Back in 2009 the Harrow and Brent community organised a united stand against an advertised Islamophobic attack on Harrow Mosque. In the event the racists and Islamophobes were hugely out-numbered.
Harrow now appears on an EDL list with a protest planned on Wednesday at 8pm near Yes UK Immigration in Pinner Road.
The leader of Harrow Council has been informed and efforts by the community to organise a united defence are in process as I write. Updates will appear on Wembley Matters so please be ready to support on Wednesday.
From Stand Up to Racism. I understand that so far the petition has been signed by the following Brent Councillors: Tariq Dar, Krupesh Hirani, Margaret McLennan, Claudia Hector and Thomas Stephens.
The 15,000 strong violent far right protest to ‘free Tommy Robinson’
on Saturday 9 June has raised major questions for all those who value our
diversity.
The racist right—from hardcore Nazis, through the FLA/DFLA to ‘For Britain’
and UKIP—are using Robinson to re-organise. Nazi salutes and Islamophobia were
at the centre of the mobilisation.
This is the first serious attempt since the collapse of the English Defence
League (EDL) to develop a racist street movement and give it a political form.
It is supported internationally by notorious figures including Geert Wilders
from the Dutch Islamophobic right and Steve Bannon, former adviser to Donald
Trump.
It is absolutely vital that all who oppose this come together in a united
mass movement powerful enough to drive these new developments on the far-right
back.
Donald Trump has played a major role in galvanising the racist
right. We will take to the streets for the Together Against Trump
demonstration coinciding with his visit on 13 July. And when Robinson’s
supporters take to the streets again on 14 July, we will protest against them
too.
Wherever the far right’s support grows so does racism and violence.
Let's come together to defend our multicultural society from those who spread
hatred and division.
Initial signatories include:
Diane Abbott MP, Shadow Home Secretary /John
McDonnell MP, Shadow Chancellor / Len McCluskey
Unite the Union General Secretary /Dave Prentis, Unison
General Secretary Talha Ahmed, Muslim Council of Britain
Treasurer Mohammed Kozbar, Finsbury Park Mosque
Chairman / Rabbi Lee Wax / Michael Rosen, poet
/ Kevin Maguire, Journalist / Thurston Moore,
Musician / Sabby Dhalu and Weyman Bennett,
Co-Convenors, Stand Up To Racism / Ged Grebby, Show
Racism the Red Card Chief Executive / Richard Burgon MP,
Shadow Justice Secretary / Laura Pidcock MP, Shadow
Minister for Labour / Cat Smith MP, Shadow Minister for
Voter Engagement and Youth Affairs / David Lammy MP / Emma
Dent Coad MP / Marsha De Cordova MP / Andrew Gwynne
MP / Lord Peter Hain / Claude Moraes MEP / Julie Ward MEP Jean
Lambert MEP / Tim Roache, GMB General Secretary / Kevin
Courtney Joint General Secretary NEU / Mark Serwotka, PCS
General Secretary / Dave Ward, CWU General Secretary
/ Matt Wrack, FBU General Secretary / Mick Cash, RMT
General Secretary / Ian Lawrence, NAPO General Secretary
/ Steve Gillan, POA General Secretary / Manuel Cortes, TSSA
General Secretary / Mick Whelan, ASLEF General Secretary
/ Claudia Webbe, Labour Party NEC & Islington councillor
/ Rakhia Ismail, Islington Councillor / Gerry Gable,
Editor/Publisher, Searchlight / Julia Bard, National
Committee, Jewish Socialists’ Group / Salma
Yaqoob / Kate Hudson, CND General Secretary
/ Lindsey German, Stop the War Coalition / Shahrar
Ali, Green Party Home Affairs spokesperson / Kerry Abel, Abortion
Rights Chair / Asad Rehman, War on Want Executive
Director / Sam Fairbairn, People's Assembly Against
Austerity / Maz Saleem, anti-racism campaigner/ Stand
Up To Trump / Dr Siema Iqbal Co-founder of AVOW (Advancing Voices of
Women against Islamophobia) / Phyllis Opoku-Gyimah, UK Black
Pride Executive Director / Roger Huddle and Red Saunders, Rock
Against Racism founders / David Rosenberg, Author
/ Alan Gibbons, author / Tony Kearns Deputy General
Secretary (postal) CWU / Ian Hodson - BFWAU National President
/ Harish Patel, Unite the Union National Equalities
Officer / Margaret Greer Unison National Race Equality Officer
/ Steve Hedley, RMT Deputy General Secretary / Jane Loftus, CWU
Vice President / Denis Fernando, Rainbow Coalition
Magnus Nielsen, the UKIP candidate in Hampstead and Kilburn, is up to his neck in controversy again this weekend.
