English Defence League to march in Stoke…

Posted on by

The highly controversial far-right English Defence League are set to march in Stoke Town Centre.

The EDL plan to descend on our city on the 23rd January 2010.

The EDL originated from a group named "United Peoples of Luton", formed in response to a March 2009 protest against Royal Anglian Regiment troops returning from the war in Afghanistan.

The British National Party are very keen to distance themselves from the EDL. It is known however that a key BNP activist, Chris Renton, designed the EDL’s website.

The BNP have warned their members that anyone who is associated or involved with the EDL will be open to disciplinary action. The EDL claim that it is their aim to demonstrate peacefully in English Cities against what they perceive to be the spread of Islamism, Sharia law and Islamic extremism in England.

Their demonstrations have sometimes resulted in violent clashes with Unite Against Facism and other groups. In August the EDL and the UAF clashed at a demo in Birmingham which led to 35 arrests.

In early September, again in Birmingham, there were 90 arrests at a EDL demo. Further trouble has been reported in Manchester and Leeds following clashes between the EDL and the UAF.

There have also been alleged threats made to a number of journalist covering EDL marches which has been confirmed by the National Union of Journalists.

Several Police units are understood to be investigating the activities of the EDL.

Earlier this month the EDL marched in Nottingham and although there were only minor scuffles the cost of policing the event was estimated at some £1 million.

There have been Facebook groups set up to protest about the proposed march in Stoke.

This entry was posted in News and tagged , , , by Tony Walley. Bookmark the permalink.

About Tony Walley

I was Abbey Hulton born and bred, now live in Meir Hay. I'm married to Nita, we have 2 kids Tom 19 & Amy 17. I'm the Managing Director of a local aluminium stockist. I'm also a radio presenter and presented sport on radio for a number of years, more recently for Focal Radio. It was on Focal that I got the chance to present a programme of my favourite music genre which is Soul & Smooth Jazz. The programme was really popular and attracted overseas listeners online. Look out for our new venture www.6towns.co.uk - Community Radio for the good folk of the 6 Towns! I was the original creator of the blog Pits'n'Pots which gained some credibility when Mike Rawlins joined the site and has now blossomed into this site. I love sport particularly Golf & Tennis. I packed up playing football some years ago when I started picking up lot's of fines for bookings from late tackles! I play golf at Leek Golf Club and Tennis at Draycott Sports Centre.

Have Your Say

  • Bill Cawley

    I did look on a few Muslim websites and read blogs after the demonstration against the Royal Anglian Regiment in Luton last March. Most of the comments were opposed to the demonstration, some vehemently regarded the participants as hotheads and that there would be a reaction against Muslims generally.

    It would be a terrible mistake to assume a view that all Muslims support the position taken by the demonstraters. Most want to get on peaceably with their neighbours

    As for the EDL, I saw Denham’s comments comparing them to the 30s BUF and it is interesting that they choose to march in Stoke in January. In the 30s the BUF were very strong in Stoke having 500 members- the largest membership outside London. Of course Mosley did have some local connections.

    For whatever reason is Stoke particularly susceptible to far right activity?

  • David Perry

    The English Defence League are a bit of a joke, but potentially a dangerous one. It would seem that after that disgusting demo by Anjem Choudhary and co in Luton some footie hooligans saw the public reaction and realised that they had a way of gaining respectability in the public eye.
    There is absolutely no doubt that known hooligans are involved with the group. There is little doubt that their intent is to inflame the situation and they strive for confrontation at every opportunity seeking to radicalise more muslims.
    Anyone with an iota of intelligence should see these people for what they really are. They are NOT politically motivated like the BNP. They are football thugs who realise that the “away days” are coming to end because of the standard of policing at football games. Therefore they are now targetting British muslims under the current climate, hoping public opinion will get the authorities to turn a blind eye if they do decide to turn to violence. They know the public have no tolerance for footie violence but believe they may tolerate violence against muslims.

  • Impartial Observer

    “For whatever reason is Stoke particularly susceptible to far right activity?”

    Try some of these:

    - Poor history of educational attainment.
    - Comparatively low wages.
    - High levels of deprivation.
    - Cyclical inter-generational unemployment.
    - Uncertainty and despair at loss of traditional economic base.
    - Widespread feeling of betrayal by left-wing politicians.

    Now add to the tinder-box:

    - Relatively recent influx of (perfectly legal) immigrants….

    BANG! You get an explosion of right-wing extremism.

    The factors above are just a few reasons why I think this fascination with the far-right in the city is a symptom, rather than the primary problem. Nasty symptom nonetheless.

    Tackling racist extremism with political solutions is like trying to treat cancer with painkillers. You’re just focusing on the immediate symptom, not the root causes.

    The bigots who fill the EDL’s ranks were always there. But now the conditions are right for them to crawl from their ponds and show themselves in large(ish) numbers. They sense that there has been a shift in opinion in areas like Luton and Stoke which makes their brand of mindless hatred more acceptable, although they seem to have misjudged Birmingham, thankfully.

    How should we welcome them? I would love to see the streets lined with people of all ages and races, all standing calmly and booing these idiots so loudly that they abandon their march and goose-step back to Luton.

  • http://lancasteruaf.blogspot.com/ Ketlan

    ‘The British National Party are very keen to distance themselves from the EDL. It is known however that a key BNP activist, Chris Renton, designed the EDL’s website.’

    There are many more connections to the BNP and other racist groups than that – ten minutes with Google will supply the information.

    It has also become clear that the EDL is not simply objecting to the ‘spread’ of Sharia in the UK at all. If it was, it would enter into a dialogue with Muslim groups where and when possible. It doesn’t because, like the BNP, it is simply anti-Muslim. More info here: http://lancasteruaf.blogspot.com/2009/12/harrow-mosque-shunned-by-islamophobics.html

    Finally, Stoke may want to cover any ancient monuments up before the EDL arrive. They are no respectors of antiquity, as witnessed here: http://lancasteruaf.blogspot.com/2009/12/piss-poor-edl-defending-englands.html

  • David Perry

    Oh yes, apparently these “oh so proud of their country” types pissed all over a load of monuments when they marched in Nottingham. Their placards do send the message that they are simply anti-muslim, not just extremists. I also find it bizarre that they are going to great to lengths to highlight BME members. Why? It’s pretty clear they don’t want to be seen as another racist organisation but at the same time their members post things on line that reinforce that stereotype. So which is it?

