bilbobaggins Posted January 14, 2010 Report Posted January 14, 2010 Nice choice of song, totally inappropriate for the theme though. "But when you want money for people with minds that hate, All I can tell is brother you have to wait" Quote
glasgow sheep Posted February 15, 2010 Author Report Posted February 15, 2010 Fears of violence as far-right group admits it can’t control followers * SDL * The Scottish Defence League march in Edinburgh will face a counter protest Jasper Hamill 0 comments Published on 14 Feb 2010 With only a week to go before the Scottish Defence League takes to the streets of Edinburgh for a second time, the leaders of the far-right organisation have admitted that they have lost control over the supporters that follow their protests. A recent English Defence League demonstration in Stoke turned into a “pogrom†against Muslims, according to anti-fascists, that was so violent it shocked even the Defence League leadership, who were quick to deny responsibility. Now Defence League organisers say that this Saturday’s planned demonstration in the capital is at risk of descending into chaos because leaders are losing control of the mass movement. More than 1,500 people turned up on the side of the English Defence League in Stoke – the sister organisation of the Scottish Defence League – dwarfing the tiny number of anti-fascists that gathered to stand against them. The mob turned over police riot vans, smashed the windows of Muslim homes and tried to attack a mosque. Organisers believe some 500 Scottish Defence League supporters will turn up in the capital next weekend. Defence League leaders claim that hundreds of BNP supporters and other thugs turned up in Stoke simply looking for a fight. Mickey, who leads Casuals United and is part of the EDL leadership, said: “Stoke was horrendous. It went mental. Hundreds of BNP members turned up. You can’t go around rioting like that, because eventually they’ll ban the movement. The people that came don’t care about the EDL, they just turn up for the riots.†He added: “We’re not conspiring to cause riots. Yes, we have a lot of criminals attaching themselves to us and people that come along to kick off, but we’re trying to deal with that.†The police are now so concerned about the Defence Leagues that the have set up a special unit to try and combat them. Fear of infiltration is at fever pitch amongst the far-right group, with leaders even claiming that Special Branch tried to sneak into their ranks by disguising an officer as a Hells Angel. The biker allegedly visited every regional Defence League leader in the county, asking for membership details and taking photographs. When enquires were made, no motorcycle gang had heard of him. Police have also warned the EDL that Islamic extremists are plotting to attack their demonstrations and told them that any future protests in Birmingham could be attacked by suicide bombers. Meanwhile, the Defence Leagues are making allegiances of their own, including with the Orange Order in Belfast, with the aim of opening a wing of the Defence Leagues in Ulster. Mickey had this further warning: “People all around the country are kicking off against Islam. The government and police must be worried. Our movement’s gone from 30 or 40 people when we started doing demos in London, to thousands now. It hasn’t even been a year.†Unite Against Fascism held its annual conference yesterday. The group feels that the threat from fascism is worse than ever and has warned that racist violence could become commonplace on the streets of Britain unless action is taken to combat it. Weyman Bennet, joint secretary of Unite Against Fascism, said: “There was an attempt to try and have a kind of pogrom in Stoke. “You’ve got fascists becoming successful in elections. Fascists are also at the centre of bringing racist football thugs on to the streets. This brings us into a very dangerous situation and we are at risk of major conflict. “We will protest against the EDL or SDL wherever they go. We will not allow them to intimidate a community.†Quote
Nellie The Don Posted February 15, 2010 Report Posted February 15, 2010 Organisers believe some 500 Scottish Defence League supporters will turn up in the capital next weekend. :rofl2: Based on the 12 people that turned up in Glasgow? Quote
mizer Posted February 20, 2010 Report Posted February 20, 2010 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/8525939.stm Thousands of anti-racism campaigners have staged a demonstration and march through the centre of Edinburgh. It was arranged in response to a threatened protest by the Scottish Defence League - a right-wing group claiming to oppose Islamic militancy. There were minor skirmishes as anti-fascist protesters tried to enter a bar on the Royal Mile where they believed members of the SDL had gathered. Police confirmed that five arrests were made for public order offences. About 90 people were kept inside Jenny Ha's pub, opposite the Scottish Parliament, by police who blocked the doors and sealed off the area to stop the rival groups clashing. They were later taken from the building and put onto buses which then left the city. More than 700 officers were deployed to police the event. Assistant Chief Constable Iain Livingstone, of Lothian and Borders Police, said he was pleased no major problems occurred and he thanked members of the public for their co-operation. It is understood extra officers from Northumbria Police in England had been drafted in to help. SDL members were kept inside a bar then bussed out of the city. Quote
