Also on this page:

-Facebook & web links
-Love Music Hate Racism gig
-‘We Are Bristol’/ Unite Against Fascism (UAF)
-Should the EDL be banned?
-Bristol AntiFascists
-Muslamic Ray Guns video

According to this article on Bristol Indymedia…

http://bristol.indymedia.org/article/708034

…the racist ‘English Defence League’ are planning to come to Bristol on 21st July (Harbour Festival Weekend! Although the date is now thought to be 14th July.) In our fight against the cuts, our unity is our strength and everything that the EDL fights for is about the division of the people along religious or ethnic lines with the latest scape-goated minority being the muslims. They are nothing more that the Tories’ lackeys- helping them push through their vicious attacks on the working and middle classes.

Mutual Admiration: EDL leader Stephen Yaxley-Lennon has recently expressed support for Norwegian mass murderer Anders Breivik in an interview with a Norwegian newspaper. He called Breivik “smart” and said the murders he carried out would have been easier to justify if they had been perpetrated against Muslims. In the past Breivik has also praised the EDL. More here: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/edl-leader-forced-to-deny-praising-anders-breivik-7640181.html

Hundreds of people are already organising to oppose the EDL demo should it actually happen. There is a very active Facebook event page called ‘DEFEND BRISTOL FROM THE EDL AND RACIST HATRED’ (formerly ‘SMASH THE EDL WHEN THEY COME TO BRISTOL’)… Please BE WARNED: this page is not for the faint-hearted it contains posts from EDL supporters and others with very strong & offensive language. The page admin’s will remove posts and ban people if requested but they are trying to let the EDL make fools of themselves where possible (which usually works!)

DEFEND BRISTOL FROM THE EDL AND RACIST HATRED (formerly SMASH THE EDL WHEN THEY COME TO BRISTOL) Facebook event

There is also a less confrontational, possibly more heavily moderated and definitely less well attended event page here…

EDL Counter Demo, Bristol – 14/7/12

There is also an anti EDL Facebook page here…

Still Laughing At The English Defence League

…And an anti-EDL website here…

http://www.edlnews.co.uk/

Also as part of the build up to opposing the Bristol EDL demo, on Friday 22nd June, ‘Love Music Hate Racism’ are putting on the second of two gigs at The Thunderbolt, Bath Road: DJ Don Letts, Zen Hussies, Animal Cricus – an evening of multi-cultural musical mayhem. Details here.

This is a statement put out by We Are Bristol. Please email your name union/organisation and email address to southwestuaf@gmail.com or like this note

WE ARE BRISTOL

                        Supported by Unite Against Fascism.

Celebrating diversity – resisting racism and fascism. 

The English Defence League (EDL) has announced its intention to hold a March and Rally here in Bristol on July 14th.

The EDL is a violent, racist group riddled with fascists, dedicated to promoting hatred and intolerance in society. We agree that Islamophobia –  bigotry against Muslims – is as unacceptable as any other form of racism. The EDL aims to create divisions in society by using diversity as a cause for hatred rather than celebration. The EDL is trying to create a street movement to terrorise ethnic minority communities and attack socialist and Trade Union organisations

They have staged many provocative demonstrations across the UK over the past three years. Whenever the EDL march they bring disruption and violence. We do not want that here in Bristol.

The route they are planning is through the city centre and coincides with Bristol Pride – We are: Proud – , itself a celebration of diversity. Pride is a celebration of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. It is organised by the LGBT community for the people of the South West. There is no place for the EDL here in Bristol’s multi-cultural, multi-racial and multi-faith community.

WE ARE BRISTOL is a broad-based network of local community groups, political organisations and Trade Unionists and, supported by Unite Against Fascism, will organise a counter demonstration to keep the EDL out of our city. We urge all decent people of this community – irrespective of colour, faith or beliefs to join us in opposing the EDL. They want to create hatred and division – Let’s Unite to stop them.

