London Indymedia

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

Display the following 24 comments

  1. bring soundsystems — jo blogs
  2. but the EDL may already be in Tower Hamlets — behindthecurtains
  3. Lutfur is a wanker... — ex tower hamlets resident
  4. Division mythology — MunsterH
  5. Tower Hamlets — Darren Noble
  6. A word for anti-EDL protestors — Oi Oi
  7. The EDL do have a right to march on our areas — Pete
  8. Us EDL are not racists or Nazis (photo) — dean
  9. EDL leader photographed with BNP thugs — Local
  10. EDL Tower Hamlets - replies to Behindthecurtains & MunsterH — Op1
  11. EDL to muster in Tooley Street, then march to Altab Ali Park — XYZ
  12. NO DISCUSSION OF TACTICS — auto
  13. Tactics — Auto
  14. but... — original auto
  15. Ableist language — Richard
  16. SchNEWS Update 02/09/13 — Jo Makepeace
  17. No to Islamic extremism as well! — Peter Tachel
  18. tachell? — Malatesta
  19. Who cares about those in need in Tower Hamlets? Does the EDL? Do its targets — Anyonenoteating
  20. police are fascists too! — ftp
  21. Great report from yesterday! — Anti fascist
  22. Tower Hamlets Council Mayor's Cabinet bid to tag the IFE "progressive" — Curiousvoter
  23. if its legal, then they are allowed to do it. — glazed look
  24. Has the report on Rotherham changed attitudes to the EDL? — Raul Reeve

Kollektives

Birmingham
Cambridge
Liverpool
London
Oxford
Sheffield
South Coast
Wales
World

Other UK IMCs
Bristol/South West
London
Northern Indymedia
Scotland

London Topics

Afghanistan
Analysis
Animal Liberation
Anti-Nuclear
Anti-militarism
Anti-racism
Bio-technology
Climate Chaos
Culture
Ecology
Education
Energy Crisis
Fracking
Free Spaces
Gender
Globalisation
Health
History
Indymedia
Iraq
Migration
Ocean Defence
Other Press
Palestine
Policing
Public sector cuts
Repression
Social Struggles
Technology
Terror War
Workers' Movements
Zapatista

London IMC

Desktop

About | Contact
Mission Statement
Editorial Guidelines
Publish | Help

Search :