  • Long Tall Sally

    Excellent comments from all above.

    The EDL are a menace, a lot just using the anti-extremism claim as an excuse to get beered up and fight, but with some more sinister figures pulling the strings.

  • Bill Cawley

    Impartial Observer

    I understand the list of reasons that you gave e.g. poverty and low educational attainment on why the far right have done so well but the list is not exclusive to Stoke and could apply to most cities in the UK.

    The exact list could apply to Liverpool, but the experience of that city is that political activity has a left wing focus certainly in the 80s. And add to the mix in Liverpool religious sectarianism- I believe that there was a Protestant Party that won Council seats in the 50s/60s in the City.

    But to get back to Stoke

    My recollection of living in the City in the 60s and 70s on a Council House estate was that there also was an insularity about Stoke and anyone of my generation and older will have witnessed the certainties of life being taken away from them- work, comradeship and respect.

    How many times have I sat in meetings and heard really scornful, disparaging comments, usually by middle class professionals who live some distance away from the place, directed at the people who now live on the estate I used to live.

    We have to give people who live in places like the Abbey a sense of worth and respect which has being leeching away over the years- although it still just about survives in the shape of the sterling characters who live there.

    In a previous post I was enthusiastic about LETS/ Timebanks which might be one vehicle to unlock the potential and reinvigorate the areas and once more give people hope and sense of place.

  • Guest

    I’m still out on the EDL but one thing I will say is I don’t think they are nazis. What i think they are is a reactionary patriotic group full of football orientated men, like some people who opposed the Irish republican movement in the 80s and 90s.

    We’ll have to wait and see what happens with their protest here, but from the chanting of some of Stoke citys football supporters at arsenal a few weeks back it seems they may have a lot of support.

  • Simon

    How about visiting there website to see the truth what they are all about instead of falling for media lie and anti-British far left propaganda

  • GARY

    just checked out the edl site i must say i found it to be very intresting

  • FashHater!

    EDL neo-Nazi scum like Wigan Mike and Lincoln Loyal worship Adolf Hitler, and make frequent Hitler salutes. They would hardly come clean of their true intentions on their propaganda website, would they?

    Skip to NavigationHome Ҽ
    The EDL, the BNP and Stoke by “ËœE. Malatesta’
    Submitted by E. Malatesta on Dec 20 2009 11:03
    tags: UK English Defence League anitfa BNP EDL Stoke UAF
    The EDL, the BNP and the possible co-operation of local football firm “Ëœthe Naughty Forty’ has serious public order implications at the January demonstration in Stoke.

    The EDL, the BNP and Stoke by “ËœE. Malatesta’

    The sudden stepping down of Stoke BNP group leader councillor Alby Walker interestingly coincides with growing anxieties over the January protest by the EDL in the same city, the potential support of local BNP members, the involvement of the local football firm and an enormous bill for heavy policing. Following the EDL’s last performance, the cost to Nottingham is now put at £200,000. This does not bode well for the forthcoming EDL shindig. The way to avoid a repeat of this large sum being passed onto the people of Stoke is to ban the demonstration.

    Stoke BNP
    Alby Walker has stepped down as group leader after 3 years amidst “rumours of growing friction within the group over its future leadership and political direction.” He is only 1 of 9 other councillors but this still bodes ill for Stoke BNP as Walker is seen as someone who can actually perform rudimentary council work. It is a generally acknowledged fact that BNP councillors do not have a great record: when they realise that they are not leading the Aryan revolution but have to sit in on dull meetings about street lights and refuse collection many first lose interest and then their positions through laziness, boredom or failure to get re-elected. The list of crap councillors is as entertaining as it is inept.
    http://www.zen26144.zen.co.uk/articles/crapcouncillors.htm

    However, Stoke BNP are seen by some to have created a stronghold and one that is unwilling to be influenced by party HQ down south or by other northern Nazi factions. One poster on the Northwest Nationalist forum claims: “Stoke BNP have been rather strange. They seem to have kept themselves away from both Griffin and us.” Another replied: “Stoke BNP have got it right, they don’t like interference from head or regional office and have some great people “¦ Stoke is BNP heaven for canvassing.” Stoke has a large white working class community and their various resentments are something that the BNP have capitalised on.

    The Stoke Firm
    Stoke City’s football firm The Naughty 40 or N40 have established a reputation for being game. The Stoke hooligans were also involved with the Oldham riots in 2001 when the N40 joined up with Oldham’s Fine Young Casuals and caused mayhem. However, Mark Chester, N40 member and author, thinks that this connection was overplayed and wrote “with the Stoke firm racism was never an issue, so never on our agenda ““ and I must reiterate that.” They had originally gone for a ruck with the Oldham lads but then became embroiled in the rioting. Whether the N40 still comply with Mark Chester’s sentiments will be seen in January.

    It is important to understand the football firm mentality here. Despite the fact that many teams are sworn enemies and harbour long held grudges, during England games in particular, these rivalries are often put aside for the “Ëœgreater good’ of “Ëœsupporting’ England by smashing up bars and urinating in the streets. In 2001, the Stoke and Oldham firms put their differences aside and attacked the Asian community, sparking reprisals. Although the EDL/Casuals United comprise many different firms it is unlikely that the N40 will attack them for “Ëœtaking liberties’ on their turf. Firms have long kept in regular contact through mobile phones and the internet to organise rows but despite this technology the increased surveillance and heavy policing means it is very difficult for them to meet up. What the EDL does is give the chance for firms to get together, drink heavily and have a go at the police and any Muslim or anti-fascist protestors whilst carrying out a “Ëœlegitimate political protest.’ Something which they are unable to do on match day. It is a justifiable fear that the N40 may well link up with local BNP supporters and the EDL with the inevitable outcome of multiple arrests, scuffling, the EDL being kettled into a Wetherspoon’s or similar and the people of Stoke ending up paying for it all.

