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English Defence League back in Brum on August 8th

A concerned local | 05.07.2009 11:08 | Anti-racism | Birmingham

The English Defence League are coming back to Brum in greater numbers.

It is clear from the events of yesterday (July 4th) the the EDL do not conform to any pre-existing stereotypes of fascists as "sad old men in ill fitting suits". They appear to represent a union of football firms. They are up for it and more than capable.

They are planning a return to the city on August 8th and have the following post on their facebook group  http://www.facebook.com/inbox/?ref=mb#/wall.php?id=107676721904

"40 of the english defence league were in london yesterday to confront the islamic rd show, the same islamic rd show that converted an 11 yr old white boy ti islam in birmingham last month. because of our presence choudry and his mob of extremists cancelled there wood green event. good news, we are going to chase them down where ever they raise there head. we are gutted we could not be in brum yesterday to stand shoulder to shoulder with u all. we are hearing another march for brum is being planned for 8th august. we will defo be there and bring all our placards and banners. we will push the march against sharia law as a focus. we have already got a 25 seater coming from luton and many other london firms are on it, qpr and arsenal for defo. so everyone who turned ouy yesterday make the effort again for 8th august, details will follow, if we make enough noise as we have in luton the authorities will be worried about backlashes from our communties when making local decisions,god bless"

Yesterday the opposition to the EDL was sporadic with no organisation. If this is the case on 8th August then the implication is that the city belongs to fascist mobs and the police.

These are worrying times.

A concerned local

Comments

Hide the following 27 comments

they should

05.07.2009 11:50

come to Manchester we would be more than accommodating for their sort.

also the 11 year old converting to islam is the biggest pile of bollocks i have ever heard where did they invent that from?

ballz


the kid

05.07.2009 12:11

To be fair ballz i think that did actually happen in birmingham the other week, some islamist group held a gathering on new street and apparently converted a young ld (11 o 12) to Islam.

The reality is that anjem choudary and muslim extremists and these EDL lot are feeding each others fire, one says that muslims are oppressed by white brits (while calling for the stoning of homosexuals) and then a bunch of football hooligans from villa, baggies and luton turn out shouting "dirty muslim batsards" and before we know it we have race riots on our hands.

If we want to organise against the EDL we have to take on Islamic extremists as well. In birmingham yesteday some lads started chanting "allah akbar", this didn't last long but you can easily see a situation where the battle lines of pakistani/muslim v english/christain/white are drawn and blood flows.

If they come back to brum on the 8th then we need a united front against them, balck, asian, white, atheist, muslim, etc, etc.

It's also worth remembering that these aren't bnp bureaucrats, they're football hooligans.

brummie


not on either side

05.07.2009 12:40

Footballing ( sweatshop clothed ) fascists vs religous fascists. Racism, homophobia, misogyny, sexism, general class biggotry, and fascist symbolism in all of it. Both sides also seem to appreciate slavery. No gods No masters No bullshit.

Gharaniq


I agree, not on either 'side' but...

05.07.2009 13:24

Do we want muslim extremism tackled in our city by a bus load of racist hooligans or by a process of dialogue and discussion? What was it Marx said about religion, "..the call for the end of illusions is the call for the end of conditions that require illusions.."

The EDL has nailed their colours to the anti-muslim mast but it's transparent nonsense, they want a ruck, they see tensions in the city and they want to exploit them to get their ruck.

The issue isn't muslim extremists versus anti mulsim extremists, it's everyone versus violent gangs of thugs who think they can come here shouting the odds and smashing the place up.

