The rise of the English Defence League

A new violent fascist threat on the streets of the UK

The English Defence League (EDL) is a group of racists and football hooligans with close links to the fascist British National Party. When the EDL went to Manchester in October 2009, Muslim graves were desecrated. When the EDL went to Stoke-on-Trent in January 2010, the words “Islam scum” and “EDL” were daubed on a local mosque. Islamophobia — bigotry against Muslims — is as unacceptable as any other form of racism. Its aim is to divide us by making scapegoats of one community, as the Nazis did with the Jews in the 1930s. Today they threaten mosques, tomorrow it could be a synagogue, temple or church. Today they threaten Muslims, tomorrow it could be Jews, Hindus, Sikhs, black, Asian or Eastern European people, travellers or lesbian, gay and transgender people.

EDL supporters have been caught on camera giving Nazi salutes during their rallies and marches.The EDL has links with the BNP and other fascist organisations.

We have beaten fascists and racists before by standing up in unity against them. We cannot stand by and let these racists attack any section of our community.

Unite Against Fascism, working with local communities has mobilised thousands of people in peaceful demonstrations to show that the EDL are not welcome, and when necessary to defend communities from direct attack. This was most notable in the big events in 2010 in Dudley, in the Midlands (working with One Dudley — Many Cultures) and Tower Hamlets in East London (with United East End) in the first few months of 2010. The success of these campaigns has led to a number of planned EDL demonstrations being called off.

Just as the BNP must be kept out of the political arena, the EDL must be given no space on our streets.