A counter protest has been planned by the UAF and community leaders as the EDL descend on Dudley today
The Birmingham branch of the anti-racism organisation Unite Against Fascism (UAF) will be travelling to Dudley in the Black Country today to join and support a ‘Unity’ rally against the English Defence League (EDL), who are also holding a protest in the town at midday.
The unity gathering, supported by local trade unions, community and faith groups, has been promoted as an event “organised to celebrate the multiculturalism and diversity of the town” while the EDL demonstration claims to be rallying “against the building of a super mosque”.
According to the UAF, they “are confident that the EDL will be exposed as the violent, racist street organisation it has consistently shown itself to be.”
The protest by the far-right EDL follows a similar visit to Birmingham last October, where ten people were arrested for public disorder offences.
Five people were arrested during the EDL’s Birmingham rally in October and 50 EDL supporters were jailed at Birmingham Crown Court last month, for acts of violent disorder at a previous event in the city
Today’s planned demonstration also comes a month after 50 EDL supporters appeared before Birmingham Crown Court to be sentenced and jailed for acts of violent disorder committed during the group’s visit to the city in July 2013.
Geoff Dexter and Harish Dalal from Birmingham display a united front against the English Defence League and stand against troubled European far-right group Pegida
A spokesperson from Birmingham Unite Against Fascism likened the English Defence League to extreme far-right organisations in Europe but was adamant their alleged brand of “fascism” would not be tolerated on British streets:
“This is not the time to be complacent. Just in the press today, we’ve seen stories of racist street movements such as Pegida in Germany, and the talk that they may try to organise in Britain too, in Newcastle.
A woman holds an anti-EDL placard in Birmingham last October
Birmingham minister Rev. Andi Smith at a previous ‘United Birmingham’ rally which was held to counter an EDL demonstration in the city
“But it’s important to realise that just like in Britain, anti-racist campaigners in Germany have pushed back the Islamophobic movement into crisis. Five of Pegida’s leading members resigned in the last week, saying that they were worried the organisation was being taken over by fascists.
“Pegida first appeared as a street movement that organised demonstrations blaming refugees – and specifically Muslims – for Germany’s social problems.
“But outside the Eastern German city Dresden, anti-racist counter protests consistently outnumbered Pegida. This lead to locals (who had previously been at the early demonstrations) not going, leaving a Nazi core.
“Pegida was forced to cancel more and more of its protests and those that did take place got smaller and smaller.
Peace protesters display UAF placards at a counter rally during the EDL’s visit to Birmingham last October
“Birmingham Unite Against Fascism are confident we can do the same here as we have done for a number of years, bringing together trade unions, students, faith groups and community organisations to celebrate the multiculturalism and diversity of this city and to ensure the violent messages of hate from groups like the EDL, BNP or Pegida are not welcome here.”
A multi-racial couple display Birmingham diversity at a rally against the EDL in the city
The Police and Crime Commissioner for the West Midlands, David Jamieson, said: “We will protect the right of people to peacefully protest – but expect everyone who visits the borough to respect local people and their rights to live in harmony. Most of all though, violence in all its forms is not acceptable and won’t be tolerated on Saturday.”
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