glasgow sheep Posted February 21, 2010 Author Report Posted February 21, 2010 The Scottish Defence League was routed in the capital yesterday as anti-fascist campaigners vowed the far-right in Scotland was finished as a political movement. About 100 far-right protesters tried to congregate in Edinburgh, but were faced down by a coalition of over 2,000 anti-fascists, including Scottish Justice Minister Kenny MacAskill and Scottish Labour Holyrood leader Iain Gray. More than 700 officers were used to police the day’s events and prevent confrontation between the groups. The low turn-out in Scotland is markedly different from recent gatherings of the SDL’s sister organisation the English Defence League,which has stormed into English cities with more than 1,000 protesters and caused mayhem. At least 1,500 thugs descended on Stoke-on-Trent recently, smashing up the town centre and embarking on a what has been described as a “pogrom†aimed at Islamic communities. The trouble was so bad EDL commanders were forced to deny responsibility. But in Edinburgh, police corralled SDL activists into several pubs around the city while anti-racist demonstrators marched through the capital celebrating multicultural Scotland. The Holyrood end of the Royal Mile was locked down for most of the day as about 30 SDL supporters – including women and teenage boys – were trapped inside Jenny Ha’s pub. About 100 metres up the Royal Mile, separated by a police barrier, anti-fascist protesters chanted as SDL foot-soldiers looked on. The Sunday Herald attempted to question Don, the group’s shadowy leader, at Jenny Ha’s, but he had imposed a total media blackout and simply said: “F*** off out of here.†English Defence League campaigners travelled up from England, but were quickly detained by Lothian and Borders police. Mickey, who runs the Casuals United website and is one of the founding members of the EDL, was detained as he got off the train at Edinburgh, along with other EDL members. He said: “What an abuse of power. All our lads were either arrested or turned away ... A nation that makes peaceful protest impossible makes bloody revolution inevitable.†As the SDL march petered out, thousands congregated at Princes Street Gardens to hear speeches from trade unionists, anti-fascists and politicians including Mr MacAskill and Mr Gray. Ahead of his speech, Mr MacAskill said: “The fact there are so few Scottish Defence League supporters here is testament to good police work and shows that there is no traction in Scotland for their foul and evil views.†Aamer Anwar, a prominent human rights lawyer who helped lead the 2,000 anti-fascist demonstrators through the city, stopped for a minute’s silence in front of Edinburgh mosque to commemorate victims of racist violence. He said: “Whenever the Scottish Defence League raise their head, we will put another nail in their coffin. This was not a national mobilisation, it was a humiliation.†The last SDL march in Scotland was almost as big a fiasco when they tried to parade through Glasgow in November. Mr Anwar added: “That’s 2-0 to Scotland, I think. We said, ‘Don’t bother coming back, don’t raise your heads again’.†Weyman Bennett, joint secretary of Unite Against Fascism, said: “This showed how weak the SDL is in Scotland.†Bennett warned that although the battle seemed to have been won in Scotland, the English Defence League was still a threat. He called upon supporters of Scotland United – the anti-fascist coalition north of the Border – to stand against the EDL in Bolton next month. Quote
caledonia Posted August 30, 2010 Report Posted August 30, 2010 Its sad that protesters have to try and protect this country as the government seems unable to do it. Unlike most other countries. Quote
El Padre™ Posted August 31, 2010 Report Posted August 31, 2010 The protesters did a good job of protecting us from the EDL/SDL though. Quote
Harcus Posted August 31, 2010 Report Posted August 31, 2010 Check out the size of the forehead on the guy behind the sign!! Quote
mizer Posted August 31, 2010 Report Posted August 31, 2010 Check out the size of the forehead on the guy behind the sign!! We need to protect the gene pool for massive foreheids! Quote
El Padre™ Posted August 31, 2010 Report Posted August 31, 2010 We met a squad of Killie fans on the way back down to the weej on Saturday who were all apparently big into the EDL. Mind you, it's no surprise that wannabe huns are right wing. Quote