    The EDL, Nazis & The BNP
    The EDL continued claims to be non-violent, non-racist, non-BNP and non-Nazi have been shown time and again to be a complete and utter falsehood. A quick survey of arrests at EDL demos seems to counter any idea that they are for peaceful purposes. They claim to our English heritage but how urinating on Nottingham Castle does this remains unclear. 16 EDL were arrested in Nottingham, 7 on Public Order Offences. The documentary footage clearly shows the EDL having a go at the cops when they were kettled in at the Castle. At the Manchester do police arrested 44:
    “Twenty-nine were arrested on suspicion of public order offences, four were arrested for affray, three for possession of an offensive weapon ““ one of whom was also arrested for possession of drugs. Three men were arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated public order offences. Five were arrested for on suspicion of breach of the peace.
    Hardly non-violent: a further 90 arrested in Birmingham in September and 35 at the one in July. There have been skirmishes with opposing demonstrators but the majority of friction is between the EDL and the cops. The EDL does not seem to be promoting peaceful demonstrations in any way and whatever the leadership says about liaising with the cops, video evidence shows that they have little control over who comes on the demos and how they behave. The EDL claim to be not-anti-Islam but anti-Extremism but how these demonstrations actually stop this is extremely vague. Picketing a mosque is one thing but holing up in city centre pubs with the inevitable police containment seems pointless and further illustrates the fact that they just want to drink, fight and cause trouble.

    There are documented examples of the EDL singing racist songs like and images of them Sieg-Heiling. Despite attempting to stamp out the Sieg Heil brigade the leadership of the EDL have systematically failed to do so. Any resolution of demonstrators to not salute is swiftly dissolves in gallons of lager. As for the claims to be multi-ethnic, the vast majority of people on their demos appear to be white, shaven headed, angry looking geezers.

    Despite the BNP’s Nick Griffin calling the EDL a “proscribed organisation” members are clearly involved and have been connected to the EDL, not least the likes of Chris Renton who set up the website and Liverpool BNP member Liam Pinkham, who has been done for racially aggravated intentional harassment. The EDL claim to hate Nazis and there was an altercation earlier this year between Combat 18 members and the EDL which ended with a C18 member being battered with a fire extinguisher. Others have put this down to inter-firm rivalries. Regardless, what the leadership say on their websites and what happens on the streets are usually completely different things. On the website they claim that they will stop the Sieg-Heiling. They have not.
    http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/12/443283.html?c=on#comments

    The EDL claim that the images are biased and they are really holding their arms aloft in traditional football style. The evidence does not support this. They claim that they do not want Nazis on their demonstrations but then the likes of Michael Heaton, associated with the Aryan Strike Force, the tiny BFF and the NF is photographed in attendance. Heaton has undeniable Nazi links and has also just been arrested for soliciting murder. The EDL leaders are keen to publicly discourage any anti-social behaviour but perhaps not meeting in the pub might help with this. On the EDL’s sister website, Casuals United they appeal for calm:
    “things like charging at police and singing “Harry Roberts” songs aren’t gonna get Joe public to join demos “¦ I know a lot of you are ex-lads, but this ain’t a football match, its a serious protest group.”
    These appeals seem to fall on the waxen ears of protestors.

    The Nazis & EDL
    On Northwest Nationalists, the far right anti-Griffinite site, there is a difference of opinion over the outcomes of Stoke with one poster having seen “this one half caste guy about 45 with the stoke mob with a 70s style afro who was stood on a table taunting the old bill shouting B,B,BNP.” To their general amusement. Others are not impressed and between the UAF and the Zionist stooges” they “couldn’t care less which of these gangs ends up with more casualties.” This accusation of being covertly run by an “Ëœevil Jewish cabal’ is a common worry on these websites: “there is clearly a Zionist influence behind the scenes of the EDL.” The BFF website also agrees: “because there [sic] are part of ZOGs footsoliders [sic].” However, illiteracy apart, for some at NWN, “at least the edl get of [sic] there arses and get out on the street.” The determinedly non-Nazi, non-racist, EDL responded to comments by inviting the NWNers to the demo:
    “maybe tag along to one theres two in the midlands stoke and dudley in new year. you colud [sic] then find out for yourself what there all about.”
    Inviting known Nazis to your demo is probably not the best way to “Ëœstamp out’ the Sieg-Heiling.

    Conclusion
    That the situation in Stoke is potentially volatile is beyond doubt: the EDL will hope to pull numbers, local BNP supporters (not necessarily members) will no doubt get involved and the Naughty 40 and other firms may drop by with tea and cakes. There will be a large anti-fascist counter demonstration and a massive police presence. When all the smoke clears, as with Nottingham, it will be the good people of Stoke who end up paying for it all. The only way to avoid this, the inevitable violence and arrests, the general disruption to the city is to ban it.

    E. Malatesta

  • Site_Admin
  • Ian Norris

    FashHater: And you views on Kettling as a police tactic “The documentary footage clearly shows the EDL having a go at the cops when they were kettled in at the Castle” Is that not the intent of Kettling to deny Protesters access to water, food warmth or access to toilet facilities Were EDL “urinating on Nottingham Castle” as an attack on English Heritage or as protest against being Kettled?

    If NorScarf promote their cause of anti white extremist in another area well away from EDL, who can EDL be Violent too? EDL then can do there lawful protest against Islamic Extremists and everyone has and their say in a peaceful and productive way, unless police decide to kettle both groups.

    As for Banning the EDL demonstration will you (or NorScarf) also call for the banning of any Islam4uk marches or for action to taken against those distributing or fly posting Islam4uk (or similar group) around the City (and not by their elders)

  • Ian Norris

    A call to arms then by the peacefull NorScarf, “when all the smoke clears” is that from NorScarf candle lite vigile, or is E. Malatesta planning something more hardcore, as Islam4UK claim that “Islamically speaking only Muslims and children are innocent. “?

