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The EDL came to Walthamstow, Waltham Forest to protest against Islamic extremism and links to terrorist organisations coming from the area.
The London Borough of Waltham Forest includes the towns of Chingford, Walthamstow, Leyton and Leytonstone.
The EDL met up at Kings Cross station in central London, from where they were to travel on to Walthamstow, in East London.
A YouTube video shows a group of patriotic English singing “With Saint George in my heart, keep me English” and “No surrender to the Taliban.”
The British Freedom Party (the political wing of the EDL) reported on their website that their leader Paul Weston had accepted an invitation to speak at the Walthamstow demonstration. It tells people to expect “another searingly honest, hard-hitting attack on Islamic extremism and left-wing cowardice and hypocrisy.”
Counter demonstration by far-left dhimmis and Muslims
A group called ‘We are Waltham Forest’ is holding a counter demonstration. The ‘We are…’ name appears to be an attempt to rebrand the far-left Unite Against Fascism (UAF). They have adopted a strategy of linking up with other far-left organisations under a single ‘umbrella’. It looks like the UAF are trying to give the impression that their demonstrations are organised by ‘local people’.
The ‘We are Waltham Forest’ have gathered in Walthamstow town centre from 11am.
According to the East London and West Essex Guardian Series the counter demonstrators plan to march at about 1pm up Selbourne Road and Hoe Street.
Martin Smith, Assistant Secretary of UAF tweeted “Were [sic] on the march now – they shall not pass must be our slogan”.
Protesters carried banners reading ‘Socialist Worker’ (the name of an extreme left-wing political party) and ‘Smash the EDL & BNP’; although it is unlikely that any action will be taken for inciting violence.
Council fails in its attempt to ban the march
Waltham Forest Council had tried to ban the EDL from the Borough and issued the following statement on their website:
While the Council is vehemently opposed to everything the EDL stand for, we have unfortunately been unsuccessful in our attempts to ban them from the borough. The Home Secretary has not responded to our request and the police say they cannot prevent the march unless they think there is a serious threat to public order.
Residents are advised to stay away from the march and any counter demonstrations to avoid trouble.
Councillor Liaquat Ali, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Cohesion, said:
“Waltham Forest is among the most diverse areas within London. We consider this to be one of the borough’s key strengths, helping to give the area its unique sense of vibrancy.
“The EDL is targeting our community because of this same rich diversity, but we are standing together and have called on the Home Secretary to ban any action by the EDL and any other group whose main aim is to incite hatred against others because of their religious beliefs, ethnic origin or sexual orientation.”
Update- The Far Left Go On The Attack
The English Defence League (EDL) had intended to peacefully protest by holding a march in Walthamstow, Waltham Forest, but their route was blocked and they were attacked.
As reported yesterday by Digital Journal the EDL had come to Walthamstow, East London to protest about problems with Muslim extremists in the area.
Police blamed
On social networking sites such as Facebook the EDL were blaming the police for failing to keep order. Their march was prevented from going ahead along the planned route and the planned speeches could not be made.
A post by the English Defence League – London Division said “Congratulations to the Met, for completely losing control of the streets…and behaving like prize p***ks. Complaints to follow. Here are a selection of missiles that the Met allowed to be thrown at us, while they did NOTHING!! The Stow is still burning!”
Violence from far-left UAF/SWP organized counter demonstration
Those involved with the extreme far-left Unite Against Fascism (UAF) and Socialist Workers Party (SWP) organized the counter demonstration under the name ‘We are Waltham Forest’.
Reports have emerged that a group broke away from the main counter demonstration in order to confront the EDL.
The Guardian-Series reports, “fighting started with bottles, flower pots and firecrackers being thrown.”
The Iranian state owned PressTV reports that the EDL were put “under a barrage of bottles, firecrackers, and flower pots, when their planned route was blocked by members of the UAF.”
A Demotix report by Peter Marshall says, “a few sticks and other objects were beginning to be thrown towards the EDL. A small brick landed a few yards from Robinson and was picked up by the EDL and handed to a police officer as evidence.”
Another Demotix report by Relay Images describes the opposition protest as “often clashing with police during attempts to confront the EDL.”
A YouTube video shows a rock being thrown at the EDL leader Tommy Robinson, who picks it up and hands it to the police.
The New English Review reports that more and more young men arrived brandishing sticks.
The EDL were held at Blackhorse Road as it is believed that the RMT train drivers’ union refused to drive the trains to take them away.
There were apparently many arrests of EDL supporters under ‘potential breach of the peace’. The police have previously resorted to the tactic of arresting those likely to be attacked instead of the attackers when they are unable to cope.
