Stop the EDL's racist March in Bolton - March 20

The racist hooligans of the English Defence League have rescheduled their plans to descend on Bolton for Saturday 20 March. Unite Against Fascism has called a national counter demonstration for all those who want to defend our multiracial society against the EDL's thuggery and violence.

The EDL had threatened to come to Bolton on 6 March this year. An EDL spokesperson interviewed in the Lancashire Telegraph refused to rule out violence and confirmed that the openly Nazi thugs from Combat 18 were regulars on EDL demos.
But this demo was cancelled when the EDL realised its thugs would go on the rampage against a Hindu festival in Bolton planned that day.
Unite Against Fascism believes the EDL should not be allowed to terrorise ethnic minorities in Bolton or anywhere else. Join our demonstration to show these racists and fascists that they are not welcome in the town.

Oxford Unite Against Fascism members and supporters will going to Bolton on 20th March to help stop the EDL march.

You can join us by booking your seat on the coach now. Tickets cost £15 waged, £8 unwaged and £10 for Oxfordshire UNISON health branch members. Call 07503169657 or email  admin@oxforduaf.org.uk or buy your ticket online at  http://www.oxforduaf.org.uk/

Please book your tickets as soon as possible to help us get the right amount of transport.

We will also be holding public stalls to publicies the demonstration and need volunteers to help. The first will be this saturday between 12 and 2 pm in Cornmarket central Oxford. Email us if you can help.


BOLTON UNITY STATEMENT
This statement was initiated by North West Unite Against Fascism. To add your name or organisation's name to this statement, please email  mancuaf@gmail.com
We the undersigned completely oppose plans by the English Defence League to hold an anti-Muslim protest in Bolton on Saturday 20 March.
The EDL is a group of racists and football hooligans with close links to the fascist British National Party. When the EDL came to Manchester in October, Muslim graves in the area were desecrated. When the EDL came to Stoke-on-Trent in January, the words "Islam scum" and "EDL" were daubed on a local mosque.
Islamophobia – bigotry against Muslims – is as unacceptable as any other form of racism. Its aim is to divide us by making scapegoats of one community, as the Nazis did with the Jews in the 1930s.
Today they threaten mosques, tomorrow it could be a synagogue, temple or church. Today they threaten Muslims, tomorrow it could be Jews, Hindus, Sikhs, black, Asian or Eastern European people, travellers or lesbian, gay and transgender people.
We have beaten fascists and racists before by standing up in unity against them. We cannot stand by and let these racists attack any section of our community.
Let's gather in such large numbers that we make it clear to these fascist and racist thugs that they are not welcome here. Let's protest against the racists and fascists, oppose their politics of hatred and defend Bolton’s diverse and united community.
We call on everyone to support and attend the protest against the EDL in Bolton on Saturday 20 March.