  • Ian Norris

    http://libcom.org/user/e-malatesta

    Member for
    6 hours 24 min

    his busy spreading the word

    Cllr Barnes you reaction to the provication across the UK

  • Ian Norris

    Oh dear what going on here, Cllr Barnes

    Muslim protesters pelt Tory peer Baroness Warsi with eggs during walkabout in Luton

    Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1232153/Baroness-Warsi-pelted-eggs-walkabout-Luton.html#ixzz0aFqCBC74

    Many will remember her from Question Time with Nick Griffin

    The male protesters accused her of not being a proper Muslim and supporting the death of Muslims in Afghanistan.

    http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/8387331.stm

    Video included

    http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/beds/bucks/herts/8387110.stm

  • terry turbo

    Nice one Ian spot on as usual.
    The one on Baroness Warsi shows how much the Muslim men think of “the most powerfull Muslim woman”
    As for Malatesta, what a load of left wing garbage.

  • David Jack

    She’s a bit young for a peer isnt she?

    There is no place in British society for sharia law, never has been and never will be. Most British Muslims are also against the voilence and abuse that these new islamic extremists breed, the problem is the goverment havent stepped in to say what most policitians know but wont say either and that is we are a christian based society with charitable compasion, not a nation waiting for some holly muslim leader to dictate to us the principles of a religion still stuck in the dark ages in some communties eyes.

    We need to stop pandering to sensitivities and tell the truth, then and only then will politicians regain the trust of the electorate.

    Controversial i know, but then again who knows, i could set a new standard for others whom seek election too?

  • Craig Pond

    There is a very real problem, not only in Britain but across europe, with the creeping islamification of these lands.
    Here in Stoke-on-Trent, the foul lies spread by Islam4UK are allowed to pass with out comment, yet when the British stand up to complain, out come the lefties with their favourite vocabulary of racist, fascist.

    You are bellyaching hypocrites of the worst kind. You label these EDL members as violent thugs, but it is the far left that has time after time provoked violence in situations the likes of which we’ll see in January, and it’s long past time that the public saw you uaf scum for the troublemakers you are.
    If any group needs reining in, it is these far left
    pressure groups that offer nothing but violence and negativity, who come on to our estates with their lies and smears but don’t produce anything any realistic alternatives in the way of policy ideas.

  • Searchlight Fan

    Who do the EDL do Hitler salutes if they are anti-, racist, Mister Troll-In-Chief Trevor KKKelway???

    Searchlight have an excellent article on the ugly face of British football hooligan fascism on the Hope Not Hate website. They are first class researchers who help dig the dirt on neo-nazi groups like the EDL, BNP and NF.

    Searchlight are a trusted source of information on the British fascist scene, and Lancaster Unity are also great!

    http://www.lancasteruaf.blogspot.com

    Lancaster Unity are closer to Hope Not Hate than the UAF since they broke aay from the UAF to become independent.

    http://www.hopenothate.org.uk

  • treehugger

    Well said craig pond, i agree with everything you say, i also think that the political correctness that this government seems to be obsessed with along with a distinct lack of backbone is partly to blame. It is also interesting to note how the loony lefties fall strangly quiet when it comes to muslims demonstrating on the streets & spewing thier vile hatred & carrying banners calling for the beheading of all who insult islam & such nonsense. Then we have groups like norSCARF & thier vigil against intolerance. It seems to me that islam is the most intolerent culture on the planet & far more akin to nazis than anyone protesting against the islamification of this country.Perhaps a vigil against islam would benefit this country far more. I do not consider myself a racist or a facist yet i am labled as one just because i do not like the idea of my children growing up in a country dominated by muslims & their fanatical intolerant ideology. If the do gooders fighting for the rights of muslims get their way there will be public floggings & hanging of gays on our streets within another few years when we end up living under sharia law.

  • Warren Lloyd

    Only one way to deal with this f—–g bag of biggots, let the cavemen drag there knuckels round the streets, some may keel over dead thought loss of blood, but what the hell, see if I care. Ignore them, we’ll bound to get the touring left wing prats giveing them whatfor, but they are just as bad. I don’t think the locals sould give any ofvthen the time of day, just tell both sides to f off and do one.

  • Nigel

    [quote=Craig Pond]There is a very real problem, not only in Britain but across europe, with the creeping islamification of these lands.
    Here in Stoke-on-Trent, the foul lies spread by Islam4UK are allowed to pass with out comment, yet when the British stand up to complain, out come the lefties with their favourite vocabulary of racist, fascist.

    You are bellyaching hypocrites of the worst kind. You label these EDL members as violent thugs, but it is the far left that has time after time provoked violence in situations the likes of which we’ll see in January, and it’s long past time that the public saw you uaf scum for the troublemakers you are.
    If any group needs reining in, it is these far left
    pressure groups that offer nothing but violence and negativity, who come on to our estates with their lies and smears but don’t produce anything any realistic alternatives in the way of policy ideas.[/quote]

    First off I certainly don’t support the UAF or NORSCARF but I have to challenge your opinion that the EDL are not a violent organisation.

    The EDL, like you, are against ALL Muslims because they believe all Muslims are extremists.
    They are affiliated with Casuals United, an assorted link of football hooligans. They hold up banners ‘NO MORE MOSQUES’ and are quite fond of screaming “PAKIS OFF OUR STREETS”. Of course the Police in Luton had to ban the EDL because they were attacking innocent women and children who were “unfortunate” enough to be Asian.

    The founders are:

    Jeff Marsh: A 44-year-old convicted football hooligan from Barry, South Wales, Marsh is a Cardiff supporter and has been jailed three times for violence, including a two-year sentence for stabbing two Manchester United fans. He claims to have a degree in criminal justice and has written a book on Welsh hooliganism. He set up the English and Welsh Defence League but appears to be less influential in the current EDL. He attended the protest in Birmingham.

    Chris Renton: A BNP activist from Weston-super-Mare, Renton helped set up the EDL website. When his political links to the BNP emerged the EDL publicly distanced itself from him but he remains an important player behind the scenes. He attended the recent Birmingham protest. His brother is also involved.

    Leisha Brooks: From Southend, Brooks appeared to play an organising role in the Birmingham demonstration, though she did have a pair of knuckledusters confiscated by police on the day. She is friendly with underworld figures such as Dave Courtney, Carlton Leech and Mitch Pyle, son of the gangster Joey Pyle, and also knows Jason Marriner, a Chelsea Headhunter hooligan made famous by the television documentary series, MacIntyre Undercover.

