Merseyside Unite Against Fascism
1. Mobilise for Luton : Stop the EDL Saturday 5 February 2011
2. EDL turns its fire on student anti-fees protesters
3. Merseyside Unite Against Fascism Meetings
4. Unite Against Fascism National Conference 26 February London
5. Future Events
1. Mobilise for Luton : Stop the EDL Saturday 5 February 2011
The English Defence League has backed down over its plans to invite Terry Jones – the anti-Muslim racist US pastor who sparked international outrage with calls to burn the Qur’an – to its demonstration in Luton on Saturday 5 February.
Jones is pastor of a church with just 50 members but his call to burn the Qur’an on the anniversary of 9/11 made him a key figure for anti-Muslim racists around the world.
The EDL, an organisation of racist thugs with links to the British National Party and other fascist groups, had boasted it was “proud to announce” that vicious racist and homophobic bigot Jones would speak at its demonstration in Luton on 5 February.
Backtrack
But the EDL has been forced to backtrack after its announcement sparked widespread revulsion among the public in Britain and abroad. The racist thugs did not have the confidence to carry through their invitation.
It has been reported that home secretary Teresa May was considering a ban on Jones. But that is not why the EDL backed off – home office bans on EDL marches in Bradford, Leicester and elsewhere have done nothing to stop the EDL from mobilising.
The EDL includes hardcore fascists who periodically try to “harden up” its racist support. From time to time, they test the water to see how far they can push their violent racism.
Mobilise
Where they have been pushed back this has been because the vast majority of ordinary people reject the EDL’s racism and violence and because antiracists and antifascists have been prepared to mobilise against them and demonstrate that opposition on the streets.
That is why it is essential that antiracists and antifascists turn out again to oppose the EDL in Luton on Saturday 5 February, when UAF is organising a major demonstration against them.
That is the reason they are targeting Luton again – their own publicity is designed to remind its supporters of their hate-filled history.
Home-grown racists
The invite to US pastor Terry Jones was designed to whip up publicity for the EDL – but he is not the main event. The problem in this country is the home-grown racists of the EDL.
We need to build the widest possible opposition to the EDL and their anti-Muslim racism and violence.
The campaign to push back the EDL and marginalise their racist hatred must not be scaled back because Terry Jones will no longer be coming. Let’s show the EDL they are not wanted here either.
Merseyside Unite Against Fascism will be running coaches to this protest : Tickets will be on sale in News from Nowhere, Bold Street or email liverpool@uaf.org.uk / tel : 07908 202 006. We are urging all our supporters and friends, trade unionists to come with us. We cannot allow the EDL to rampage on the streets of Luton.
2. EDL turns its fire on student anti-fees protesters
The leader of the English Defence League has turned his fire on students protesting against fees and cuts.
The EDL is an organisation of racist thugs, with links to the British National Party and other fascist groups. It has so far mainly targeted Muslims with its vicious racism and violence.
But in a speech to EDL supporters in Peterborough on 11 December, EDL leader “Tommy Robinson” – a former BNP member whose real name is Stephen Yaxley Lennon – issued a threat to student demonstrators.
Threatened
His speech alternated attempts to whip up anti-Muslim hatred with attacks on the thousands of school and college students who have protested against fees and education cuts over the past weeks. He threatened:
The next time the students want to protest in our capital, the English Defence League will be there.
In terms that will come as news to millions of working class school and university students, he claimed:
You had students living off their dads’ f***ing bank cards who have never lived a normal way in their life. They do not understand what it is to be a working class member of this community.
And in a single scattergun blast, he lashed out at students, Unite Against Fascism and “communist scum”. His speech followed streams of hate directed at students on the EDL’s forums.
The speech signalled that the EDL is moving to broaden its targets. The racist thugs have largely attempted to build by attacking Muslims – and other black and Asian people.
In towns including Dudley and Stoke, EDL supporters have run rampage, attacking people, homes and shops. They have also attacked Mosques and a Hindu temple.
Hardening
Fascists within the EDL have been trying to “harden up” the organisation’s supporters and push them towards other traditional targets of fascism, including trade unionists and socialists as well as ethnic minorities.
There have been a series of attempts to disrupt antiracist and left-wing meetings, an attack on Swansea Trades Union Council’s annual May Day march and verbal abuse of the BA strikers. Now they are turning on students.
UAF national officer Martin Smith said:
Some people in the antifascist movement have argued that if the EDL comes to your town, you should stay at home, ignore them and hope they’ll go away. We think that’s wrong. There are fascist elements with a growing influence in the EDL – and if you give an inch to a fascist, they’ll come back for more.
First they come for the Muslims, then it is trade unions and the socialists, now it is students. We need to unite and stand together – and oppose the EDL. When they attack one community, it’s an attack on all of us. And we should remember that if we all come together and stand united, there are many, many more of us than them.
3. Merseyside Unite Against Fascism Meetings
Our next meeting is 7pm Wednesday 26 January at the Unite Offices, Islington (just along Lime Street past the Empire Theatre).
Given the recent BNP stall in Liverpool city centre and other areas will need to strengthen our networks over the coming months. The meetings are open to everyone who wants to get involved.
Meetings after this will take place the last Wednesday in every month at 7pm in the Unite Offices. A big thank you to UNITE the Union for allowing us to use their premises!
4. Unite Against Fascism National Conference 26 February London
The Unite Against Fascism annual conference takes place on Saturday 26 February in London. More details will follow as soon as we get them. Check on the UAF website www.uaf.org.uk for up to date details.
5. Future Events
Merseyside Love Music Hate Racism are just putting the finishing touches to plans for a major anti-racist festival to be held with the Anthony Walker Foundation on Saturday 9 July 2011 at Liverpool University.
It will be an all day event encompassing sports, culture and music with a large Love Music Hate Racism gig in the evening. We will be inviting community groups, trade unions and campaign organisations to get involved and have stalls at the event. We would like to run projects in schools, colleges and youth centres in the run up to the festival so if you have ideas then drop us a line at merseyside@lovemusichateracism.com.
We'll post more details in the New Year!
peace, love and unity
Alan
Merseyside Unite Against Fascism
