporters of the North East Infidels and the Sunderland Defence League, as well as a small number of English Defence League members, were flanked by dozens of police in Mowbray Park this afternoon.

Protesters shouted “English ‘til I die” and held up banners promoting their cause.

Officers formed a line around the city centre park to ensure that the protest, which got underway at about 2.15pm, passed by peacefully.

The groups, many of whom had English and union flags draped around them, dispersed when the rally finished shortly before 3pm.

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Rochester: Britain First march blocked by anti-fascists

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Rochester demonstration against Britain First

Members of far right group Britain First have left Rochester following a protest which brought the town to a standstill.

About 50-70 supporters of Britain First gathered outside the town’s train station at 1.15pm today to exercise their right to free speech. But they were greeted by a group of local people and activists, numbering nearer 300.

The right-wing group is standing candidate Jayda Fransen in the upcoming Rochester and Strood by-election.

Dozens of police officers were at the scene to oversee the march and protest. Officers eventually let the group march up the High Street but they only got a short distance before there was a stand-off outside The Queen Charlotte pub at about 2.40pm.

At 3.45pm, witnesses said Britain First members had tried to break through the police line leading to ugly scenes. They were driven back down the high street and moved to Corporation Street. Britain First members finally left town just after 4pm. It’s understood no arrests were made.

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Former soldier condemns far-right BNP for ‘hijacking’ his robbery ordeal

Posted on by Bob Pitt

BNP exploits George Gill assaultAn old soldier robbed by a gang of youths as he made his way to a Remembrance service last night told of his disgust and anger after the far-right BNP ‘hijacked’ his ordeal for a recruitment poster.

Former infantryman George Gill, 69, lost his medals and had his beret and poppy stripped off when he was attacked by the thugs, described by police as being of Asian appearance, in Lund Park, Keighley, last Sunday.

Now, unbeknown to him, the BNP is using a photograph of him on poster that is headlined ‘Muslim gang steal medals after attacking British Army veteran’ and states ‘Enough Is Enough’. A quote even appears next to Mr Gill’s picture, stating: “I want my medals back, I was proud to earn them and wear them!”

Mr Gill said he knew nothing of the poster’s existence until he was contacted by the Telegraph & Argus yesterday. “I think it is disgusting and ridiculous,” he said. “I knew nothing about it all. It is shameful and it has made me angry. I am shocked.”

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EDL whips up hatred and violence against Muslim taxi drivers in Weston‑super‑Mare

Posted on by Bob Pitt

John SheridanReports of taxi drivers telling passengers to remove poppies before they will accept the fare has led to a Weston firm promising to sack any employee who is prejudicial against the Remembrance Day symbol.

Social media has been abuzz with stories of multiple Apple Central Taxis’ customers being asked to take off poppies – allegations, which although unproven at this stage, have led to company cars being smashed and verbal abuse aimed at staff.

The taxi firm started an investigation last week despite no customers issuing an official complaint, although owner Iftikhar Ul-Haq promised the company is taking the claims seriously. He said: “I am Asian and I have never seen anyone say ‘I don’t want to wear a poppy’. I would sack any guilty driver there and then… I wouldn’t even let them come into the office.”

The Royal British Legion (RBL), which co-ordinates the poppy campaign, said Apple taxis is – and always had been – a supporter of the appeal and urged people to remain calm.

The Mercury has been told of two occasions where customers were allegedly asked to remove a poppy, one on October 26 and another on October 30. One of the customers described the driver’s stance as ‘disgusting’.

Apple taxis’ general manager Steve Tedd stressed it has no anti-poppy policy but said unless someone comes forward officially with a time and date, it cannot discover if the rumours are true or dispel them.

The allegations – which led to Weston’s English Defence League branch calling for a boycott of Apple taxis – have provoked revenge attacks.

Mr Tedd said: “A couple of drivers have had car windows smashed. We also had a soldier on Saturday afternoon walk into our office, having heard the rumours and was angry, and wanted to talk it out with our telephonist. Thankfully after half an hour it ended peacefully.

“The allegations have had a bad effect on my staff and drivers. I have heard four different versions of the same story. If I have anything factual, then I will act, but if I hear nothing officially then I will have to class it as a vicious hoax. We are talking about people’s livelihoods and I’m not going to sack people on say-so.”

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Three men charged with posting offensive messages on Stop The Astley Bridge Mosque Facebook page

Posted on by Bob Pitt

Three men have been charged with posting offensive messages on the Stop The Astley Bridge Mosque Facebook page. All three have been charged with racially aggravated malicious communications.

Leon Richmond, aged 18, of Whalley Avenue, Bolton, and Darren Hubble, aged 23, of Orrell Hall Close, Wigan, will appear at Bolton Magistrates’ Court on December 3. A third man, Andrew Edge, aged 44, is already in custody and will appear via videolink at Wigan Magistrates’ Court on November 26.

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Organisers of counter EDL march insist event will be a ‘celebration of Luton’

Posted on by Bob Pitt

We are Luton

The organisers of a counter EDL march say that they are mobilising to stop the far right group from “rampaging” through the streets of Bury Park.

For the first time since the departure of the group’s former leader Stephen Yaxley-Lennon the English Defence League has organised a demonstration in the town, which is set to take place from 2pm on Saturday November 22. At the time of writing a Facebook page for the demo shows more than 380 are due to attend, with a further 1,300 invited.

In retaliation community group We Are Luton have organised a counter march in conjunction with Unite Against Fascism, which will gather in front of Bury Park Community Centre, Dunstable Road, from noon. An advert for the event, which has been named ‘Stop the EDL’, states the intention to form a “strong and united” opposition to prevent the possibility of rioting.

Organiser Dawood Masood, of the Al Hira Educational and Cultural Centre, told the Herald & Post that the march will be peaceful.

He said: “Whenever the EDL come to Luton they are made up of people from outside the town, so we want the people of Luton to stand up and be united no matter which community you come from. This will be a family event, there will be speeches and the shops in Bury Park will remain open.

“We are in contact with the police and it may end up as a static demonstration, we’re not sure yet. On previous occasions the EDL have targeted mosques and committed Islamophobic attacks, we don’t want anything like this to happen again.”

Weyman Bennett, joint secretary of Unite Against Fascism, added that the counter demonstration will be a “celebration of Luton”.

He said: “The alternative is to do nothing, it is much better to stand shoulder to shoulder. These people say they speak for Luton but I do not believe the majority agree with this. Our firm belief is that the EDL are a racist organisation which seeks to divide the people of Luton.”

The EDL has stated that their demo has been organised to “speak out against modern slavery and human trafficking”.

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