A concerned local


zulus

05.07.2009 14:02

EDL are racist to the core.rightwing football firms from across the uk.they can have a row.but i`m sure there enough boys from brum to dismantle this shit that will infect our streets.wm was there open n/s from the bff,and still they say there none racist funny as hell.i`m from brum grew up there and racism has never had a grip on our streets and never will.so EDL jog on your not welcome or wanted.

don`t we have a multi racial firm in brum?maybe they should show up.

bcfc


Numbers

05.07.2009 14:58

"EDL are racist to the core.rightwing football firms from across the uk.they can have a row.but i`m sure there enough boys from brum to dismantle this shit that will infect our streets.wm was there open n/s from the bff,and still they say there none racist funny as hell.i`m from brum grew up there and racism has never had a grip on our streets and never will.so EDL jog on your not welcome or wanted.

don`t we have a multi racial firm in brum?maybe they should show up. "

BCFC. Was wigan mike definately there? Have you got pictures?

I'd agree that nect time these muppets come to town local lads as well as anti-facsist from farther affiedl need to liaise with one another to provide some stiffer opposition. The zulus used to be mixed race as were villa youth though i know a lot of these blokes were still very much "for queen and country" types. I'm sure something could be organised, infact it has to be.

brummie


Villa Anti Fascists!

05.07.2009 19:33

An anti Muslim demo, singing 'No Surrender to the IRA' they really need help!
'Villa Anti Fascists - better done than run'

VILLA ANTI FASCISTS!


BFF in Birmingham

06.07.2009 00:03

 http://britishfreedomfighters.blogspot.com/

Proof, if ever it was needed, I think.

Please come out one and all next time.

David


Not Racist

06.07.2009 08:28

As stated on my other post Not racist, they may well have been on racists there, but to judge the whole of EDL as racist is ridiculas, there is racists in the ZULU firm, but yet its run by blacks, check link out
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpDrgrxrR3c

Publically saying SAY NO TO THE NF placard

UAF Champion


BFF

06.07.2009 09:19

It's good to see that the British Freedom Fighters grasp of the english language is as good as their grasp of politics, what we really need to help us in times of recession is a group of semi-literate, wannabe C18 fantacists to fight for our freedom.

Durruti


EDL

06.07.2009 11:45

maybe i was being over critical saying all EDL are racist so i`ll take it back maybe i should have said they have racists in there rank and file.just to add i knew some of the blues lads well back in the 80s and 90s and never saw any racism what so ever.the bff was there it`s on there blog spot so the EDL are being exploited by racists and need to clean thier act up some by stating and expelling those who are.

people should work together on this for the next one for august.back in the hey day i went with brum to watch everton and we took loads of stick for being mixed race fans our answer was birmingham is black and white.lets stand up and be proud of our diverse culture.an give all fanatics the same treatment.no on our streets.

bcfc.

bcfc


A Neo-Con Conspiracy

06.07.2009 12:53

These white supremacist "pro-England" demonstators who also made remarks about the IRA in the city where the Birmingham Six were locked up for a crime they didn't commit, were treated softly by the police.

"Muslims Out", the racist scumbags shouted. If Islamic extremsits had shouted "White Brits Out", they would have been on the front page of the sun, and would have been featured on all television news broadcasts.

There's one law for one set of people, and another law for other people.

Such neo-nazi groups as this, help shore up the Government's "War On Muslims", so millions of taxpayers money can be continued to be spent upon waging America's wars on our behalf.

George W Bush may be gone, but the neo conservatives live on, and sadly President Obama is being told what to do by the powers that be in the CIA, and Britain is still America's slave.

StopTheWarProtesta


a couple of points

06.07.2009 14:27

Firtsly not only were BFF members involved on saturday but the website of the EDL is registered in the name of a BNP "activist". The group also fits into the mould of those called for by BNP member Lee Barnes. There may be some people involved who aren't racist but the leadership and main thugs are, it's that simple.

Second off, there is no "war on muslims", the governments war is on anyone who wants to organise for a better world, there are muslims in the government. The idea that there is a "war on muslims" is one that is propagated by the likes of Anjem Choudary to stir up hatred towards normal people. It's as ridiculous as the myth peddled by the far-right that there is a conspiracy to wipe out the white race!