The Camden New Journal LINK yesterday published extracts from an 'address to voters'in which Nielsen says:
Although, I am not 'a Prophet', I can see from the trends of the
past 25 years show that Britain is slowly but inexorably falling under
the domination of Islam - or, I should say, to the self-appointed
'community leaders' who represent Islam - with the silent and invisible
certainty of carbon monoxide poisoning.
In a further comment on the EDL he says his repsonse...
....has been equivocal, largely on
account of the poor tactics, lack of self-discipline and their failure
of its organisers to exclude a publicity-seeking hooligan element from
their ranks. However, I applaud the aims and intentions of its former
leader, the young man calling himself 'Tommy Robinson', his personal
courage in the face of repeated threats to his safety and the safety of
his family, and his perseverance against the ill-informed, biased and
distorted criticism that he continuously receives from the media.
Whether I succeed or fail in my bid to win this seat, I also shall be
ready to join with those who are organising ( by peaceful and
law-abiding methods) to raise awareness of the menace that Islam poses
to the future of our society.
As the CNJ points out Nielsen has been silent on these views at the many H&K hustings. This means that they have not been open to public scrutiny and debate.
UPDATE from Brent Police on the intention of Britain First to demonstrate against the Muslim Brotherhood's Office on Cricklewood Broadway on Saturday afternoon.
To update you, it now appears the EDL will not be attending as they are demonstrating elsewhere in the Country; however I cannot rule this out.
The organisation that are confirmed as demonstrating is Britain First
Supporters of this event have been asked to muster at CRICKLEWOOD BR Station at 1400 hours.
From here the group would like to march the short distance in the road to the offices of the MB and then hold a static protest for approximately 1 hour and then disperse.
They intend to address the assembled group with a loud hailer. They have confirmed that union and St George flags will be displayed and a new BRITAIN FIRST banner which will take up the entire width of the road.
It is believed that approximately 30 activists will support and attend this event.
Although there is no intelligence to suggest that the group will go elsewhere we are still open minded.
We are aware how close this event is to a Mosque, the local Safer Neighborhood Sergeant has visited and will be in regular contact.
The MPS has public order trained officers on duty and Superintent Springer will be in attendance and in charge of the Police officers.
The Mapesbury Safer Neighbourhood Team have circulated the following information:
* EDL Demo Cricklewood Broadway on Saturday
Update from Mapesbury SNT
The
media has published details on the 14/01/2014 regarding the Muslim
Brotherhood setting up an office above an old Kebab shop in CRICKLEWOOD
BROADWAY. A photo of the venue shows a disused premise with the number
113 visible on the front.
Further enquiries have identified the building as 113 CRICKLEWOOD BROADWAY NW2 3JG which is covered by BRENT borough.
The right wing response has been for a
national call out for persons to attend the venue on Saturday 18/01/2014
in opposition to the Muslim Brotherhood setting up office in LONDON
The
Britain First right wing group has organised the event and have asked
people to meet at 1400 hrs on 18/01/2014 at CRICKLEWOOD STATION and
bring flags.
This
has also appeared on the main ENGLISH DEFENCE LEAGUE facebook page It
this stage there is no indication of people who will attend but it is
guaranteed that people will attend on Saturday
I will keep you up to date with developments; we will develop an appropriate Policing response.
NOTE FROM WEMBLEY MATTERS The latest intelligence suggest that the EDL will be mobilising in Slough on Saturday and I have been told there is nothing on their Twitter feed about Cricklewood. It looks likely that it will be a small demonstration (perhaps no more than 20) by Britain First. This information is not definitive so please check Wembley Matters, Brent Fightback Facebook for updates.
