British Nationalism
Protesters Clash During Military Parade in Barking
Far right nationalists clashed with Muslim extremists as the Royal Anglian Regiment marched through Barking after returning from deployment in Afghanistan.
London, UK. 15-06-10
About 50 members of a group called Muslims Against the Crusades heckled soldiers shouting “murderers” and brandished placards proclaiming “British soldiers are cowards” during a homecoming parade for troops.
They were met with counter-demonstration of nationalists including members of the extreme anti Islam English Defence League shouting “scum” and “Allah, Allah, who the f***k is Allah”.
The rival groups faced off across Barking’s main shopping street.
Moments after the soldiers passed by tensions reached boiling point as nationalists broke police lines and charged across the road, clashing with the Muslim protesters.
Police quickly separated the two groups and escorted the Islamists to the tube station.
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EDL Aylesbury – Anti-Islam Demo Turns Violent
Dozens of protesters were arrested during violence clashes with police at a controversial demonstration by anti-Islam campaigners in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. Aylesbury, UK. 01/05/10
Around 1,000 members of the English Defence League (EDL) marched to Aylesbury’s Market Square chanting “if you build your f**king mosque, we’ll burn it down” and other anti-Muslim slogans.
The march ended when a group of 200 demonstrators tried to break through police lines hurling glass bottles, coins, sticks and cans at offices in riot gear.
Police arrested 12 EDL supporters, eight on suspicion of possessing offensive weapons, three for public order offences and one for being drunk and disorderly.
Aylesbury’s police commander Superintendent Richard List said that “most of the day passed off peacefully but unfortunately there were outbreaks of violence and disorder which had to be dealt with by police officers”.
EDL say they are merely protesting against militant Islam and the construction of “mega-mosques”.
Today’s clash in Buckinghamshire was the latest in a series of demonstrations that have resulted in street battles between Muslim youth, anti-fascist protesters and EDL supporters.
This morning more than 100 Unite Against Fascism (UAF) protesters, made up of local people including trade unions and religious groups, gathered in the town’s Vale Park.
The UAF claim that the EDL is an extreme right wing organisation made up of football hooligans with links to neo-Nazi groups.
Muhammad Saleem a spokesperson from the UAF said that “despite their best efforts, the EDL was unable to break the harmonious coexistence between different ethnic and religious groups in and around Aylesbury”.
The EDL emerged in March last year after a small group of Muslim anti-war protesters heckled soldiers from the Royal Anglian Regiment who were parading through Luton after a tour in Afghanistan. Local football supporters clashed with the anti-war demonstrators and as a result of this formed the now infamous group.
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March For England
About 150 people joined the nationalist March For England parade through Brighton. They were opposed by roughly the same number of protesters who claimed the event was racist and supported by the far right English Defence League. Brighton, UK, 25.04.10.
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Scuffles at BNP Event
A scuffle erupted on the streets of Croydon as the British National Party presented some of its candidates for the forthcoming local and Westminster elections. London, UK. 15/04/10.
One anti-fascist protester broke through a police cordon and tried to punch a BNP member before being tackled to the ground and taken away by police officers..The BNP was presenting its candidates outside the headquarters of the UK Border Agency, in south London..Anti-fascist protesters were waiting for the BNP outside Lunar House where the event was taking place. They shouted “Nazi scum. Off our streets” and “Smash the BNP”.
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EDL Dudley Clashes at Right-Wing Demo
Police arrested 12 people on Saturday after far-right EDL demonstrators clashed with officers during an anti Islam protest in the West Midlands town of Dudley, 03-04-10.
Under heavy police escort around 3000 English Defense League (EDL) protesters marched on Dudley town center to protest against the construction of a new mosque.
There were outbreaks of disorder when containment fences were knocked over during the demonstrations. Barriers were torn down and hundreds of EDL protesters broke police lines, charged into the streets of Dudley and in the direction of the Unite Against Fascism counter protest.
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EDL Bolton – Dozens Arrested in Clashes at Rally
UK, Bolton – 20.03.10. Dozens of people were arrested and several injured during a rally organised by the controversial far right EDL in Lancashire. Hundreds of police used dogs, riot gear and a helicopter to control the English Defence League protest and a counter-demonstration organised by Unite Against Fascism, in Victoria Square, Bolton.
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EDL March on Parliament
About 400 members of the English Defence League marched in support of far right Dutch MP Dutch Geert Wilders as police tried to keep them apart from anti-fascist counter-protesters. UK, London – 07.03.10.
Earlier Wilders had shown his anti-Islam film in the House of Lords sparking angry scenes outside Parliament.
The mostly white crowd assembled outside Tate Britain, downriver from parliament, to listen to speeches by EDL leaders. Guramit Singh the only south Asian supporter present addressed the crowd calling “on all religions” to “eradicate Islam”. He ended his speech to a cheering crowd proclaiming “God bless the Muslims, they’ll need it when they’re burning in fucking hell”.