Durruti


Bugger the Nazis

06.07.2009 16:07

@ brummie - So a white kid converted to Islam, and ? why should it bother anyone? do you have any data how many non-whites were converted to Christianity last week in the City Centre or Birmingham, of course not, why? because that's the 'mainstream', and one is not castigated for becoming part of the mainstream, but of the aberration, no? Btw, when did the conversion to another religion become objectionable? and the answer is since Islam became synonymous to anti-Western ideology? and when did that happen - since the West started its 'enlighten the black savage' programme! If you don't know the history of Islam as an anti-colonial ideology, go and read anti-coloniinal movements in the South Asia (1857, Khilafat movement), Africa (Sudan, Mali, Libya, Algeria, etc.), Central and West Asia (Iran/Iraq/ex-Soviet bloc), and South-East Asia (Indonesia/Malaysia).

If you want to organise against the racists and neo-nazis you need to look deep into the existing western public discourse and how it shields and sustains the white supremacy in genteel forms and cultural norms. Only then you can understand the alienation imposed on a non-white person in the West and how in the absence of radical left alternatives the only vehicle for her to counter their frustration and anguish remains religion or the dreams of a ‘utopia back home’.

@ A concerned local - Where does this muslim extremism exist? in the asian and black ghettos where the cultured white middle class people, like you, can't stand to stay for a minute or venture occasionally to boost their activist ratings? The left and the rest of us in this country will pay for what it has been harbouring for ages - racism. You want to fight it? Fight alongside the victim!

@ Durruti - Surprised by your comment - 'there is no war against muslims' ; all gitmo prisoners - muslims, most torture victims - muslims, most anti terror law victims - muslims, most casualties in iraq and afghanistan - muslims. Imperialist/Capitalist need a bogeyman to keep their own masses in check, it was the savage black man, the barbaric Hindu (south asian), the devious Jew and now the fanatic muslim. While focusing on the forest we cannot forget that it's made up of the trees.

Inquilab Zindabaad !

PakPunk


@ PakPunk

06.07.2009 19:33

Is the reason that most the people being killed in Afghanistan and Iraq are Muslim because the population of the countries is predominanly Muslim? I'm sure christians, atheists and agnostics have also been killed there just isn't such a large population of these people in the areas. You don't think the wars were started there simply because there were muslims in the country? Surely Libya, Morroco and Algeria would've been softer targets than Iraq if that were the case? The reason for war as a mix of settling old scores, getting control of oil resources and giving out profitable contracts to US construction companies, as well as establishing an US ally in the region.

There is no conspiracy against Muslims, i've been stopped and searched under anti-terrorist legislation on various occasions and i'm white and atheist. The anti-terrorist legislation is used for a wide range of purposes from preventing terrorist acts to curtailing legitimate protest and simple information gathering on dissidents, this happens against people of all races and religions. I don't doubt that profiling targets more bearded men of an asian backgorund but i don't think this is an affront to islam since you can be white and clean shaven and be a muslim.

I think the boy being converted to Islam in public was only part of the issue with the group who were in the area who were a fundamentalist group, who rather than simply converting a boy made a big show of it. He must've been a very clever young lad as i've tried reading parts of the koran and the language is so interminable that it's hard to read more than a couple of pages wihtout nodding off. There's a report on indymedia somewhere about the event and the ideology of those taking part was pretty reactionary.

We are all victims of capitalism, choosing to be a fan of one religious book over another doesn't make you any more of a victim. Were the workers at Lyndsey sacked because they were Muslim? Are the tube drivers being targetted by management and a vitriolic press campaign being run against them because they are Muslim? Capitalism affects everyone regardless of ethnicity or nationality.

If we really want to deal with the white nationalists on our streets we also need to counter fundamentalist Islam, both ideologies have much in common, from their disdain of homosexuality to their views on feminism and their contempt for those who do not tow their line, i think pointing out the similarities between the EDL and say Choudary's nutcases is a decent way to start undemining support for them, as well as offering a real verison of anti-fundamentalism/anti-fascism.