Lynton Crosby's claim in the Sunday Times that the 'racism van' campaign was 'flawed and backfired' LINK is a bit rich as he is widely seen as the strategist behind the 'Go Home' offensive as a way of out-flanking UKIP.
Crosby of course has form. Back in Australia he was behind John Howard's election campaigns the lowest point of which was Howard's claim that refugees were throwing their children out of boats in order to blackmail the Australian government.
Crosby's comment may mean that the 'racist vans' will be dropped but I expect that the 'Go Home' campaign will continue in other guises, particularly the raids at railway stations and bus stations, and raids on work premises.
This means that in Brent we will need to remain alert and mobilise at the first signs of any raids in the borough. Though often a critic of Muhammed Butt, I have to pay tribute to the way he has spoken out on this issue across many media outlets. He has spoken for the whole of Brent in opposing these attempts to divide and rule and disrupt our community.
Meanwhile there are complaints about the Go Home van advertisements lodged with the Advertising Standards Agency (I had my acknowledgment yesterday) and the Equalities and Human Rights Commission inquiry into possible ethnic targeting.
Given Crosby's mendacity any resulting, seemingly negative, publicity may well be part of his plan to portray the government as tough on immigration (and by implication race) and undermine UKIP and the EDL, just as Margaret Thatcher's policies led to a decline in support for the National Front in the 80s. Who needed the NF when Margaret Thatcher was saying the same thing?
This does not mean that we should not campaign .loud and clear, but it does mean that we should also challenge the Tory's underlying message.
Promogroup, the advertising agency behind the Home Office's 'racist vans' publicity stunt appear to have been thrown by the angry reaction to the campaign Green Party member David Walker told me this afternoon:
I
just called the company. They are passing my details on to the Home
Office. They said the campaign is close to finishing and they would
reconsider carefully if they were asked to extend it or do it again.
I’ve asked for my comments to be noted on their file and I’ve left my
name and number with them.
He added that the person he spoke to clearly understood his references to the EDL, mosque attacks etc.
I also spoke to the agency who said that the campaign was almost over. It had started on Monday and would finish soon. The person I spoke to would not give me a quote and said I should take up the issue with the Home Office.
However, a few minutes later he rang back having read the postings about the van on Wembley Matters. He said this was 'all very well but "direct action when the
vans are seen in the area or we find where they are garaged" sounds
a bit threatening'. I did a verbal shrug. He then struggled to say
again that the campaign was finishing 'in Brent' and when I tried to
pin him down said the last van would be on Saturday - the campaign had been going since
Monday. He went on to say that he wasn't closely involved, but
the agency had received a 'variety' of calls including some from immigrants asking
for help to go home.
He didn't comment when I asked how many were
asking for cabs.
Unite
Against Fascism has called a vigil after the letters ‘EDL’ – the
initials of the English Defence League – were allegedly found graffitied
on the Bravanese Centre in Coppetts Road, Muswell Hill, North London.
The Islamic community centre was destroyed in a suspicious fire in the
early hours of yesterday
Counter-terrorism
officers with the Metropolitan Police are treating the fire as
suspicious and investigating whether the attack was started deliberately
in a racist attack.
At
this stage it is not clear if the fire is linked to the murder of
Drummer Lee Rigby in Woolwich two weeks ago but there has been a
significant increase in reports of attacks against Muslims since his
death .
Unite Against Fascism says:
We
are deeply concerned about the fire of the Bravanese Centre and the
reported EDL graffiti. Our thoughts are with the Somali, Muslim and
indeed all the communities in the area that have been affected by this
incident. We ask people to join us at the vigil.
UAF
launched the Don’t let the racists divide us campaign in response to
the stepped up activities of the English Defence League (EDL), the
British National Party (BNP) and other racist and far right groups in
the aftermath of the murder, which have cynically attempted to exploit
the murder of Lee Rigby to pursue their own agenda directed against
Black, Asian and especially Muslim communities.
This
has already led to a spike in Islamophobic attacks and a wave of
assaults on Mosques. Muslim communities are experiencing verbal abuse,
women’s headscarves have been torn off as well as more serious threats
and violent attacks. Racists are simply stepping up their campaign. So
too must the anti-racist and anti-fascist movement in response to this
hate agenda.
