Liam redux

Tower Hamlets against the English Defence League

Glyn Robbins, an occasional contributor to this site, took the initiative in getting people to sign this letter which appeared in today’s Guardian. There is a school of thought which finds it ultra left for not asking the cops to ban the EDL’s proposed demonstration outside Whitechapel mosque but it does seem to have gathered…

Liam
1–2 minutes

Glyn Robbins, an occasional contributor to this site, took the initiative in getting people to sign this letter which appeared in today’s Guardian. There is a school of thought which finds it ultra left for not asking the cops to ban the EDL’s proposed demonstration outside Whitechapel mosque but it does seem to have gathered a pretty good range of support.

The English Defence League is a violent, bigoted organisation and an embarrassment to our country. They should be condemned everywhere, but will be particularly unwelcome if they come to Tower Hamlets.

Most people in the East End live in peace and mutual respect for neighbours, regardless of their faith or skin colour. As residents and workers in the borough, we will not tolerate attempts to divide us or stir up hatred.

The real enemies of Tower Hamlets are poverty and inequality, not Islam. At Cable Street in 1936 the people of the East End united to block the way to Mosley’s fascist blackshirts. We stand ready to do the same to the EDL.

Glyn Robbins, Cllr Helal Abbas Leader, Tower Hamlets council, Mowlana Shamsul Hoque and Musaddiq Ahmed Chair and secretary general, Council of Mosques, Tower Hamlets and 24 others

Glyn Robbins

Councillor Helal Abbas (Leader, Tower Hamlets Council)

Alex Kenny (East London NUT)

John McLoughlin (Branch Sec. Tower Hamlets UNISON)

Mowlana Shamsul Hoque and Musaddiq Ahmed (Chair and Secretary General respectively, Council of Mosques – Tower Hamlets)

Phil Sedler (Tower Hamlets Tenants and Residents Federation)

Councillor Oliur Rahman (Stepney and St Dunstan’s ward)

Councillor Bill Turner (Mile End and Globe Town ward)

Councillor Stephanie Eaton (Bethnal Green North ward)

Julia Bard (The Jewish Socialists Group)

Dilowar Khan (London Muslim Centre)

Julie Begum (The Swadhinata Trust)

Dr Georgie Wemyss (Author ‘The Invisible Empire’)

Shamsul Alam

Eileen Short Tower Hamlets Jenin Friendship Association

Guy Shennan

Ibrahim Ghahremani

Cyrus Ghahramani

Tim Saunders (‘Independent’ cartoonist)

Sukhwant Dhaliwal (Women Against Fundamentalism)

Phil Maxwell

Hazuan Hashim

Rozina Visram (Author ‘Asians in Britain: 400 Years of History’)

Cathy Phillips (Retired Tower Hamlets Head Teacher)

Rich Palser (UCU branch co-ordinator Tower Hamlets College)

Delwar Hussain (Writer)

Musleh Faradhi (President, Islamic Forum of Europe)

16 responses to “Tower Hamlets against the English Defence League”

  1. Liam Avatar
    Liam

    good on them.
    there’s an urgent need to rediscover the spirit of Cable Street in most of the anti-fascist movement!

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  2. eamonn wright Avatar
    eamonn wright

    What they going to do to the EDL? Write them a stern letter?

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  3. alf Avatar
    alf

    We must all fully support and endorse this move by the local anti-fascist movement. We must stand side by side with them.

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  4. Camden Antifash Avatar
    Camden Antifash

    We will be there on the day to respectfully defend the Mosque.

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  5. famzo Avatar
    famzo

    da EDL r gonna pay if dey attack da east london mosque

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  6. Liam Avatar
    Liam

    Famzo – the EDL won’t be able to attack the mosque. There was a very well attended meeting last night which had people from the Whitechapel Anarchists, the SWP, trade unions, Respect, the Council of Mosques, the Labour Party and Islamic Forum Europe plusothers I’ve forgotten to discuss how local people are going to deal with it.

    It was agreed that a locally based representative committee would sort out the arrangements on the day and work flat out to build a huge demonstration to show them that they are not welcome in Tower Hamlets. I hope you and your friends will be part of it.

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  7. Talia Avatar
    Talia

    The EDL are going over the limit now. This is discriminatin and i hope that the majority of the country are not behind them. The EDL are people who just want to stir up trouble. Surely everyone can see that.

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  8. amz Avatar
    amz

    we r gna kill neone hu comes in our way

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  9. Liam Avatar
    Liam

    Let’s not get done for murder amz. There was a really good meeting on Wednesday night with lots of Muslim, socialist, trade union and community organisations present. Plans are being made to stop these scumbags.

    The demonstration will be the biggest thing Tower Hamlets has seen in years. We know that the EDL are shitting themselves and won’t be there for very long.

    Bring your mates and bring your family. It’ll be a great day and we’ll guarantee the EDL will never come back to Tower Hamlets.

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  10. ISLAM IS ERE..SO HAVE NO FEAR Avatar
    ISLAM IS ERE..SO HAVE NO FEAR

    MARK MA WORD YU EDL RACIST PEOPLE..YU WIL GEH PUNISHED ON 20TH OF JUNE..YOU MAN CUMIN DWN THE HART OF BENGALI COMMUNITY..U DNTKNW HU UR MESSIN WID..JUZ WAIT & C..WE AINT LYK BRADFRD COZ WE R WORSE DAN DEM BT BLESS DEM THO!!!

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  11. simi Avatar
    simi

    we need to protect our families and unite as one we cannot let people such as edl win!! when they say something against muslims its freedom of speach but what about when muslims say something against them then wer called terrorists!! What is happening in this country.

