Mass demonstration against EDL this Saturday!
Thousands of people are expected to turn out in Tower Hamlets this Saturday to oppose the racist English Defence League (EDL). The EDL intends to march upon the East London Mosque. Muslim organisations and trade unions have especially increased publicity in the borough this week, calling upon residents to rally against all forms of racism, but especially Islamophobia.
The calls follow an apparent arson attack upon Harlow Islamic Centre in Essex, last Monday, 26 August. There have also been other attacks, in June, a Muswell Hill mosque and community centre was burnt to the ground and ‘EDL’ was found painted on the walls. In July, three mosques in the West Midlands were subjected to bomb attacks shortly before the fascists mobilised several hundred on a Birmingham demo.
The General Secretary of the TUC, Frances O’Grady, said:
The rise of the far right is a huge concern for us all. The work that Unite Against Fascism does in fighting these parties is absolutely vital. I urge people to join the demo against the EDL in Tower Hamlets.
Len McCluskey, General Secretary, Unite the Union, said:
The EDL has nothing to offer the people of Tower Hamlets but hatred and fear. Not the jobs, hope or strong communities, the very things I saw people striving for when i visited the area and the East London and Brick Lane mosques earlier this summer.
The EDL are violent thugs, peddling racist filth. They must be kept out of Tower Hamlets which is why police restrictions on the EDL, restraining them to the edge of the borough in the largely deserted streets of the City of London, are a welcome response to the demands of the community.
Unite urges the biggest turnout this Saturday for the UAF/United East End community mobilisation to keep Tower Hamlets safe.
Bob Crow, General Secretary of the RMT, said:
The RMT stands by the values of trade unionism that all workers, whatever colour, are sisters and brothers, and that’s why we campaign to physically and ideologically oppose the EDL and other racist organisations.
In recent weeks residents and activists in Tower Hamlets have organised to ensure that the EDL will not step foot in the area. Over 200-thousand leaflets have been distributed throughout the borough and many more are expected to be handed out in the final days. East London UAF and United East End will be leafleting tube stations, mosques, schools, colleges and workplaces twice a day before this weekend.
EDL not welcome in Tower Hamlets – Don’t let the racists divide us
Saturday 7 September
Assemble 11am
Altab Ali Park, Whitechapel Road, London E1.
Called by Unite Against Fascism
Supported by:
United East End (UEE), Lutfur Rahman – Mayor of Tower Hamlets, Trades Union Congress (TUC), National Union of Teachers (NUT), Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS), Unite the Union, Communication Workers Union (CWU), National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (NASWUT), University and College Union (UCU), National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT), Tower Hamlets Unison, Tower Hamlets UCU, East London Mosque and the London Muslim Centre, Islamic Forum of Europe (IFE), Muslim Council of Britain (MCB), London Central Synagogue, Jewish Socialist Group, British Muslim Initiative (BMI), Muslim Directory, Young Muslim Organisation, Enough Coalition, Sri Lankan Islamic Forum, Council of Mosques, Palestinian Forum in Britain, Muslimaat UK, Tower Hamlets Labour Party, Green Left, Green Party Trade Union Group, NUS Black Students Campaign, Socialist Workers Party (SWP), Searchlight magazine, Love Music Hate Racism.
(If you would like to add your organisation/branch to this list please email info@uaf.org.uk)
Download the leaflet here.