Before the killing of British Army solider Lee Rigby in Woolwich, the EDL were a spent force, with the organisation losing its momentum. After the killing, the EDL has grown, exploiting public outrage to swell their demonstrations.

The EDL see themselves as a patriotic, nationalist street movement that protests against Muslim extremism and Islam. They say they are not racist but their record proves otherwise. They easily expand the target of their hatred to anyone who isn’t white, to immigrants and those who don’t fit their crude definition of ‘English’. Their supporters have gone on the rampage and attacked Asian owned businesses, students demonstrating against tuition fees and have been convicted of arson attacks on mosques.

WHY WE OPPOSE THE EDL?

The EDL are part of a wider shift to the (far) right in British politics that scapegoats Islam and immigrants for the problems we face. They want society to return back to a mythical “golden age” where everyone knew their place. This is fantasy and nonsense. The EDL are a product of misinformation and lies fed through over a decade of anti-Muslim, anti-immigrant scare stories in the tabloids and papers like the Daily Mail. Whenever the EDL have marched unopposed, they run amok and attack people.

In recent months there has been a sharp rise in racist attacks and attacks against mosques, including firebombs and nail bombs. EDL marches are helping to create and sustain a climate where such attacks are possible, giving confidence to the bombers by making them think they are part of a growing popular movement. It is important that we stand up and stand united against their presence.

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO?

We are calling for as many people as possible to come on to the streets on Saturday 7th September. The more people that attend, 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 EDL’s plans. Wherever they end up, ban or no ban, we want to make sure that the EDL DO NOT get to intimidate people and parade their hatred through the streets unopposed.

LOOK OUT FOR THE AFN BANNER ON THE DAY AND MARCH WITH US TO OPPOSE THE EDL.

More details nearer the time.

Called by London Anti-Fascists & AFN
fb.com/londonantifascists
follow us at: @THstopEDL