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  12. Liam Avatar
    Liam

    Here’s a photo gallery of 30 years of anti-racism in est London from Phil Maxwell.

    “Islam was here” – it’s not quite clear what your message is but come along with your family for a good day of unity.

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  13. Sarah Cox Avatar
    Sarah Cox

    The EDL have been scared off by the scale of the organisation and have called off their demo in Tower Hamlets on June 20th (of course they give another explanation) The United East End / Unite Against Fascism demo is still going ahead. But the EDL have turned their attention to Wembley where they are threatening to demonstrate on Saturday June 26th against a conference called by a Muslim charitable foundation to build understanding between Muslims and non-Muslims. These violent, bigoted thugs are not welcome in Wembley, part of the most diverse borough in the country. Brent & Harrow UAF showed them they were not welcome in the next door borough of Harrow. We’ll show them again in Wembley. Be ready to join us.

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  14. tony collins Avatar
    tony collins

    Sarah, it’s important to be honest about why the EDL called off its demonstration, so we don’t end up believing our own hype.

    They called it off cos the council put all the pressure on the venue hosting the conference. They barely mentioned the EDL. They treated both the EDL and the conference as morally and politically equivalent.

    The council threatened the conference venue with a “review of the council’s business” with them, and the venue cancelled the conference.

    So the cancellation wasn’t anything to do with us, our strength or our size, and everything to do with a cowardly bunch of people who supposedly represent the people of Tower Hamlets. The people were gonna represent themselves at a counter-demo, which has the potential to be huge. Now, the council is even trying to get that demo cancelled, claiming that it is provocative.

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  15. alf Avatar
    alf

    KEEP EDL OUT OF BRENT -JUNE 26TH

    The English Defence League are to attempt to demonstrate in Wembley against a peaceful conference organised to bring greater understanding between Muslims and non-Muslims. Such a conference should be welcomed by all and recognised as a positive step in building harmony and understanding.

    The conference due to be held at the Wembley Arena on June 26th, is the Al-Khair Peace Convention 2010 and its aims are set out on their website:

    “Peace, internal and external be it on an ‘individual’ or at a ‘worldwide collective’ level is a must for effective human progress and realistic global unity.

    For people of all beliefs, this conference will be a learning opportunity to realize, reflect on and correct their misunderstanding (if any) about Islam in the light of talks by authoritative and renowned international speakers.

    Conference Focus
    * To create a better awareness and understanding of Islam and its message of peace for the entire humanity, in an objective way.
    * To remove misconceptions, false fear and hate of Islam and Muslims globally.
    * To realize that Islam is a just, righteous and peaceful way of life, with due care for human rights and moral values.”

    However such harmony , peaceful discussion and educational awareness is thought to be a threat to our society, according to the EDL. This exposes them for what they really are, a bunch of ignorant and bigotted Islamaphobes and racists with only one agenda- spreading racism, hatred and division.

    Like most bullies, having run scared from attempting to show their face in Tower Hamlets, they thought they could find somewhere else to shout their hatred at.

    Well, just like Tower Hamlets, the local community will remain united. Wembley is part of one of the most multi-cultural, multi-racial and multi-religious boroughs in London. Near by is Harrow, where twice the EDL were shown the door by the mass united action on the streets .

    The anti-fascists in Brent and Harrow are already mobilising, along with the UAF and others to ensure the EDL receive the message loud and clear, “racists and fascists keep out of our Wembley, you are not welcomed here or anywhere else”. We promise them the same welcome that they would have recieved in Tower Hamlets!

    The Welsh BNP put out a video last year, which was widely condemned by many, including the Football Association, which referred to Wembley as no longer being the Britain they know.Well for many of us who live and work in Brent, we are proud of our communities and we feel enriched by having a multi-cultural, multi-racial and multi-religious society. We reject totally the racist, Islamaphobic and homophobic bigotry of the fascists and racists. We will not allow them to divide us.

    We call on all anti-fascists and anti-racists to join us in Wembley, showing your support for our tolerant and united society and keeping these fascists off our streets.

    We reject the use of scapegoating and division being instigated by the EDL, BNP and other racists and fascists. In Brent we are attempting to build a coalition of resistance to the Condem cuts budget on 22 June in defence of jobs and services. The fight to defend workers’ rights and our living standards is closely linked to our fight against racism and fascism, along with our opposition to illegal wars in Afghanistan and elsewhere.

    Only the united action on the streets to prevent the fascists from coming to Wembley will stop this.

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  16. alf Avatar
    alf

    UNITE AGAINST FASCISM
    ●No to Racism
    ●No to Islamopohbia
    ●EDL not welcome here
    The racist, Islamophobic English Defence League is threatening to demonstrate in Wembley on Saturday June 26th against a Peace Conference, organised by a Muslim charitable foundation and aimed at building understanding between Muslims and non-Muslims. The EDL is an organisation of violent, bigoted thugs with proven links to the Nazi BNP. They should be condemned everywhere, but will be particularly unwelcome if they come to Wembley, part of this country’s most diverse borough. We are proud of our diversity. In the London Borough of Brent, people live and work together, children study, play and grow up together in peace and mutual respect, regardless of faith or skin colour. As residents and workers in the borough, we will not tolerate attempts to divide us or stir up hatred. We stood united to show that there was no place for racism and Islamophobia in the neighbouring borough of Harrow. We stand prepared to do the same in Brent.
    This statement was initiated by UAF Brent & Harrow and national Unite Against Fascism. For further information or to add your name to the statement, contact: uafbrentandharrow@gmail.com

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