    Trevor Kelway: A Portsmouth-based EDL supporter, Kelway has become a spokesperson for the EDL. In interviews to the press he has pursued the line that the EDL was a peaceful, non-racist organisation. The address he uses for the media traces back to an Afro-Caribbean hairdressers’ in Birmingham.

    Richard Price: An Aston Villa fan, Price was a leading figure in the most recent EDL protest in Birmingham. Aged 39, he claims to be subject to a football banning order and has served time in HMP Ranby. He has attended EDL protests in Birmingham and London.

  • Guest

    Warren,

    You’ve summed the whole thing up. How are you BTW? Getting better I hope.

    Why have they chosen Stoke, a BNP stronghold to hold a demonstration? I’m genuinely puzzled at this.

    Of course the UAF – that other branch of neo-Naz*S will duly show up and if we’re not careful we’ll get the town centre smashed up.

    Ps: fancy Mike Barnes resorting to Sh*t Stirring! I wonder if he’s going to back up his words by getting in there, waving his red flag as he gives the despicable right-wing scum a good kicking?

    No chance – or at least he’ll make sure any carefully stage managed incident gets faithfully recorded by some gullible hack on the Sentinel!

    I’m Pooter BTW. Having a bit of a problem signing in at the moment.

  • Ian Norris

    Or check out

    Tundra Tabloids…….
    Keeping tabs on the most outrageous happenings in the Middle East, Islamist extremism and Islamist hegemony in Scandinavia, and on the political correctness that allows them to flourish

    http://tundratabloid.blogspot.com/search/label/EDL

    Seems splits within all groups in fighting all around, and now PnP linked with Fashwatch

    http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2009/12/443817.html

    Sure to get Antifa down now for a nice ruck

    http://www.antifa.org.uk/foundstat.htm

    I like the way forward as concluded in this report

    http://www.redpepper.org.uk/Anti-fascism-isn-t-working

    2 Focus on policy
    We should develop the “Ëœexpose them’ model into one that, instead of revealing ineffective details about individuals, concentrates on why their polices will not deal with the social problems driving people into their arms. If we cannot make this clear to those already intensely concerned with these issues then our propaganda is failing and is at best talking to those who would never vote BNP anyway. This will require a direct challenge to Searchlight/UAF and other mainstream anti-fascists as they continue to empty their publications of all but the most inane type of content criticised above. This, of course, needs to be linked to the activity of the “Ëœcommunity union’ type groups mentioned above.

    3 Abandon Labour
    Searchlight need to abandon their default pro-Labour position and use their existing networks and resources to get behind local campaigns, actively challenging the conditions that are breeding support for the far right. (This seems unlikely to happen.)

    4 End the marches
    Stop the marches, labelling, shouting, and so on. Marching into an area that you do not know and have no continuing interest in and shouting what’s right for that area is alienating and counter-productive. People do not like being told what’s best for them and will kick back against or simply ignore this sort of activity.

  • treehugger

    OK Warren, this f—ing bag of biggots as you call them may well be going about things the wrong way but all the do gooders out there that are fighting for the rights of muslims in this country & the rest of Europe are leading us all into a situation that we are going to find hard if not impossible to escape from. Maybe when you have finished your mad ranting you may want to check out the link below & maybe take your head out of your backside.

  • Nigel

    There is so many inaccuracies in that propaganda piece you posted, I don’t know where to start.

    First off, it claims 25% of Belgium’s population is Muslim…it’s only 4%. It doesn’t even reach that level in Brussels!

    Theres much, much more flat out lies about birthrates etc. but I can’t be bothered with people like you or Craig.

    I hope others will try to find out the real facts for themselves and that little expose by me opens their eyes to the agenda of people like “treehugger”.

  • terry turbo

    Once again Barnes stirs it and dissapears.
    Maybe their would not be so much trouble if the “peacefull” Muslims decried the extremeist a bit more, instead of keeping quiet.
    One Muslim spoke out against the scum in Luton.
    It should have been more and this problem we would not even be debating.
    As for this march, democracy means they are entitled to march and protest.
    If they are left alone then the police will deal with them if they cause trouble.

  • leachylee

    Here is my view of this whilst not agreeing with the EDL or the BNP I feel we as a country are going down a very dark path indeed if we stop peoples freedom of speech, I think this quote by Che Guevara sums up how I feel “1 mans terrorist is another mans freedom fighter”.

  • Guest

    Dear sitting on the fence. Well we mustn’t.

    Ever stop people’s freedom of speech I mean. After all this is surely why, quite apart from the social services we enjoy, means most of the third world would promptly up sticks and flood here given the chance.

    You quoted good ole’ Che. A bit provocative there don’t you think?

    You surely have to post further as to what your view is?

  • Craig Pond

    It seems to me that the problem is highlighted by some of the hysterical, exaggerated posts above.
    People, whether you like them or not, have a fundamental right to speak out against what they see as
    damaging to their culture, history, or traditions.

    Now it may well be the case that there are a small minority of thugs within the ranks, or associated with, the EDL, but that short memory you pro-islam supporters suffer from has made you forget the uaf rioting outside the BBC because Nick Griffin was appearing there, or the BNPs Red, White, Blue in Derby, where once again, the uaf attacked the police in a completely mindless display of violence.
    Or how about the violence and intimidation at the Oxford Union?
    You make the case for banning the EDL because of the potential for violence, when these are the very tactics being used by the left!

    You should spend some time and read the posts on the Socialist Unity site. Here you will encounter the lefts attitude to casual violence against those they disagree with, yet none of them seem to recognise the hypocricy this position entails.

    There is a point also, that EDL demonstrations have only become violent after confrontation with far left lunatics, and muslim youths deliberately wound up to cause trouble. Not a single instance of this is mentioned despite it being spread all over the internet and media.

    They have a legal right to protest against the islamification of their country, especially when it is happening with no mandate from the people, so those like Barnes who is inciting violence from others toward the EDL with his pathetic ‘let’s demonstrate against them’, knowing full well this is likely to cause trouble, should be as accountable to the courts as any others that set out for trouble.

    Let the march go ahead, stay at home, minimise the chance for trouble on the streets of this city, that is what any responsible adult would do.

  • Warren Lloyd

    Good lord, Pondy thinks I’m a reponceabule adult now, better then being a left wing this that and the other anyway.

