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The English Defence League and Palestinian Rights

Phil | 13.09.2009 10:16 | Anti-racism | Palestine | Social Struggles

Today, once again, the English Defence League (EDL) has declared its intention to hold a "peaceful protest" against "militant Islam." However, their choice of target once again demonstrates that they are either unwilling or unable to differentiate militant Islam from ordinary Muslims and Arabs struggling against very real oppression.

According to the EDL website, "Hezbollah, a Muslim Terrorist Organisation's [sic] supporters are due to march through London this coming Sunday." Their leadership then "urge everybody who can to come to London to oppose this." Their football hooligan wing, Casuals United, in a slightly contradictory statement, announces that "Hizb al Tahir [sic] are marching in Central London on Sunday 13th September." They echo the call to "peacefully protest this march" as well as anticipating a "major PR victory" when "the UAF Communists/Anarchists" "come out in support of those who call for 9/11 s[t]yle [sic] attacks on us."

As ever, the rhetoric of the EDL and Casuals United is largely out of step with reality. In fact, the march that they are opposing has been advertised since the 1st September on the Gaza Solidarity blog. It is, in reality, an "Annual March and Rally in support of the Palestinians and all oppressed peoples of the World" aimed at highlighting the plight of the oppressed people in Palestine.

 http://gazasolidarity.blogspot.com/2009/09/al-quds-day-protest-for-palestine.html

Others have described the crimes visited upon the Palestinian people by the Israeli government and Israeli Defence Force (IDF) in many articles across Indymedia, and so there is no need to go into them again here. Suffice to say, however, that there is no automatic link between solidarity with the Palestinians and support for terrorism. This is a myth conjured up by apologists for the Israeli government.

Hence, opposition to the protest by the EDL and Casuals United only presents a "PR victory" under the bizarre rationale of the far-right, which deems any and all Muslim opposition to the policies of non-Muslim governments to be "support for terror." These thugs have now demonstrated, quite amply, that as well as being violent racists they are utterly ignorant of global politics or the situations stemming directly from Western policies, that beleaguer the Middle East and, fuel the extremism they claim to hate so much.

On Thursday, secretary of state for communities and local government John Denham pointed out "parallels between the EDL and the British Union of Fascists under Oswald Moseley. "You could go back to the 1930s if you wanted to – Cable Street and all of those types of things. The tactic of trying to provoke a response in the hope of causing wider violence and mayhem is long established on the far-right and among extremist groups." Certainly, the EDL do seem intent on stirring up racial tensions in much the same way as the Blackshirts, albeit with Arabs and asians as their scapegoats rather than Jews.

This is no longer merely a cause for anti-fascists. Any and all anarchists, socialists, and activists who work against the brutal oppression suffered by the people of Palestine must now rally to the cause. Most importantly, those who are in or able to get to London must come out in support of this march for Palestinian rights and ensure that fascist violence is met with physical resistance.

If the EDL are looking to be the next BUF, then we need to ensure that they face their own Battle of Cable Street.

Phil
- e-mail: mutantbumblebees@hotmail.com
- Homepage: http://truth-reason-liberty.blogspot.com

Comments

Hide the following 12 comments

Problem

13.09.2009 10:23

Your right, there SHOULD be not automatic link with support for the palestinians and terrorism but there is due to the number of muslims who will march today with pro-hezbollah and pro-hamas placards. Add to that the presence of the Pro-Iranian Islamists - which this day is based around, then the EDL might have a point.

And lets get it clear, this is not a demo that is being called simply for palestine. It is a demo which basis is to support the Clerical fascist regime in Iran - that is why many Iranian communists and workers demonstrate against it every year - many of whom DO have sympathese with the palestinian struggle.

anarchist


The Ruling Class' Machiavellian Strategy in the ME

13.09.2009 11:21

Russia, and the UK have been controlling Iran since the 1870's at least.
Conflict in the Middle East is deliberately engineered, Israel exists purely as foil for Arab unity. It suits weapons manufacturers, oil corporations and criminal western governments that there is conflict in the ME, its how the Ottomans maintained their power for centuries and how the British French Russians and the US engineered the ME after the first WW. So by supporting 'countries' like the medieval Saudi's like Jordan, like Israel and even the 'evil dictator' Saddam Hussein the west's policy in the ME has always been and will continue to be while oil is still underground a Machiavellian one of division and conflict.