DON’T LET THE RACISTS DIVIDE US VIGIL THURDAY 6 JUNE, 6-7PM BRAVANESE CENTRE 116 COPPETTS ROAD, MUSWELL HILL N10 1JS
The message is clear at Brent Town Hall last night
Following the banning of the EDL march in Woolwich there will be a unity demonstration by anti-racists at Downing Street as the BNP has called a national demonstration there today. The Unity Demonstration aims to unite community groups, faith groups and trades unionists in a peaceful statement that we will not let Islamaphobia divide us, will begin at 12 noon. You are advised to approach Downing Street from the Trafalgar Square end of Downing Street.
Muhammed Butt and Sarah Teather last night
Last night there was a 'One Brent' event at Brent Town Hall that was called to emphasise that the borough's diversity is a source of strength in the face of events such as the murder of the soldier Lee Rigby. Among those who spoke were Muhammed Butt, Sarah Teather MP, Barry Gardiner MP and faith leaders. At times it seemed more a concerted condemnation of the killers rather than a commemoration of Rigby or a celebration of Brent's strength through diversity.
I felt uncomfortable when Muhammed Butt said that people who did not like how things were done in this country knew what to do - they could find the exit. Too close to what the extreme right-wing say - and of course not directly relevant to 'home grown extremists'.
Many contributions, as unavoidable at such events, were anodyne, with references to Rigby's perceived bravery and patriotism and 'the job he was doing defending this country' skating over the opposition of many to the role of the army in Iraq and Afghanistan. Similarly the religious contributions, with the exception of one from a Syrian born Christian, emphasised the perceived similarities between religions with a claim that they were all about making connections between people and living in peace.
Since the Woolwich murder it has sometimes seemed that the Muslim religion is in the dock and has had to mount a defence in the wake of the killers' justification of their actions. Muhammed Butt in the opening speech made it clear that the actions and claims were nothing to do with Islam as a religion and did not reflect his personal interpretation of his religion. A Rabbi made a warm tribute to the strength and solidarity of Brent's Muslim community while a Muslim leader emphasised the importance of educating young people about the religion so that they were not led astray by extremist ideas.
A contribution that drew applause was one that said it was not enough to make speeches about Brent's unity: unity would only be brought about by day to day actions in the community and that everyone had a responsibility to make this happen.
The funeral took place this afternoon of Ben Rickman, secretary of Brent Trades Union Council, who died suddenly yesterday..
Ben was a long-time trades unionist and labour movement campaigner and anti-racist activist well known in the borough.
He was a determined opponent of extreme right-wing groups and opposed the EDL's attempts to stir up hatred during their campaigns in Harrow and Wembley. He signed the following letter to the press when the EDL was threatening to demonstrate in Wembley:
The racist, Islamophobic English Defence League is threatening to
demonstrate in Wembley on Saturday 26 June against a peace conference,
organised by a Muslim charitable foundation and aimed at building
understanding between Muslims and non-Muslims.
The EDL is an
organisation of violent, bigoted thugs with proven links to the Nazi
British National Party. They should be condemned everywhere, but will be
particularly unwelcome if they come to Wembley, part of this country’s
most diverse borough.
We are proud of our diversity. In the London
Borough of Brent, people live and work together, children study, play
and grow up together in peace and mutual respect, regardless of faith or
skin colour.
As residents and workers in this borough, we will
not tolerate attempts to divide us or stir up hatred. We stood united to
show that there was no place for racism or Islamophobia in the
neighbouring borough of Harrow. We stand prepared to do the same in
Brent.
Commemorating Jayaben Desai who led the famous Grunwick strike, Ben said:
Jayaben Desai
destroyed the myth of passive Asian women and contributed to the
advancement of Asian people in the UK. Many consider her a role model.
She also contributed to unions taking the organisation of migrant
workers as a campaign priority, one of her lasting legacies.
Supporting last year's Give Our Kids a Future unity march in Hackey which took place after the riots he said:
Please include the support of Brent Trades Union Council. Brent is a
borough of many languages and cultures and a spectrum ranging from
deprivation in Harlesden to millionaire homes in Kenton. We wish this
demonstration every success. We all have a right to work, and to be
valued and developed. Opportunity only exists for some, not for all and
that is very wrong.