Flanked by mounted police, the far right demonstrators, marched towards Parliament chanting “no surrender” and waving St George flags. They were kept apart from dozens of anti- racism demonstrators, who gathered outside the Houses of Parliament, by police officers. Around 50 united against fascism protesters had earlier been arrested for blocking the road.
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Scottish Defence League Humiliated in Edinburgh
Around 100 right-wing anti-Islam protesters were corralled in a pub by police, while 3000 anti-racism demonstrators marched through Edinburgh city centre.
Scotland’s capital was brought to a standstill as a force of 700 police officers were deployed keep the two rival groups apart.
Scotland United, , a coalition of politicians, faith groups, and trade unions staged a peaceful march from Prince Street Gardens to Edinburgh Central Mosque. Osama Saeed, SNP candidate for Glasgow Central, who led the rally said “today was further humiliation for the SDL, they got 10 minutes in the rain last November in Glasgow , they didn’t even get that today”.
The Scottish Defence League, an offshoot of the English Defence League are a anti-Muslim group made up of football casuals and British loyalist, spent most of their day detained inside a police cordon on Edinburgh’s Royal mile.
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BNP’s Whites Only Policy in the Dock
The British National Party (BNP) was given one last chance to scrap its whites-only policy. UK, London – 28.01.10.
BNP leader Nick Griffin was told at Central London County Court that a new party constitution complying with race relations laws must be agreed upon before their next court appearance. An anti-fascist was assaulted outside the central London county court while protesting against the far right Party.
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UAF Launch Anti BNP Campaign in Barking
UK, London – 24.01.10. Around 200 campaigners turned out for Unite Against Fascism’s first day of action against the BNP in Barking & Dagenham. The activists delivered ant BNP leaflets door to door in the Barking and Dagenham ward. The BNP’s leader Nick Griffin is set to stand against Labour MP Margaret Hodge in Barking at the next general election.
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English Defence League Rally Stoke
The English Defence League (EDL) clashed with police as anti-Muslim protest turned violent. UK, Stoke – 23.01.10.
Over 1500 members of the right-wing group started drinking from 11am ahead of Saturday’s march in Stoke. There were scuffles with police when members of the EDL tried to break a cordon preventing them from clashing with members of anti-fascist groups. They sang the National Anthem and Rule Britannia, while others waved St George and Union flags while shouting abusive chants against Muslims. After the main demonstration a group of around 500 EDL marched thought a predominantly Asian area damaging shops and cars.
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English Defence League Rally Nottingham
UK, Nottingham – 05.12.09. English Defence League (EDL) clash with police after a rally in the city centre turned violent. Around 700 EDL marched through Nottingham chanting “Muslim bombers off our streets & no surrender to the Taliban”. A counter protest was held by Unite Against Fascism (UAF) and supporters, who clam that the EDL is racist organisation. There were sporadic skirmishes between EDL member and UAF protesters. The police made a number of arrests and closed major roads during the protests. The EDL clam that they are simply protesting against radical Islam.
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Scottish Defence League Rally Glasgow
UK, Glasgow – 14.11.09. Over 1,500 anti-fascists protesters marched through Glasgow city center, in opposition to the Scottish Defence League (SDL). Around 120 SDL – an offshoot of the English Defence League – had been attempting to hold an “anti-Islamist” demonstration, but for most of the day were confined to a pub by police. Heavy policing kept both group apart.
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National Front Remembrance Sunday
UK, London – 08.11.09. Around 100 National Front members and supporters marched from Brissenden Place, Victoria to the Cenotaph in Whitehall. The far right NF parade in London on Remembrance Sunday annually.
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English Defence League Rally Leeds
UK, Leeds – 31.10.09. Around 500 people attended the English Defence League rally in City Square, Leeds. The ELD were protesting against Islamic extremism, and claim not to have links to right wing political parties or fascists groups. Police imposed a lock-down around the area where the EDL gathered.
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EDL Protest against Al-Quds Day Rally
UK, London – 13.09.09. The English Defiance League staged a protest against a peaceful Pro-Palestine demon. The yearly Al-Quds rally for Palestinian drew around 2000 people who marched through the central London area. They were met by Around 30 EDL supporters at Piccadilly Circus. The EDL member’s chanted “Muslim bombers off our streets.” Heavy policing kept both groups apart.
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Antifascists Stop BNP Press Conference
UK, London – 09.06.09. BNP leader Nick Griffin was forced to abandon a press conference outside of Parliament today after anti fascist demonstrators disrupted the event. Griffin was less than two minutes into the press conference when a group of over 50 protesters appeared. He was pelted with eggs before being bundled into a car by BNP security.