El Padre™ Posted August 31, 2010 Report Posted August 31, 2010 I just dinnae really get it, muslim extremism is bad and all, but the SDL winna get rid of it. But it is about time folk stopped being all pissy and nicey nicey about shite though in case it offends. The muslim community are obviously doing fuck all about extremist propoganda in their own community - and the government are terrified of losing the muslim vote. If a few dozen lads want to meet up every month or so and publicly call for action to be taken to end muslim extremism I don't see the problem... unless of course you are a muslim extremist. Nae my thing but I canna see a problem with it. If ye want to talk about divisiveness, look more at how divisive having islam is in our society! I'd be more concerned about the UAF holding a demo in my city - devious commie bastards - now there's an organisation that loves fascism, racism and nazis, just so they say they are fighting against them... even if they have to plant "hitler saluters" and the like into anti-extremist demos to make it look like a racist event. That's all well and good but you can't say for certain that Muslim communities aren't doing anything, in fact I'm fairly sure they are. And also most of these EDL/SDL guys are just thugs and casuals who have found something they can exploit to fuel their own intolerant natures. Theres a difference between intelligent people getting together to discuss a problem and possibly find a solution and a group of bangers getting together to sing rule Britannia down george square and shout at people for expressing their religion in a country where you're encouraged to do so. Quote
El Padre™ Posted September 16, 2010 Report Posted September 16, 2010 http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/15/english-soccer-hooligans-at-ground-zero/ Quote
glasgowdon Posted November 1, 2010 Report Posted November 1, 2010 Was quite a good article about them in The Times the weekend before last. The top man came across as decent but a bit of a dick at the same time. Quote
mizer Posted September 6, 2011 Report Posted September 6, 2011 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-14779772 A coach full of English Defence League supporters was pelted with missiles after it broke down in east London. The coach was carrying 44 EDL members when it stopped in Mile End Road, Tower Hamlets. About 100 Asian teenagers then pelted it with bricks and stones, according to a BBC reporter at the scene. Police arrested all 44 EDL supporters, who were travelling from a protest in Aldgate earlier on Saturday. A double decker bus was used to evacuate them. Police said there had already been one altercation with local youths after the vehicle stopped in Whitechapel Road and some passengers got off the coach. They got back on board and the coach pulled away - but it suffered a failure and ground to a halt. BBC reporter Paraic O' Brien, who was on the scene, said nearly 100 local teenagers then attacked it with missiles. He said the police were on the scene extremely quickly. 'Extremely tense' The reporter said within a short space of time there were a number of riot vans and 200 police officers in the vicinity. O'Brien said: "It was extremely tense and if that number of officers had not arrived it could have gone the other way and become a major incident." The police commandeered a London bus and moved the EDL supporters onto it before escorting the bus east. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9y29PfgKWU Was quite a good article about them in The Times the weekend before last. The top man came across as decent but a bit of a dick at the same time. From the same BBC article: Meanwhile the EDL's second in command, Kevin Carroll, has told the BBC its founder Stephen Lennon will hand himself in to police. Lennon, who was convicted in July of leading a street brawl with 100 football fans, breached bail conditions by taking part in the demonstration. Quote
glasgow sheep Posted September 6, 2011 Author Report Posted September 6, 2011 Not sure that attacking them is the best idea. Just gives them some much need propaganda about being the oppressed majority and all that bullshit Much better to have as Scotland United did, a protest elsewhere and let the bams fight each other and the police Quote
