Tower Hamlets - Round Two
Jo Makepeace | 24.08.2013 09:10 | Anti-racism | London
Anti-fascists are gearing up for the return of the English Defence League to Tower Hamlets in East London on September 7th.
The EDL don't have any right to "march on" areas. This is not about expressing freedom of speech, it's about causing fear and division. That's why they must be opposed - Anti Fascist Network
The EDL's leadership have a peculiar obsession with this borough of London - this'll be the third time they've tried (and failed) to demonstrate en masse in the area. That's without counting leadership Tommy and Kev's ill-fated effort at a charity walk through the area back in June.
The last time the league put in an appearance in the borough, in September 2011, a thirty day ban on all parades in the area was enforced by the Home Secretary. On the day, an army of cops enforced separation between them and the thousands of locals and anti-fascists waiting for them just up the road.
So why Tower Hamlets? According to the EDL it's because the area is already under Sharia law. In fact they go so far as to claim that there is "No beer allowed, this is a Muslim area", which will come as news to regulars of the White Hart and Blind Beggar.
In reality there probably are a handful of nutters who want to establish a global caliphate and Taliban-style social mores in the East End but they're a tiny, tiny minority. Despite EDL assertions, local government is probably no more corrupt there than in any major city. Scare stories about 'ghettoes' and 'no-go zones' are just there to whip up hate and get boots on the street.
Last time, the EDL mobilised around 800 of their footsoldiers for their venture into darkest Muslamic country. When they announced Tower Hamlets 2013 they were at the height of their post-Lee Rigby bounce. Recent outings in Hull and Portsmouth have not seen anything like the numbers turning out in the immediate aftermath of the soldier's death but the threat to the area is still substantial.
There's every likelihood that there will be a state ban on demos and parades again but anti-fascist opposition on the streets is what counts. The Anti-Fascist Network is calling for autonomous anti-fascists to meet in Altab Ali park at 11 a.m on September 7th saying, "We are calling a mass opposition, the more people, the safer and more empowering it will be for all of us. On the day we aim to be mobile and fluid in order to disrupt the EDLs plans".
Look out for the Anti Fascist Network (AFN) banners and flags and join them on the streets.
Follow @THStopEDL for updates now and on the day
From the newswire:
North East BNP members exposed | Local residents oppose EDL march in South Shields | Anti-fascists report from Liverpool James Larkin march | EDL in Brum update
Jo Makepeace
Comments
Hide the following 24 comments
bring soundsystems
24.08.2013 17:34
all the boroghs are invited, north south east and west
share this news with your mates, we're bring our own 12 volt bike trailer monster up from Croydon...
jo blogs
but the EDL may already be in Tower Hamlets
24.08.2013 19:00
behindthecurtains
Lutfur is a wanker...
25.08.2013 18:06
yeh they might be a different color skin or got a funny accent, but I got more in common with them living in the area and spending 15 years of my life in Tower Hamlets growing up, than listening to that EDL Tommy prick from Luton...
right wing fuck heads are everywhere looking for walls to build.
I know a good day of clusterfuck rowdyness in the streets is what builds better community relations.
ex tower hamlets resident
Division mythology
25.08.2013 22:57
MunsterH
e-mail:
info@dogmaticslumbers.com
Tower Hamlets
29.08.2013 01:28
Darren Noble
e-mail:
darrennoble99@gmail.com
Homepage:
darrennoble99@gmail.com
A word for anti-EDL protestors
29.08.2013 11:59
If you want to learn about undercover cops infiltrating antifascist mobilisations and throwing random shit to smear anti-racist campaigns, read "Beating the Fascists", page 327, 1st paragraph (and preceding pages for the political context and background)
Oi Oi
The EDL do have a right to march on our areas
29.08.2013 12:00
Pete
Us EDL are not racists or Nazis (photo)
30.08.2013 15:15
dean
EDL leader photographed with BNP thugs
30.08.2013 15:54
EDL leader Stephen Lennon with BNP thug Richard Edmonds
EDL leader Stephen Lennon with BNP thug Alan Spence
Photo 2 - EDL leader Stephen Lennon with BNP activist Alan Spence, plus (inset) Alan Spence with BNP chairman and holocaust-denier Nick Griffin
Local
EDL Tower Hamlets - replies to Behindthecurtains & MunsterH
30.08.2013 15:56
A: They're ANOTHER BUNCH OF THUGS - and that doesn't justify EDL thuggery does it, Sherlock
Q: "The EDL are not 'sowing division' between races or cultures. Those divisions already exist very prominently. The left believes it is acting appropriately by defending Islamists while in truth they are digging their own premature burial. Look at the examples of Indonesia and Iran - where is the left today - six feet under."
A: Just because divisions exist in society and because Islamists are, like white Fascists, also Fascist scum, does not mean the EDL aren't trying to create further division. One of many facts that blew the EDL's cover and helped expose their secret Fascism, was when original EDL founder Paul Ray admitted their website had been set-up by BNP "gold" activist Chris Renton (who's also well-known for using the pseudonym John Sheridan). Hear it Paul Ray's own words -
Since then Paul Ray was (by his own admission) kicked-out of the EDL because he opposed Chris Renton inviting Nazis to attend EDL demos, so, in order to protect Chris Renton, Paul Ray was thrown-out and succeeded by Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, who's an ex-BNP member (also well-known for using the pseudonym Tommy Robinson). Since then it's been shown that BNP activist & Nazi-lover Chris "John Sheridan" Renton is STILL running the EDL's main Facebook...