These extracts demonstrate why Ben was held in such regard as a man of principle.He will be greatly missed and perhaps the best tribute we can pay him is to join the March For An Alternative on Saturday. He would have been there.
Alf with students defending the Harrow Mosque from the EDL in 2009
The man responsible for the death of Alf Filer, local activist in Brent, member of Brent Fightback and a lecturer at Harrow College before he moved to Worthing, has been jailed for drunk driving. Alf is greatly missed and often crops up in our conversations. If he was still alive he would be in the forefront of the current battles against cuts and austerity.
Here is the item as carried by the BBC:
A drink-driver has been jailed for six years for killing a man who was standing by his broken down car in East Sussex.
Joseph Lavelle, 36, of Worthing, West Sussex was
two-and-a-half times over the drink-drive limit when he hit Alf Filer,
58, on the A27 in Hangleton.
He was jailed at Lewes Crown Court having admitted death by careless driving under the influence of alcohol.
The painter was also banned from driving for five years, police said.
Mr Filer, also from Worthing, died at the scene on 23 June last year.
The political activist and former lecturer had only moved into the area from London in the past year.
Sgt Neil Walker, from Sussex Police, said: "This is another tragic example of the way in which drink-driving wrecks lives. This terrible incident has robbed a family and the community of a well-respected and much-loved man."
Cllr Ann John, leader of Brent Council, has written to Brent and Harrow UAF in support of the statement below which is being circulated throughout the borough:
I am writing on behalf of all of Brent Council’s 40 Labour councillors to support the statement you have made in opposition to the English Defence League’s planned demonstration in Brent.
Brent is Britain’s most diverse multi-cultural and multi-faith borough and our diversity is our strength. The planned demonstration is a deliberate provocation aimed at creating fear amongst the Muslim community and undermining community relations.
The EDL is not welcome here.
UNITE AGAINST FASCISM STATEMENT
●No to Racism
●No to Islamophobia
●EDL not welcome here
The English Defence League is threatening to demonstrate in Wembley on Saturday June 26th against a Peace Conference, organised by a Muslim charitable foundation and aimed at building understanding between Muslims and non-Muslims. The EDL is an organisation of violent, bigoted thugs with proven links to the Nazi BNP. They should be condemned everywhere, but will be particularly unwelcome if they come to Wembley, part of this country’s most diverse borough. We are proud of our diversity. In the London Borough of Brent, people live and work together, children study, play and grow up together in peace and mutual respect, regardless of faith or skin colour. As residents and workers in the borough, we will not tolerate attempts to divide us or stir up hatred. We stood united to show that there was no place for racism and Islamophobia in the neighbouring borough of Harrow. We stand prepared to do the same in Brent.
This statement was initiated by UAF Brent & Harrow and national Unite Against Fascism. For further information or to add your name to the statement, contact: uafbrentandharrow@gmail.com
The English Defence League are apparently considering coming to Wembley to demonstrate against a conference aimed at building understanding between Muslims and non-Muslims.
The conference due to be held at the Wembley Arena on June 26th, is the Al-Khair Peace Convention 2010 and its aims are set out on their website:
"Peace, internal and external be it on an 'individual' or at a 'worldwide collective' level is a must for effective human progress and realistic global unity.
For people of all beliefs, this conference will be a learning opportunity to realize, reflect on and correct their misunderstanding (if any) about Islam in the light of talks by authoritative and renowned international speakers.
Conference Focus * To create a better awareness and understanding of Islam and its message of peace for the entire humanity, in an objective way. * To remove misconceptions, false fear and hate of Islam and Muslims globally. * To realize that Islam is a just, righteous and peaceful way of life, with due care for human rights and moral values."
The fact that the EDL wants to protest at an attempt at dialogue speaks for itself. How to combat the EDL's unwelcome presence in Wembley will be discussed over the next few days by Brent and Harrow Unite Against Fascism and other organisations. I will post updates here as soon as I have them.
The organisers of the Convention have said that they will go ahead and that they are confident of their security arrangements.
Stephen Gash of Stop the Islamisation of Europe (SIOE) promised 1,500 people at his anti-Islam demonstration outside the Harrow Mosque.