It why US supports the '2 state solution' as long as Humans that identify themselves as 'Arab' are kept in conflict with humans that identify themselves as Jews then UK and US oil corps continue to pump.

Boycott Oil

2%Human


al quds day

13.09.2009 11:40

agree with anarchist above. it's not a simply balck and white who'se side are you on situation. there are nationalist/racist hools on the one side and fairly right-wing.authoritarian islamic groups on the other. while anarchists/the left need to support the right to choose your religion and help defend mosques, we have to be very critical when islamism tries to become political itself - for example during al quds marches.

for freedom


racism in the movement

13.09.2009 12:37

one things for sure - all this EDL business is exposing the racism and anti-islamic traits in the anarchist/left movement.

@ntifascist


Fascists hate Muslims but hate Jews more

13.09.2009 12:40

All the fascists whether they call themselves Nazis or whatever absolutely do not care about Palestinians and hate all Muslims. But at the end of the day their number 1 enemy is the Jews and many used to admire the Hamas for their war against the Jews.



Marxist


We Need Progressive Thinking!

13.09.2009 12:59

Just a few thoughts and I shall try to keep it brief.

Most of the people in this world just want to leave in peace and free from oppression and poverty. That is my basic understanding.

Unfortunately, many have been indoctrinated and brainwashed by organs of the state... whether they be religious, political or financial to blame their problems on some other group of people who are usually in the same situation as themselves.

The only group this benefits are those in positions of power and who would like to maintain this state of affairs so they can enjoy their wealth and other privaleges gained at others expense.

Through their centralised control over governments administration, the law, economics, finance, banking, religious institutions, healthcare, eduction, etc, etc... they are able to maintain the status quo.

Fortunately, many have already seen the importance of decentralisation to reclaim the initiative but we also need to be more effective and inclusive. The majority of people, unfortunately, are selfish and will only begin to change their habits when they see some advantage for themselves. In advertising, their mantra is "always emphasise the benefits".

We MUST NOT play the sectarian game... we need to be able to embrace people of all belief systems and ideologies. Many Muslims hate their governments and have long been suspicious of their religious leaders and so they should be.

The Palestinians have been betrayed by the P.A. [Palestinian Authority] since Yasser Arafat's time... his wife lives in luxury in Paris last time I heard. They are all corrupt, and the Palestinians know this. The west has spent a lot of time and effort infiltrating and corrupting the teaching of Islam. This is why they have such big Islamic studies centres in the S.O.A.S [Schools of Oriental and African Studies]. The Middle East dictators are all under their control... such as the Saudi Government, King Hussein of Jordan, Ghadaffi of Libya, etc, etc.

If you read some history, you will see most of these regimes came to power in western backed military coups. All democratic governments in the middle east have been swept away... Arabs live in fear of the "Muhabarat"... the secret police.

People need to be offered some honest, realistic middle-ground so they can make a slow but steady transformation. We must work with human nature, not against it.

I hope this is a useful contribution, althought I know that many on this board are probably streets ahead of me. Hopefully, we can make a difference and see a better world in our own lifetimes.

Working for freedom and justice for everyone!

















Little John


It's more complex than goodies vs. fascists

13.09.2009 18:51

EDL waving Israeli flag
EDL waving Israeli flag

I attended a rally for Palestinian rights in London in 2002. There was a group of extreme Muslims holding a sign in favor of the Sept. 11th atrocities. Some of the people I know (a group called 'Jews Against Zionism') were shouting 'fascists' at these Muslims. Yes, of course, I know the vast majority of Muslims don't think like this... but what is the right attitude to a group of white kids protesting against people who advocate mass murder? Shouldn't the organizers of the Palestinian rights march try to exclude the extreme Muslims? It's not really enough to Trot out the old clichés about Cable Street. It's not true that the extreme right hate Jews any more. 9/11 changed their minds. They began to support Israel, and for them, supporting a state means supporting the ethnic group it represents.