Durruti


bcfc

06.07.2009 19:56

Well said mate, good comments

UAF Champion


Links and general responses

07.07.2009 12:50

Some background to Saturday's demo:

 http://lancasteruaf.blogspot.com/2009/07/anti-muslim-protestors-demo-in-brum.html

Link back to here plus anti-fascist commentary:

 http://sonsofmalcolm.blogspot.com/2009/07/far-right-english-defence-league-opens.html

I wrote an article on the promotion of Islamic fundamentalism in Birmingham not too long ago, which may be of interest:

 http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/06/432118.html

I wonder to what degree the timing of the SWP's Marxism Festival encouraged these racists to come out on Saturday, knowing that a large group of anti-fascists would be unavailable to oppose them? (That's not to imply, incidentally, that they are the only/main source of UK anti-fascism - before anyone reacts strongly!)

To respond to the main thrust of the article: whilst Islamic authoritarianism needs to be challenged, it must be challenged through intellectual discourse and carefully considered politics. Violent thuggery from reactionary morons is surely not the solution, and this is even more so if the same morons turn out to be fascists also. People who are opposed to Islamic fundamentalism must understand and be able to put forward anti-racist and anti-fascist arguments, so that the fight against religious authoritarianism does not encourage the formulation of racist or fascist views.

@StopTheWarProtesta is quite right; widespread racism against Muslims tends to fade into obscurity, whilst what little there is of anti-white racism makes front page news. This is why the anti-racism angle is important despite the Islamic fundamentalism; moderate Muslims need to be publicly supported to prevent racist ideas from taking hold.

@PakPunk is also right to say that there is nothing wrong with a white child converting to Islam. Personally, I'd rather no-one was religious, and I'd particularly advise people of impressionable ages not to join religious groups. But we should all be agreed that freedom is important, and accordingly should be supporting the right of Muslims to practise their faith - even newly converted white ones.

Jon


SWP

07.07.2009 14:53

@ Jon's comments: 'I wonder to what degree the timing of the SWP's Marxism Festival encouraged these racists to come out on Saturday, knowing that a large group of anti-fascists would be unavailable to oppose them? (That's not to imply, incidentally, that they are the only/main source of UK anti-fascism - before anyone reacts strongly!)'
Please tell me you are joking????
Can just see it now:
Fash 1 'Think we should march in Brum next'
Fash 2 'Good idea mate, but I aint going near the place unless the SWP are all at Marxism!'
Fash 1 'I know what you are saying, I'll find out the dates and get back to you'.............................

You really are out of touch with reality!

VILLA ANTI FASCISTS!


@Jon

07.07.2009 14:58

"I wonder to what degree the timing of the SWP's Marxism Festival encouraged these racists to come out on Saturday, knowing that a large group of anti-fascists would be unavailable to oppose them? (That's not to imply, incidentally, that they are the only/main source of UK anti-fascism - before anyone reacts strongly!) "

I very much doubt this influenced their thinking in the slightest, there were local anti-fascists in attendance. From past experience the presence of SWP members has done nothing to deter fascists, what are the SWP going to do? Try and sell them papers? No offence mate but i wouldn't have thought the EDL would worry about the SWP.

Durruti


Analysis

13.07.2009 17:53

Ballz...they are going to be in Manchester in October sometime I believe.

Islamic extremism is a growing threat in the UK, as it is in much of the Western world, as is the growing threat of far-right extremism. Radical Islam should be opposed (as should all religious groups and movements that seek oppression and violence). BUT, as evidence would show, the English Defence League (EDL) are not the way to go about this opposition. Narrow-minded thugery and flag-waving will not stop radical Islam or other extremist religious movements in this country or elsewhere. This can only come about by the people that these groups seek to exploit, whether they be Asain immigrants, or white working class people in areas where fascists hope to organise.