In fact only 15 turned up, even though numbers were augmented by English Defence League supporters, and the rather sad little group, one wearing a blond wig and another a santa hat, were corralled into a cold car park and protected by police. A couple of them made speeches to the windswept car park observed by press photographers who out-numbered them 3 to 1 - all against the background of chants from several hundred anti-Fascist demonstrators, who sometimes broke into open gales of laughter at the sheer absurdity of the lonely little band in the car park. Stephen Gash the 'leader' even managed to be late and nearly miss the event! There is more than a touch of Captain Mainwaring about the man - without the lovability.
Given these numbers it is surely time for the local press to stop building up the group and cease publicising their baseless claims and their incitant comments.
Hundreds of anti-Fascist demonstrators made it clear that the Fascists were not welcome in Harrow and the diversity of the demonstrators once again showed that the local community were united in defence of the Harrow mosque.
Ajmal Masroor, a spokesman for the Harrow Mosque, crossed to the corral and spoke to representatives of the SIOE and EDL and invited them into the Mosque to discuss their concerns. His invitation was turned down and Stephen Gash said he wanted to talk to the Home Office instead. A similar invitation has earlier been issued by the group British Muslims for a Secular Democracy without success.
The SIOE has thus shown it is not really interested in dialogue or debate, but just in creating division. In my speech to the Solidarity Vigil, as Green Party parliamentary candidate for Brent North, I pointed out that what the SIOE, EDL and BNP have in common is racism and xenophobia. Despite the SIOE's website claim that racism is 'the lowest form of stupidity' they are quite happy to get 'nod and a wink' support from the EDL. At the September 11th demonstration anti-Mosque demonstrators openly gave Nazi salutes and EDL members were present again today.
The SIOE attempt to 'soften up' an area by organising a provocative demonstration, with EDL help, and any reaction is then depicted as Muslim violence. Having caused division the BNP then move in by leafletting the area, as they did in Harrow after the September 11th demonstration, trying to build electoral support on the back of the dirty deeds of their allies. It is important that we see them as overlapping organisations with a similar agenda, and take with a pinch of salt their internicine squabbles. The SIOE may be absurd and today's demonstration comical, but the racist and Fascist nature of the groups that build on their provocations must be recognised and their activities firmly opposed.
I congratulate Brent and Harrow Unite Against Fascism for organising a highly effective, united and peaceful demonstration
Although the FA have taken quick action on the BNP video targeting Wembley, the video is still on You Tube and attracting plenty of hits.
The BNP presenter from South Wales suggests that 'iconic' Wembley has been taken over by foreigners and that this is the fault of Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrat policies. The video centres on the High Road and Ealing Road, and there is a lot of footage around the Wembley Central Mosque and tracking of the diverse shops of the area.
Ironically, if you took away the poisonous commentary the footage could be seen as an example of a vibrant, diverse, multi-racial area where people are getting on with their lives in relative harmony.
However the BNP's aims are clear: to wind people up ahead of major football events and they are playing to the audience of supporters who took part in the English Defence League, British Defence League and football supporters (the 'Casuals') marches which caused mayhem in Luton, as well as those who threaten the Harrow Mosque again on December 13th. Targeting of right-wing football 'supporters' is dangerous when these same supporters will be making their way along streets shown in the video when they travel to Wembley Stadium for matches. The Council and police will need to have contigency plans ready for any sporadic violence and targeting of individuals that may result.
I call on political and religious leaders, community organisations and residents in Brent to condemn the BNP tactics and make a united stand in defence of our successful diverse, multi-racial and harmonious community. A community of which we are proud and pleased to call our own.
It wasn't a riot, as the Guardian website claimed, but a good humoured, lively and sometimes excitable demonstration of community solidarity against right-wing extremists which succeeded in keeping them off Harrow streets and well away from the Harrow Mosque.
The few stray rightists who did turn up were chased away by local youngsters who soon returned to the main demonstration. There were reports that Stop the Islamisation of Europe (SIOE) cancelled their demonstration when the police informed them of the scale of the counter-demonstration.
Today's events showed what can be done when a whole diverse community unites against those who seek to divide it. Given the SIOE's (and their supporters in the English Defence League and British Defence League) extreme provocation in organising the anti-Islam protest on the anniversary of 9/11, during Ramadan and after Friday Prayers, the solidarity vigil was remarkably restrained.
