A controversial right-wing campaign group is staging a demonstration in Leeds this weekend.
http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/English-Defence-League-to-protest.5768116.jp
http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/English-Defence-League-to-protest.5768116.jp
The English Defence League (EDL) is due to protest in City Square from 1pm on Saturday against what it claims is the spread of "radical Islam" in the UK. Similar demos by the EDL in Birmingham and Manchester sparked clashes with anti-fascist activists.
A group called Leeds Unite Against Fascism is urging people to attend a rally outside the city art gallery at noon on the same day as the EDL's protest.
Today West Yorkshire Police's Chief Supt Mark Milsom said the force would have "several hundred" officers on duty to try to prevent any repeat of the problems in Birmingham and Manchester. All local police leave had been cancelled for Saturday, Chief Supt Milsom told the Yorkshire Evening Post, with some officers due to be drafted in from outside the county.
It is thought the two protests could be attended by more than 2,000 people.
Chief Supt Milsom said: "It is likely there will be some disorder – that is the reason we are providing such a large operation. We are looking to ensure that (Saturday] is as peaceful as possible. If people are not peaceful and do break the law, we will be looking to deal with that positively."
The police and city council say members of the public should have no concerns about visiting the shopping areas in the centre of Leeds on Saturday afternoon. They are being warned, however, to expect some "disruption" in the areas earmarked for the demos.
Members of Leeds's Muslim community are also being urged to steer clear of potential confrontations with protesters.
Chief Supt Milsom said: "The EDL focuses on Islamic issues and local Muslims could feel threatened by this, particularly young Muslims who could get drawn into the demonstrations. We feel this would actually play into the hands of both groups of protesters on the day and we have been meeting with local community groups to discourage them from attending the demonstrations and getting drawn into them."
The EDL says it is a "non-violent, non-racist" organisation opposing Islamic extremism. Its demo in Birmingham on September 5 ended with rival gangs hurling missiles at each other near the city's main shopping areas. Nearly 100 people were arrested.
More than 40 people were arrested during protests by the EDL and Unite Against Fascism in the middle of Manchester on October 10.
Comments
Hide the following 9 comments
Listen Up Bright Things
27.10.2009 22:06
COULD UAF PLEASE BRING SOME FUCKING ANTI-EDL PLACARDS INSTEAD OF USING THE NAZI BNP ONES!?
It's getting fucking embarrassing.
Unite Against Trotskyism
Typical
28.10.2009 00:28
Leeds Antifascist
One thing to bear in mind...
28.10.2009 07:48
While I'm not suggesting that the EDL are not confronted, it may be better to devise a strategy that does not pull in fans drinking around the Station.
M@rk
ill informed`
28.10.2009 16:29
Looking at EDL propaganda is not research
EDL racist salute:
There are hundreds of simular pictures all over the web.
If the EDL was just opposed to islamic "extremism" why would they hold placards saying "no mosques"?
not stupid
Trolls Suck!
28.10.2009 18:47
The EDL resemble the NF in most tactics, but with millionaires like Alan Lake sponsoring them, they actually pay their trolls backhanders to do a comprehensive pr job to tell the world that despite the Hitler salutes, chants about the IRA, and racist placards, this is all lies and they are as pure as the driven snow!!!
Troll Hayta!
Same day
29.10.2009 09:33
Why do they seem to get their miserable kicks out of ensuring disruption at events organised by others?
These questions are very easy to answer.
'Anti-fascists' crave publisity for their antics. It makes them feel important. Even though their counter-demos give huge amounts of publicity to the demos of their sworn enemies such as the EDL they can't resist the urge to get themselves on the telly and in the papers. Having their demo on a different day, so causing both their own and the EDL's demos to go totally unnoticed and unreported is not an option for immature middle class leftie students eager for attention.
I suspect that 'anti-fascists' and groups such as the EDL could be co-operating to ensure that they all maximum publicity, or they are both part of the same far right group with the 'anti-fascists' being in charge of publicity.
Pete
Troll Hayta!
29.10.2009 11:03
You don't get anti-fascist trolls trolling white power website Stormfront, do you, so don't troll Indymedia, you extreme rightwing loser.
If it wasn't for the UAF, the hundreds of Hitler saluting EDL would have been picking fights with passing black and Asian people in Manchester City Centre like the pack of white supremacist thugs they are.
If you're a proper troll and not a coward, you should be defending the Nazi salutes captured on News Association Cameras. Was there a passing aeroplane and they were all pointing it out in unison with straight right hands? Or were they all reaching up to waft wasps away. Come on! Think up an excuse to pretend they were not worshipping Adolf Hitler with their hands, as the pictures most clearly capture.
Leftwingers are not all spotty students, but at least we don't worship Adolf fuckin' Hitler like 30 EDL members in Manchester most clearly do. The Adolf Hitler responsible for the Holocaust who tried to invade Britain.
To oppose Islamic extremists but support a much greater threat to Britain, Adolf Hitler, shows the lunatic mentality of the British Far Right.
Rememberance Day is fastly approaching. Shame on you trolling "We're Not Nazi" EDL Hitler Worshippers!!!!!!!!!!!!
Troll Ahnyalaytor!
Homepage:
http://www.lancasteruaf.blogspot.com
Don't fear ordinary people!!
29.10.2009 11:55
Unlike the SWP we don't fear ordinary people and don't think the average person is gonna respond well to news of racist morons marching through their city. So we leafleted door to door around estates and outside the football and rugby grounds.
I dunno what Leeds Utd fans are like, but the Newport County fans came to our counter demo in large numbers before that day's match, if any EDL/WDL had tried to recruit any of them they'd have got a fucking slap!
Newport Kid
leeds sat 31st
13.11.2009 12:05
Do we really need to give speeches to muslims on how bad racism is im sure they know that do we need to preach to the converted?What about confronting the edl and shouting it in their faces?
Later on in the day after saying we would march and then not letting people i told Weyman that id had a call form a frind.The police had kettled a bg group of antifascists and civilians in with the edl.Weyman said ignore it itll be a rumour.I handed him my phone and asked him to call and here for himself.He refused and was more intrested in getting his face on the camara and trying to look like he was doing something.
If i knew how to go about it id join antifa.People may slag them off and say they glorify violence but at least they act.I expect those very same people who slag them off would be the ones complaining when the nazis run the streets.A very bitter end to that day for me.
steve scum
stephen smith
e-mail:
swellbelly@hotmail.co.uk