While I don't think that the EDL is an explicitly fascist organisation, they certainly have racist and very reactionary sentiments within their actions. There have been attacks on Asain locals and their propety, and also attempted attacks on anti-fascists, as well as racist chanting at the majority of EDL events so far. Numerous football firms make up the ranks of the EDL, with hooligans from Luton, Wolves, Villa amongst others being present at recent marches. These are people that use violence casually most weekends, and would not hesitate to do the same at these marches. The neo-Nazi skinheads of the British Freedom Fighters (Wigan Mike and his teenage followers) have also been present at previous EDL marches and have said they are planning on attending the up-coming march in Brum on the 8th August. If the EDL claim they are not racist, and do not have neo-Nazi tendencies within them, then they have an opportunity to openly state this and can refuse that the BFF take part. However with the involvement of some BNP activists, and talk that the EDL was actually started by BNP activist Chris Renton, I think this is unlikely.

For these reasons, anti-fascists will be present in Birmingham on the 8th, showing our opposition to both radical Islam, AND the far-right thugs of the English Defence League. They cannot march through Birmingham hoping to stir-up racial tensions further, and local people will not stand by and let violent attacks happen unopposed. Details will be published nearer the time.

PS. The UAF may as well steer clear of this one, we know what you lot are like when you come face to face with real working class people. Leave this one to people who can deal with themselves and don't have to resort of waving purple banners and shouting at people through megaphones.

Nazi Hunter


well said

14.07.2009 13:01

@Nazi hunter well said you summed it up very well.see you on the 8th.remember this is brum.we will not allow outside stirrers in.yes oppose fanatics on all sides whatever race creed or culture they are.

bcfc


Where are they drinking?

14.07.2009 14:48

Villa are playing at home to Fiorentina on the 8th, i hope hooligans from Luton, the Bristol teams, Cardfiff and God forbid the Dog Heads or Blues aren't planning on coming and drinking in Villa pubs before this demo. It's bad enough having right wing wankers at our own club let alone having BNP supporters from other clubs giving large in Aston.

VillaTillIDie


Where are they drinking

14.07.2009 21:54

I'd hazard a guess at The Square Peg or the other spoons pub on Bennetts Hill

brummie


villa til i die

15.07.2009 17:40

mate don`t think blues are right wing.as i`m a blue nose and never seen it in the circles i mixed.luton migs are behind it they`ll be there i believe.right wing wankers will be out so we should all stand as one.leave local rivalry to the 12th of september.

keep the nazis of our streets.

bcfc


BCFC

16.07.2009 09:42

I know some Blues are right wing mate, a lad i know has been physically attacked down the blues by right wing noses. That's not an attack on all noses though, after all there are plenty of right wing villains, the Hardcore are mostly right wing and there's some villa boneheads involved in the EDL as can be seen from the pictures on the EDL's facebook page.

All i'm saying is that if there are fash noses/wolves/luton in Aston on the 8th August then they shouldn't expect to be able to stroll around the place like they own it, neither should any fash, this is Birmingham after all!

VillaTillIDie


jokers

08.08.2009 11:47

listen to all you dirty muslim lovers callin the EDL racist, at least they are doin sumat about the blatant immigrant problem we have in england especially birmingham! u just keep walkin with ur heads down like its all good an go let ur daughter marry a muslim if ya want but at least were doin sumat about it! pussys!

brookz


@ brookz

08.08.2009 18:52

listen to all you dirty muslim lovers callin the EDL racist, at least they are doin sumat about the blatant immigrant problem we have in england especially birmingham! u just keep walkin with ur heads down like its all good an go let ur daughter marry a muslim if ya want but at least were doin sumat about it! pussys!

brookz
Just thought I would recreate 'brookz' post to cheer us all up, must do better brookz.
We are ready and waiting, now jog on you mug

VILLA ANTI FASCISTS!