Please add your name to the growing list of supporters.

WE ARE BRISTOL and Unite Against Fascism

WE ARE BRISTOL can offer speakers and publicity for your union branch, community group, church or mosque.

For more information or to send messages of support please contact southwestuaf@gmail.com

Next ‘We are Bristol’ meeting is this Friday 1st June at 7.00pm at Malcolm X Centre, 141 City Road, Bristol BS2 8YH & featured guest speaker John Carlos (Olympic medallist & anti-racist campaigner) (details here).

Should the EDL be banned?

Green councillor Gus Hoyt argues against in the article: http://www.bristol247.com/2012/05/16/why-the-edl-unfortunately-has-the-right-to-march-in-bristol-35697/

Here is a statement from ‘Defend our Multicultural Society in Bristol. EDL Not Welcome Here’ promoting an e-petieion calling for the EDL march to be banned:

Please sign the e petition on the council web site.

Say “No” to the EDL marching in Bristol

When Lee Jasper, National Chair of BARAC (Black Activists Rising Against the Cuts)  addressed the 200 strong assembly gathered at the Council House last October to Celebrate and Defend our Multicultural Society in Bristol, he warned that racial tensions and scapegoating are likely to increase at times of recession and economic hardship. He stressed that public sector cuts will hit black, ethnic minority and working class communities the hardest, both as providers and recipients of public services and that the need to organise and resist the cuts and racism was vital.

The petition below – signed by many trade unions, faith and community groups, will be presented to councillors in Bristol, stating that the English Defence League (EDL) are not welcome here and that the council should call on the Home Secretary to ban them coming to Bristol.

Please add your support by signing the on line petition on the council web site .Many thanks.

http://epetitions.bristol.gov.uk/epetition_core/community/petition/1858

We, the undersigned call on our council to call on Theresa May, Home Secretary to ban the English Defence League’s proposed march in Bristol on July 14. We know only too well how destructive these demonstrations can be.

The EDL aim to bring a message of hatred to our city. Last year’s tragedy in Norway illustrates the devastating effect this kind of hatred can have on communities if left unchecked.

The EDL must not be able to bring their message of hate and division to places where diversity is a strength not a weakness.

We welcome and take pride in our multicultural community in Bristol. The warm response for the public statement and events to “Welcome, Celebrate and Defend Our Multicultural Society in Bristol”, that we and many councillors supported, is one sign of this.

The EDL are not welcome here. There must be no place for hatred in our communities. The EDL’s marches in Telford, Tower Hamlets and Luton have been banned and now the Home Secretary must ban the march in Bristol.

We oppose anyone who would wish to incite hatred against others because of their religious belief, ethnic origin or sexual orientation

The Home Secretary must act, and act now to ensure that the EDL is not able to bring its tour of hate to the streets of Bristol.

Below is the link to the letter (printed in the Guardian) that the Bristol one is modelled on, calling for a general ban on the EDL marching in all cities but mentioning Tower Hamlets in particular as that was impending. It was supported by Tower Hamlets council (who voted unanimously in favour) and national and local organisations including UNITE, CWU, Unite Against Fascism (UAF), Muslim Council of Britain, Anglican Bishop of Stepney, Assembly of Reform Rabbis UK, United East End and the leader of Glasgow Council.

http://www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/news__events/news/august/call_on_home_secretary_to_ban.aspx

To see initial list of signatories for the Bristol statement go to

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/ban-the-edl-marching-in-bristol/

For more information 0776 6432 413

Defend our Multicultural Society in Bristol. EDL Not Welcome Here.

Bristol Anti-Fascists

Bristol AntiFascists are appealing for money to fund anti-EDL activities and publications. They also have leaflets and stickers to distribute. Email bristolantifascists@riseup.net if you can help with either.

…And Finally… Muslamic Ray Guns…

…Here’s a hilarious video edited (and autotuned!) from an interview with an EDL member by Press TV…

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