Sit-down protest by We Are Waltham Forest blocks route of EDL march
Smash the EDL | 01.09.2012 16:57 | Anti-racism
A march by the English Defence League has been thwarted by anti-fascist protesters We Are Waltham Forest, who blocked the march by sitting in its path.
Many residents of the Walthamstow area banded together to confront the EDL, known for their extreme right wing views, using the #wearewalthamforest hashtag on Twitter to organise a mass sit-down.
Gathering on Forest Road and Hoe Street, the protesters succeeded in disrupting the march, with cries of victory spilling onto the micro-blogging website.
Protester Holly Smith remarked: 'Police aren't going to let EDL march to the town hall. Stewards advising WAWF to sit down, might be some time...' and another, Nick Lowles, added: 'The EDL's route is blocked. #allsitdown sit down next to me...'
In addition to a strong presence on social media, the counter demonstration was publicised with the help of local mosques.
Mr Rashid, secretary of the Lea Bridge Road Masjid, told Socialist Worker: 'The only way to stop the police letting the EDL march is to make sure they are out on the streets against them.
'We’ve been publicising the anti-EDL demonstration at every prayer and event we’ve held—and we’ve received a positive response each time.'
Osman, a local market trader, added: 'It has been really good to see people coming together to oppose them. Hopefully the EDL will be stopped.'
http://www.metro.co.uk/news/910426-sit-down-protest-by-we-are-waltham-forest-blocks-route-of-edl-march
Gathering on Forest Road and Hoe Street, the protesters succeeded in disrupting the march, with cries of victory spilling onto the micro-blogging website.
Protester Holly Smith remarked: 'Police aren't going to let EDL march to the town hall. Stewards advising WAWF to sit down, might be some time...' and another, Nick Lowles, added: 'The EDL's route is blocked. #allsitdown sit down next to me...'
In addition to a strong presence on social media, the counter demonstration was publicised with the help of local mosques.
Mr Rashid, secretary of the Lea Bridge Road Masjid, told Socialist Worker: 'The only way to stop the police letting the EDL march is to make sure they are out on the streets against them.
'We’ve been publicising the anti-EDL demonstration at every prayer and event we’ve held—and we’ve received a positive response each time.'
Osman, a local market trader, added: 'It has been really good to see people coming together to oppose them. Hopefully the EDL will be stopped.'
http://www.metro.co.uk/news/910426-sit-down-protest-by-we-are-waltham-forest-blocks-route-of-edl-march
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