Op1
EDL to muster in Tooley Street, then march to Altab Ali Park
01.09.2013 20:28
"Details for Tower Hamlets demonstration on Saturday 7th September 2013. All vehicles will be allowed to park in Tooley Street, London, SE1 2AT (A200) and the Police will direct all coaches/mini-buses and cars as to where to park. The muster point will be Queen Elizabeth Street which merges of Tooley Street. We will muster at approximately 1pm-2pm (exact time tbc) and march over Tower Bridge into Tower Hamlets, the march will end near Altab Ali Park where speeches will be held and we will then return the same route to make our way out of London. The nearest main line station is London Bridge and the underground is Northern Line. Please ensure you have water etc. as the forecast is for a hot day. See you all there – No Surrender"
Altab Ali Park is EXACTLY the same spot where UAF and the Anti-Fascist Network are meeting. My view is it's probably better to have a rock-solid block in Whitechapel to deprive the EDL of their "prize" of entering Tower Hamlets, than it would be to divide Anti-Fascist numbers by trying to intercept them around Tooley Street etc
XYZ
NO DISCUSSION OF TACTICS
02.09.2013 09:32
Thanks
auto
Tactics
02.09.2013 13:51
And, just in case, no group should flatter themselves their network is somehow the be-all and end-all of anti-Fascism ;)
Auto
but...
02.09.2013 15:20
And I didn't say UAF or AFN is the be-all and end-all, just be responsible init :-)
original auto
Ableist language
02.09.2013 16:32
Richard
SchNEWS Update 02/09/13
02.09.2013 18:35
Are the Met really going to march the EDL into the heart of Tower Hamlets? That's what the English Defence League's leader Tommy Robinson is proclaiming on Facebook and Twitter right now.
“EDL have today announced plans to march to Altab Ali Park for a rally on 7th September! This is a clearly an arrogant and incendiary declaration even on their own (sub) standards. We call on every militant anti-fascist to join us on the streets on Saturday with the good people of Tower Hamlets in ensuring that the EDL DO NOT SET FOOT in the area and are effectively opposed!” - London Anti-Fascists
Significantly for anti-fascists (militant or otherwise) it looks as if there will be no state ban on demonstrations in the borough as there was during the EDLs last outing there in 2011. Tommy was bailed out of Tower Hamlets after his ill-fated charity walk but a judge reviewed the conditions and made an exception for the 7th (SchNEWS is betting he wouldn't want to be there on say the 6th or the 8th in any case).
At first the EDL were bragging that their rally was to be held in Altab Ali Park. Quite apart from the sickening thought of the league celebrating behind police lines on a piece of ground dedicated to a victim of racist violence, there was the small matter of the fact that both the Anti-Fascist Network and Unite against Fascism will be meeting there two hours before the league even muster.
However according to the Met police press office the local authority have vetoed the use of the park by the EDL. This still means that a march into the area is very likely (One possible route might even be along Cable St!).
See you on Saturday
Jo Makepeace
e-mail:
schnews@brighton.co.uk
Homepage:
www.schnews.org.uk
No to Islamic extremism as well!
03.09.2013 09:32
Peter Tachel
tachell?
05.09.2013 08:43
must try harded.
Malatesta
Homepage:
malatesta32@wordpress.com
Who cares about those in need in Tower Hamlets? Does the EDL? Do its targets
05.09.2013 18:23
Does the EDL?
Do its targets
Anyonenoteating
police are fascists too!
08.09.2013 06:10
EDL were stopped from marching all the way into Tower Hamlets but only 10 arrests on their side (one for thought crimes).
It's looking like we cannot stop the EDL fascists without first smashing the police fascists who have destroyed the right to protest.
ftp
Great report from yesterday!
08.09.2013 14:01
Anti fascist
Tower Hamlets Council Mayor's Cabinet bid to tag the IFE "progressive"
19.09.2013 04:23
That bid was only just defeated by the Labour Party and the Conservative Party councillors voting against it. But it may not be the end of the matter and the Islamic Forum of Europe, also called the IFE in more widely known dispatches, may yet become recognised as a part of Tower Hamlets Council's officially listed providers of services.
The move apparently read out to the Council's Meeting held last night (Wednesday 18 september 2013) was made during an often ill-tempered part of a motion relating to the English Defence League (EDL) semi-march of 7 September 2013.
The three members from Tower Hamlets Mayor Lutfur Rahman's so-called Independent group of councillors who spoke in praise of the Islamic Forum Europe were all formerly Labour Party councillors. They were Abdul Asad (Whitechapel), Alibor Choudhury (Shadwell) and Deputy Mayor Ohid Ahmed.
Curiousvoter
if its legal, then they are allowed to do it.
24.09.2013 20:02
Thats untrue. Unless they are breaking the law, they have every right
The focus should be on adjusting the law if you feel it is wrong
glazed look
Has the report on Rotherham changed attitudes to the EDL?
01.09.2014 01:40
Raul Reeve
e-mail:
raulreeve44@hotmail.com