  • terry turbo

    Strange how the far lefts politics are good and the far rights is bad?????????

  • Guest

    Totally agree, i have met the EDL in London B’ham and Swansea

  • Craig Pond

    Me thinks this a*seh*le doesn’t understand the meaning of the word “impartial”.

  • Craig Pond

    So what does that make the Unwanted Anal Fungi???
    There are thugs on the left and the right, the lefts tend to be political agitators that have nothing positive for the people though.

  • Mike Rawlins

    [quote=Craig Pond]Unwanted Anal Fungi???[/quote]
    I take it you mean the UAF Craig?

    How old are you? This is what I would expect from my 5 year old nephew.

  • Flora

    Most Jews I know and I am one see the Muslims as threatening but the EDL as not threatening.

    The Muslims are armed and EDL are not and if you look at the Koran 4.89 which says “kill all non-beleivers” you realize just what is prompting the Jihad; you’ve only got to look at the antics of the Jihadists to see this >

    http://thereligionofpeace.com

  • S.H.I.E.L.D

    The EDL are a single issue group, fighting against militant Islam. We invite all people regardless of race, sex or sexuality to join us in this fight. If you want to know more, come to our forum at http://s1.zetaboards.com/EDL_The_Forum/index/ you will be most welcome.
    The EDL also have an informative media site which I recommend you visit first. http://www.edlmedia.com/
    Don’t believe the propaganda that the leftist media and the UAF spew out about the EDL and don’t believe the EDL either. Work it out for your selves, talk to both sides, and various other sources. That’s what I and many of the new EDL supporters have done, and is the reason why EDL support is rising fast.
    Hope to see you at the forum.

    PS. RE: Ketlan who thinks that a few minutes on Google will yield any kind of unbiased objective truth regarding the EDL, or any other group for that matter. You are a complete idiot.

  • Tideswellman

    Interesting stuff. I want to talk to these EDL people. Somebody who knows them step forward.

  • Guest

    Total rubbish,i will be at Stoke on saturday to show how frustrated i am at the way Islamic extremists are allowed to preach hatred in this country,a country which they have no love for but are willing to benefit from in so many ways.I find it very narrow minded of you to give the impression that the English defence league is mainly made up of football hooligans,granted we have a minority who will stir up trouble but do you honestly believe that we are all like that.Could it possibly be that we are just a group of like minded English people who want our children to grow up in a christian country of which they can feel safe.A country which they can call there own and be proud of.I presume you have not had first hand experience of sharia law,please read up on the subject and then ask yourself is the English defence league really just a bunch of football hooligans with no English pride.I am extremely proud to be English and am not willing to just stand by and watch these radicals abuse our nation.The EDL was formed after a group of Islamic extremists abused our troops at there home coming parade.Do you agree of there actions,do you feel the same way about the racist “unite against fascism” or are you one of the do gooder brigade who is so dillusioned to think that there is good in everyone.I really look forward to reading your reply.

  • Andrew

    As a neutral observer, I can’t help but notice that everytime a party decides to support England/British culture then it’s classed as racist! Why is this?
    Why do these partys exist if all is well?
    Where is the representaion for non religious folk in this country?
    Why do opposites like the UAF always stir up trouble at these events and not just let them go by peacefully without much publicity?
    Why are partys like ‘New labour’ not branded as racist? Afterall, they do crusade in the name of the west and democracy in the middle east killing many thousands along the way!

    Why can’t people just be nice and get along?

  • Arfur Towk Rayt

    See you there then. I shall be giving out flyers and talking to people. My flyers say that nature does not prevent any two people in the world from being together – so why does religion? Another one says, ‘DNA Proves I am your brother – I am not an infidel’. Maybe you could give me a hand giving them out! All the best.

  • Arfur Towk Rayt

    I have three perfectly good and moral sons. Why should people who don’t believe any of my sons are good enough to marry their daughters even be allowed to live in the U.K?

  • Guest

    Total nonsense these people are man enough to stand up for the country, they’re are only saying out loud what most people are thinking, so basically your against freedom to go out and feel safe in the mighty country that our ansesstors worked damn hard to build up. I have plenty of asian and ethnic frinds who feel the same about Islamic extremism as i do and want rid of it, no one wants it here, OR ANYWHERE. I dont belive its a racist march I belive its standing up for what we are about.

  • Guest

    I am not a Stokie born and bred, but have lived there for the last five years or so. Lived in Silverdale and worked in Shelton. I originally come from a West Midland town with a large Asian community and all I can say is that Stoke is a strange town, friendly to outsiders, but with a wierdly racist outlook considering it has no massive areas of immigration like Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Leicester or Bradford, and even in the areas it does have there are no ‘No go areas’. So there seems to be little or no friction between the races, though the usual urban myths abound. I was told before I left by a mate (In his 40s) that a friend of a friend had been told by Asian youths that white people were’nt allowed to walk in hanley Park cos it was a ‘Muslim Park’ and that this bloke was frightened for his life. Absolute bollocks. I worked 20 yards from the park and parked my car there every day. I also walked through this park every day, and in no time saw any trouble of any kind, or in any way felt threatened. There are parts of the Black Country and Birmingham where I would definitely not venture alone (Both black and white areas). The first time I heard the above story was after the Preston riots on a news item last year, but someone has taken it and transferred it to Stoke, where people are daft enough to believe it.
    All I can say is that Stoke needs the EDL like it needs a hole in the head. What it really needs is investment and a chance to rebuild industries. When the Black Country steel industries shut down people diversified into small workshops which now abound around the area, but from what I can see this is virtually impossible with a pot bank, and there’s nowt to replace it.
    Finally, I’ve just watched the footage of the EDL rally on their media site and all I can say is the last time I saw such a pantomime it was at the theatre in hanley, with Jonathan wilkes and Sunita out of Coronation Street.

  • smofstar

    Dear Mr Arfur Towk Rayt
    I believe that your sons are good and moral, i also believe that if one of them came home and wished to marry a girl from a non-english background it would be you and your EDL community of friends who would disown them. There are many many couples in Stoke on Trent and across the UK who come from very different backgrounds both economically and culturally, in fact i know one lovely young couple who the one is jewish and the other muslim! So “kick that ball against a wall till it breaks” down all the hatred fear prejudice and ignorance which sets person against person, human being against human being.