Jay Knott
mail e-mail: jayn0t@yahoo.com
- Homepage: http://pacificaforum.org/posts


@ @ntifascist

14.09.2009 10:25

"one things for sure - all this EDL business is exposing the racism and anti-islamic traits in the anarchist/left movement."

Anarchists have ALWAYS maintained a rejection of organised religion regardless of what flavour. For alot of anarchists they are anti-islamic religion not due to racism or culture but due to the fact that anarchists are against the idea of god, against submission to anyone.

The march on Saturday was small, around 400-500 people. It had very little support amongst muslims in London or indeed palestinians living in London. As has been pointed out the march WAS a Hezbollah and Hamas rally. I was there, loads of passerbys and iranians were booing the march because it was so ridiculous. When it went past Iran Air offices on Piccadilly, people cheered and clapped whilst holding picture of Ayotollah Homeini. The main chants were "We are all Hezbollah!", most people had either Hamas or Hezbollah flags including the organisers of the march.

The pitiful UAF/SWP (around 25 people) were stationed at the end of the demo, apparently there to protect the demonstration from fascists. They had no clue what was happening, they must have known that the EDL were up by Piccadilly Circus - 200 metres up the road, because thats where they had been for over 2 hours, in a pen with around 100+ police in attendance. When the Al Quds demo reached the end point, the UAF/SWP took up their position to chant "solidarity" with the marchers!! It was a complete joke.

The anarchists atleast did what we set out to do, monitor the situation, observe it objectively and then head to the pub for a few pints.

Anarchist


stay in the pub "Anarchist"

14.09.2009 15:04

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
first let me say i am no fan of the UAF/SWP or their tactics. however, at *least* they 'claimed' to be there to counter the fascists. it seems all you were there to do is 'monitor the situation, observe it objectively and then head to the pub for a few pints'. what the fuck is the point of that. it would have been more fruitful to go directly to the pub. so what, you monitored and observed. what a load of shit. this is spectator politics. you turning up - hoping that maybe some of these muslims will kick off and you can try and do something off the back of it.
waste of space. stay in the pub.

@ntifascist


Got it right in one

14.09.2009 16:37

"it would have been more fruitful to go directly to the pub." yep thats what we thought. What do you suggest anarchists do? Steam into the EDL? Steam into the Hezbollah/Hamas demonstration? Steam into the UAF/SWP? Steam into the police?

Anarchist Antifascists


where's the fascists?

15.09.2009 10:49

This really is bringing out the crap attitudes some of the so-called anarchists hold. Slagging off Hamas and Hezbollah is it? Tell me, who else is putting their lives on the line in an attempt to take on Israel and protect Palestine and Lebanon? You? Anarchist militias?

Who the hell are we anyway to tell the people of Palestine or Lebanon (or anywhere else) how to organise and defend themselves? Bloody hell, if I was Palestinian, I'd be supporting Hamas.

The EDL are rascist scum. End of. And maybe we'd get a bit more respect if we got out on the streets to fight them, rather than leaving it all to the asian kids and a handful of Antifa (who, incidentally are not doing a bad job). But no, let's just sit on our ideologically pure fence. Let's not fight the fascists, because really they are doing a good job having a go at those nasty Islamicists. Let's stand uselessly watching at the back, or get down the pub to discuss what the correct political response might be.

Or is it just cowardice?

get off the fence


Agree.

15.09.2009 21:04

I have to agree with the comments above. The anarchists have been shown up for what they are. Utterly useless.

I suppose thats what happens when you spend too long believing in nothing!

Anti Anarchist.


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