glasgow sheep Posted September 6, 2011 Author Report Posted September 6, 2011 We'll march against the far right, vow anti-racism campaigners Published Date: 24 August 2011 By BRIAN FERGUSON ANTI-RACISM groups are mobilising a major counter-protest after the right-wing Scottish Defence League vowed to go ahead with a demonstration in Scotland's capital despite it being banned by the city council. Activists on the SDL's Facebook page have revealed the event will take place the day before the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks in the United States. Councillors threw out the group's application last week, claiming they were worried about risking disorder and violent confrontations, despite police saying they had "no objections" to the march. The SDL, an off-shoot of the anti-Islam English Defence League, is already promoting the planned protest on 10 September. Details of the route and location of any rally are being kept under wraps, after an SDL meeting in a Royal Mile pub in February 2010 was ambushed by dozens of anti-racism protesters, leading to scuffles in the street. But the SDL has received messages of support from across the UK after announcing some form of demonstration in Edinburgh would go ahead regardless. One post stated: "The march is banned. We are having a static demonstration. And most likely the police will have to march us if they want rid of us." The SDL spent weeks negotiating with police and council officials over its planned demo, which was due to leave from Regent Road, near the American consulate, and include a rally at the Wellington Statue at the east end of Princes Street. Councillors said the threat of a "significant risk" of disorder outweighed concerns about flouting principles of freedom of speech by banning the march. The protest had attracted more than 1,000 complaints from politicians, anti-racism groups, community organisations and trade union leaders, who were concerned the group would trigger racial unrest. SDL representatives told the council the group had distanced itself from more hard-line members and the EDL, but left councillors unconvinced. No-one from the SDL was available to comment yesterday. Luke Wright is spokesman for the Unite Against Fascism group, which is organising a public meeting in the city tomorrow to rally support for a counter-demo. He said: "We've applied to the council for a counter-demonstration on 10 September after we spotted quite a bit of online activity about the SDL going ahead with a demo despite the council's decision last week. "Despite enormous public opposition including a wave of complaints to the council, and despite political opposition it seems that the SDL still do not understand Edinburgh does not want their violent racism." Louise Lang, deputy chair of the council's licensing committee, said: "There was always the risk that this group would go ahead and try to have a demo anyway, but we did not take our decision lightly. "Freedom of speech is not an entitlement at any cost. We just felt there was too much of a risk of disorder." A police spokeswoman said: "We work closely with our local authority partners and the guiding principle is that we will facilitate peaceful and lawful events. "We would encourage organisers of any such events and demonstrations to liaise with us in order to preserve public safety and minimise disruption." Quote
manc_don Posted September 6, 2011 Report Posted September 6, 2011 There were plenty of EDL knocking about Shoreditch on Saturday. A pub I always suspected as being BNP (British Lion...) had a number of them in there with St Georges flags drapped in the windows. As funny as find it that their bus got attacked, it plays into their hands. Quote
mizer Posted November 17, 2011 Report Posted November 17, 2011 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-15777852 A Muslim Rangers supporter who chanted sectarian remarks at a game at Ibrox Stadium has been fined £600. Abdul Rafiq, 41, the only Muslim member of the English Defence League, was arrested at Rangers friendly game with Chelsea on 6 August. At Glasgow Sheriff Court he pleaded guilty to religiously aggravated breach of the peace by shouting, swearing and uttering sectarian remarks. Sheriff John McCormick also imposed a five year football banning order. The court heard that Rafiq, from Kelvinbridge, Glasgow, was heard shouting phrases which hit out at Catholics and the Pope. 'Sectarian phrases' Fiscal depute Seana Doherty, prosecuting said: "The accused was standing in the Govan front stand wearing a flag around his shoulders bearing the Red Hand of Ulster logo. "He was wearing an umbrella stand hat which was red white and blue and also had the Red Hand of Ulster logo on it, and carrying a blue Rangers backpack. "He was seen by three police officers to stand up from the seat and chant sectarian phrases." The court was told Rafiq was warned by the officers to stop but continued and was arrested. Defence lawyer Ashley Kane told the court: "Mr Rafiq is a member of the English Defence League, as a result of his membership to this and him being the only Muslim member of the organisation he does stand out." She said that he has been a Rangers fan for the majority of his life and has attended matches and sung songs. Ms Kane added: "At the time of the offence he didn't believe that his actions were offending anyone." She also said that if he had known he was offending anybody he would not have acted in that way. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0kL_URt4uo&feature=related Quote
TENEMENTFUNSTER Posted November 17, 2011 Report Posted November 17, 2011 Rubber dinghy rapids bro! Quote
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