The English Defence League (EDL) are a small fascist organisation which has been making its way around the UK in recent months protesting against "Islamic extremism". Today (Saturday 5 December) they are descending on Nottingham. Their presence is being opposed by a number of organisation including Notttinghamshire Stop the BNP and Unite Against Fascism (UAF). The situation has been complicated by the fact that today will also see a "Freedom March" by the Second Battalion of the Mercian regiment just back from Afghanistan, a small anti-war demonstration, a Forest-Leicester football match, the annual festive German market and the ice rink in the city centre.

Unsurprisingly, the police are concerned about the risk of disorder and have drafted in officers from surrounding counties and are reportedly spending £170,000 on policing the day's events. Roads have been closed and trams into town are not going beyond the Royal Centre, while the statue of Robin Hood has been boarded up for protection.

Updates: Notts Indymedia timeline

On the newswire: Wetherspoons (and the Police) Allow Drunken Nazis Onto Roof | Response to EDL's Duty vs Our Antifa Duty | Confronting the EDL - our historic duty! | Weatherspoons warned not to host EDL | Why do the police accept the EDL/CU line? | Weatherspoons Advised dont hold EDL demo in Notts! | We WILL be in Market Square! | Evening Post censors antifascists" | Police tell UAF to change anti EDL demo | Saturday's Events and The Stop the War Coalition | Join us and stop the EDL in Nottingham, Sat 5th Dec | Army Parade on 5th. December | Nottingham Stop the EDL march: Useful info and tactics | EDL in Nottingham: Information for Action | More evidence on EDL's true colours | EDL Not Welcome - Nottingham Unity Rally - Planning Meeting

Links: Antifa England | Nottingham Stop the BNP | Unite Against Fascism