  • smofstar

    Dear Mr Arfur Towk Rayt
    I am sorry but i seem to have missed you and your leaflets on Saturday. I was with about 300 friends, olduns younguns biguns and smalluns, Christians Jews Muslims,grans and grandads, mums and dads brothers and sisters, people from many different backgrounds economically and culturally. we sang songs, did a bit of chanting, and danced to keep warm, along with drinking that great British brew, a nice cup of tea! It was like one great big family, good natured and heart warming just like the Stoke on Trent I recognise. The police were brilliant, equally good natured and heart warming, they made us feel safe and secure (especially when some of your friends who were not content with smashing up our town centre, and abusing our police tried to come and smash us and abuse us)
    I think my friend that if you truly believe “that nature does not prevent any two people in the world from being together” and “DNA Proves I am your brother” then you are batting for the wrong side! Come and join us “brother” and together we can get everyone to “Towk Rayt” and the language will be the language of love and understanding between “May and Mar mayt” OATCAKES not RACISM as one of our banners said!

  • Guest

    That is the stupidest comment yet regarding the EDL. If you think we are seeking to radicalise more muslims you are deluded. We are seeking to put an end to muslim extremists being allowed to preach hatred on our streets and get away with it because they hide behind a cult mascarading as a religion. If you think we want more muslims being radicalised and our country to become even less safe because of the threat of suicide bombers you really are living in a fantasy. Instead of just guessing what we are about, try talking to some of our members and find out the truth. We apologise if we have attracted some unruly elements into our ranks but we are doing our best to have those people weeded out and we dont condone anyone resorting to violence to get there point across. Stop just seeing the bad in everything and try to see beyond the drunken element that have latched on to our movement because no matter how much you try and paint us as mindless thugs we are not going to go away til we are listened to and our country is made safe.

    Peter EDL SEaham Division

  • Guest

    The EDL are succeeding in:
    1) radicalising more muslims.
    2) inflaming an already volatile situation.
    3) breeding a new class war and an increased anti-working class mentality amongst the affluent.

    The country would be much safer if you people packed in and left the police and security services to get on with their jobs. They know what’s going on in the world of radical Islam because they have a far more complete intelligence picture. You guys have The Sun and The Daily Star as your reference material.

    If you’re serious about combatting radical Islam then police your demos a bit better, get rid of the overtly racist elements and the known football hooligans, tone the banners/ placards down, and make it clear that it’s the radicals you’re against. At the moment only hard core nationalists support you. The rest, particularly the more affluent and educated middle classes, see you as a bunch of exiled terrace thugs looking for aggro with any muslim because the police are top of match violence. But lets be honest, this will never happen because of who started the EDL and the groups it evolved from. After the performance yesterday I would not be surprised if the police ban all future marches.

  • Guest

    Don’t judge others by your poor standards. They might actually work for living to boot.

  • OWD POTTER

    I AM a “Stokie born and bred” born and brought up in Abbey Hulton, educated in the 50s and 60s, left school with no qualifications and worked mainly in the pottery industry and have had more than my fair share of the “dole” due to the decline in the pottery industry,
    I no longer live in Stoke, I moved away less than a year ago, but still have family and friends living there,

    MY brother was with the demonstrators from the UAF on Saturday, as would I have been if I could,
    what was seen there had little or nothing to do with Islamic extremists and the “fear” of, it was an excuse for drunken football hooligans to cause trouble,
    I have been called names, “traitor, reverse coconut” etc, and a few more I wont print here, for expressing my views on Stoke on Trents local newspapers comments pages and various other websites,
    it would seem that I am not “patriotic” because I don’t salute the foes our fathers fought, or want to smash up my home town, attack British police, and attempt to attack a peaceful counter demonstration who were only exercising THEIR right to “fee speech”
    and if that’s true then long may I remain “unpatriotic”
    but they’re not racists,
    and one of the main responses to my posts seems to be, that BECAUSE I oppose racists and thugs, then I OBVIOUSLY support Islamic extremists!!, these people seem to be unable to grasp that it IS possible to be equally as opposed to both,
    they…(the EDL) use the “excuse” “it was only a small minority of the EDL who caused trouble, whereas the vast majority were well behaved”
    and yet, when one puts the SAME point to them about Moslem’s,( only a TINY minority of the Moslem population of this country support extremists) they refuse to accept it,

  • OWD POTTER

    so, let me get this right,….you

    “will be at Stoke on saturday to show how frustrated i am at the way Islamic extremists are allowed to preach hatred in this country”

    so you are going to join those who “preach” another type of “hatred”?

    and if you wish us to accept that “its only a tiny minority” of EDL supporters who are thugs and racists, then you should be willing to accept that its only a tiny minority of Moslem’s who are extremists?

    the EDL, putting the RIOT in “patriot”

  • Guest

    why dont we all join hands with GOD and dance along side him in heaven .

  • Nick Proper potter from the abbey

    [quote=OWD POTTER]I AM a “Stokie born and bred” born and brought up in Abbey Hulton, educated in the 50s and 60s, left school with no qualifications and worked mainly in the pottery industry and have had more than my fair share of the “dole” due to the decline in the pottery industry,
    I no longer live in Stoke, I moved away less than a year ago, but still have family and friends living there,

    MY brother was with the demonstrators from the UAF on Saturday, as would I have been if I could,
    what was seen there had little or nothing to do with Islamic extremists and the “fear” of, it was an excuse for drunken football hooligans to cause trouble,
    I have been called names, “traitor, reverse coconut” etc, and a few more I wont print here, for expressing my views on Stoke on Trents local newspapers comments pages and various other websites,
    it would seem that I am not “patriotic” because I don’t salute the foes our fathers fought, or want to smash up my home town, attack British police, and attempt to attack a peaceful counter demonstration who were only exercising THEIR right to “fee speech”
    and if that’s true then long may I remain “unpatriotic”
    but they’re not racists,
    and one of the main responses to my posts seems to be, that BECAUSE I oppose racists and thugs, then I OBVIOUSLY support Islamic extremists!!, these people seem to be unable to grasp that it IS possible to be equally as opposed to both,
    they…(the EDL) use the “excuse” “it was only a small minority of the EDL who caused trouble, whereas the vast majority were well behaved”
    and yet, when one puts the SAME point to them about Moslem’s,( only a TINY minority of the Moslem population of this country support extremists) they refuse to accept it,[/quote]

    What a small minded uneducated response, you should be ashamed of your self. Firstly I do not believe for a second that you are from Abbey Hulton, and even if you are you are certainly in the minority around here. Abbey Hulton is a proud white working class area and we do NOT breed traitors such as yourself. My British/English forefathers fought the nazis in world war two and we will fight them again in the the 21st century, only these days the nazis call themselves the UAF. As our glorious leader once said “tomorrows facists will call themselves anti-facist”, and how right he was. My grandad fought to keep this country British time and time again and we will follow in their footsteps and fight the people who hate Britain.

