Unions back Leicester protest against racist EDL on 9 October
Last Updated on Monday, 04 October 2010 16:13 Monday, 04 October 2010 16:09
Leicester trade union branches and people from a range of faith and community groups are backing a protest against the racist English Defence League on Saturday 9 October.
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The EDL is an organisation of racist thugs with links to the British National Party and other fascist groups. It has particularly targeted Muslims in an attempt to stir racist division and hatred, and has announced it is planning to march in Leicester on 9 October.
Determined
Antiracists are determined to turn out in the city centre to show their opposition to the EDL’s racism and division. The protest against the EDL, called by Leicester UAF, is backed by the following union branches and organisations:
Leicester City GMB, Leicestershire CWU, Leicester Unite 0168M, Leicester University UCU, Leicestershire Health Unison, Leicester and District TUC, Indian Workers Association, PCS DWP Leicester General, PCS Leicester HMRC. A meeting of Sikhs at a main Gurdwara on Sunday also backed the protest.
Ban won’t stop EDL
Home secretary Theresa May has issued a ban on the EDL’s proposed march, but such bans do not apply to static protests. The EDL is also reported to have said it will ignore the ban.
UAF joint secretary Weyman Bennett said:
"Our event against the EDL will be going ahead on Saturday 9 October. I’m pleased that so many Leicester people and organisations are backing the protest against the racists and fascists in the EDL – our antiracist event will show that the city is proud of its unity among people of all races, religions and backgrounds.
The police and home office ban only applies to marches. Calling for bans is never an effective way to stop racists and fascists from organising, and the EDL have said they will ignore it anyway. Our demonstration on Saturday 9 October is going ahead, and will show that Leicester rejects racism and division."
Weyman added that there will be a national demo in November to raise the campaign against the EDL and the BNP to a higher level.
"We know that people around the country are deeply opposed to the EDL and are fed up of these racist thugs turning up in our towns and cities. We want to take the campaign against them up a gear, by broadening and deepening our movement. And we need to show that the sort of anti-Muslim racism – or Islamophobia – that the EDL try to whip up is as unacceptable as any other sort of racism. That’s why we have called a national demo for 6 November.
It is backed by 17 national unions and we want to make sure there is a turnout from local union brances, colleges, workplaces and schools. If you are angry at the EDL and the BNP, help us build the 6 November demo. It is an opportunity to show the strength of opposition to racism, fascism and Islamophobia and to start to push the EDL into the margins."