    Not all muslims are terrorists, of course not, there are some moderate muslims out there, BUT they are few and far between, there numbers would be something like 00000.01% of the muslim population. Muslims follow the Koran and their aim in life is to follow in the footsteps of muhammed who was a peadophile and who killed innocents. There aim is to spead islam all over the globe and to kill the non believer. The facist UAF might think that they are big and clever but the muslims hate them deep down just as much as they hate us (British people).

    You say you wouldnt attack British police…well if ‘British police’ (mercinaries) working on behalf of the anti British government attack me and defend muslims and victimise me then I WILL defend myself, and I do NOT respect the laws that are put into place to discriminate against white British people.

    If , out of a population of 60 million, 2 million were muslims and they kept themselves to themselves and obeyed the law then Im sure most people wouldnt have a problem with them. What we DO have a problem with is the sheer amount. They want to take over. Its been said a million times and its still true. They want to breed the white native population out and make us a minority in our own country, this is the only way they can be sure of flying the Islamic flag over Buckingham palace. BUT guess what commies ? Its never going to happen. Not on our watch. We will fight you all the way, just as our ancestors have done for generations. We will not let the racist (anti white) UAF win. With , or with the EDL , with or without the BNP, with or without the NF etc etc we the people of these isles will never surrender. Stoke is and always has been a working class tough city and Stoke fans have always been patriotic loyalist type footy fans and the city and fanbase of the local football team are massivly linked with the BNP the EDL, and always will be. The more British organisations are called ‘racist’ the more these warriors will go underground and we will see northern ireland style para military organisations. The EDL speak for the people of the Potteries more than the likes of the nazi, facist, scummy UAF thickos, who are only brave behind police lines. Of course there is the odd exeption, but the bulk of proper Stokies are against you are you anti British pro Islamic facism.

    Being white is a badge of honour, being white isnt about skin colour its about ancestry. The people of these isles, the anglo saxons, the celts, the vikings, the normans etc were all kindred white peoples, all north west europeans of the same blood line all of the same stock. They were conqueres and invaders and warriors and people who say Brits are mixed and mongrels are just prooving how thick they are. North west european people breeding with other north west white european people does not equall mixed offspring, in the same way as a black man from jamaica mxing with a black woman from south africa would not result in a mixed child. There is nothing wrong with blacks or any other race and there is nothing wrong with whites either so why do non whites always have to try and seperate themselves and have there own groups such as the black police association, if I wanted a white police association I would be called a racist, its double standards but at the end of the day you wont win anyway, we the people will be victories.. NO SURRENDER..RULE BRITANNIA..PROUD TO BE ENGLISH PROUD TO BE WHITE PROUD TO BE EDL PROUD TO BE BNP AND PROUD TO BE STOKE CITY..NOW PUT THAT IN YOUR UAF CRACK PIPE AND SMOKE IT. NO SURRENDER

  • Nath

    Here here to the poster above. Finally some one who tells it like it is . For god England and Stoke City. No surrender

  • Guest

    Thank goodness no-one has posted anything since last year!Craig Pond is barely literate and just shows us up when he calls government idiots in our local paper. The tv footage of the’march’feartured a rather scary bloke insisting that there is no black in the union jack and taxi firms had to shut up shop for the day on the advice of police. We now have no BNP in office at the civic centre and the council leader is called Pervis. So a great success in convincing the predominately white population that they are in grave danger. Islam4UK is basically a few daft lads with a pasting table and Bin Laden is no more.I am a woman and certainly would not agree with any view that I am second class and belong in a kitchen but this is the view of many stokie men I have met with one even saying that women enjoy rape. So pot and kettle really with objecting to sharia law on the grounds of protecting the rights of women. I was also born on the then new Berryhill estate in my late nans front bedroom and have lived in various parts of the City for all of my 49 years.My family are all racist and it would have been easy for me to follow that way of thinking but I don’t lack intelligence and thought it all through for myself.Basically,judging someone on the basis of their outward appearence and making assumptions about their intentions lacks wit.My bloke was in the anti crowd because he has a good soul and needed to express his opposition but I couldn’t be bothered to give a second thought to such nonsence as racism.If someone is my friend they are my friend. If someone hates me and calls me traitor because I sport the wit to object to their tainted views then they can meet me up ‘anley duck and won’t be calling me traitor again.

  • tonyjohnt

    Before you meet anyone “up ‘anley duck”, remember it’s my neighbourhood – not just everyone else’s playground.

    If you don’t like it, I’ll meet you up Westlands duck!

  • David Perry

    The problems I have with the EDL are numerous:
    They claim to be only protesting against Islamic extremism but carry banners saying “No more mosques” and chanting “Allah, Allah, who the eff is Allah.
    They claim not to be racist but use the words “Paki” and “Nigger” quite liberally.
    They claim not to be violent but there’s always trouble at their demos – before they say it’s the UAF, anytime the UAF are kept away they either fight the police or each other.
    The authorities know this group are inflaming the situation, causing more muslims to become radical which is why they tolerate them. The more muslims that are radicalised, the greater the perceived threat, the more the masses are distracted. It’s a pity few people have read Plato, they’d then understand how politicians work. They’re not being soft on the radicals because they don’t want to offend, they’re doing it to stir these sort of people up – the scum from our kitchen sink estates.