Multi-cultural campaigner voices fears about EDL march
A LEADING campaigner for multiculturalism has spoken about the fear in Bristol's Islamic communities ahead of a planned march through the city by far-right group the English Defence League.
Meanwhile the group has outlined to the Post why it is coming to Bristol.
Forward Maisokwadzo, pictured, co-ordinator of the City of Sanctuary organisation, which encourages multicultural integration in the city, says the refugee communities and Muslim communities in particular are nervous about the planned march on Saturday, July 14.
"Of course everyone has the right and the liberty to march and demonstrate in order to make their opinion known," he says. "But we are concerned that the opinion they are wishing to make known is particularly divisive – it is aiming to marginalise communities, rather than to unite people of different backgrounds and cultures.
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"At the very least this march will make refugee communities who have already suffered considerably, feel unwelcome in Bristol. We just hope that the verbal aggression shown by the EDL doesn't spill out into something even worse – physical violence."
The group has already come under heavy criticism for planning the march to coincide with gay pride events taking place in the city that day, with pride festival director Daryn Carter calling on the league to stage its march on another day.
But a spokesman for the EDL denied the organisation was either homophobic or racist.
In a statement given to the Post, attributed to a pseudonym, William Tyndale (the 16th century Protestant reformer), the EDL said: "We are going to Bristol because we wish to draw public attention to Islamic grooming, the refusal of Muslims to integrate into British society and the increasing attacks by Muslims on non-Muslim Britons.
"We are coming to Bristol to raise awareness of these problems and to call for a unified country under one democratic government, one law and one society grounded in British culture and traditions.
"We want to call attention to the creeping Islamisation of Britain, with the increased use of halal meat whether non-Muslims want it or not. We want to make people aware that our way of life and our culture are under threat from people who don't care for our culture, country or humanity."
He adds that it is "a lie that we are going to Bristol to target Muslim communities and the Somali communities in particular. In all of the three years of the EDL's existence, the EDL has never targeted Muslims, nor Muslim communities and their mosques."
Yesterday the Post reported that Bristol East Labour MP Kerry McCarthy had called for the EDL march to be banned.
But last night the city's cabinet councillor for community safety, Gary Hopkins, said police advice was that a ban "would not be helpful" as it could mean less control over events.
He said: "Leaders of the Muslim community have shown great restraint and dignity with calls to ignore the EDL rather than counter-demonstrate, which would be highly likely to lead to violence.
"We would urge others to demonstrate a similarly statesmanlike approach."
Comments
by penniner
Monday, July 02 2012, 1:52AM
“Frankly how anyone can defend a religion that supports honour killing,arranged marriage-usually to a cousin-and the stoning of homosexuals is beyond belief.”
by penniner
Monday, July 02 2012, 1:47AM
“This thread has been ruined by moderator deleting half the comments.Islam has never compromised throughout history and never will.For left wingers to believe it will is naive beyond words.Also for someone to label EDL members "Oiks" is laughable as go to any demo-I am ex EDL I quit last year-but the fact is almost all EDL demoers are working class while almost all UAF demoers are middle class or at the very least suburbanites.That may be a generalisation however it is a true generalisation.The modern left in Britain are either Guardian types,students or tree huggers or Communist trade unionists.The left treat Bailly Bragg as some icon yet he lives in a £3million pounds mansion in Dorset.When the left bleat on about the working class it is a con trick and in reality the left despise the real working class.”
by 911InsideJob
Sunday, July 01 2012, 11:02PM
“It would be nice to think that some of you that are anti-islam here actually took up a history book occasionally! The British have trampled all over the World and interfered in many many countries internal affairs! The EDL type 'oiks' at home then get upset when those in whose countries we have de-stabilised and turned into bloody civil wars, to get at oil for instance, turn up on our doorstep expecting our wonderful democracy that they have been sold! While our soldiers get blown up while trying to do the bidding of powerful players that don't give a damn about the UK. Wisen up and don't join the UK Armed Services if you don't want to become cannon fodder for war criminals like Blair! WMD my Ass!”
by bulbous
Saturday, June 30 2012, 11:30AM
“bristolsariot
id put the scum that dis-respect our war vetrans in nick for 10 years MINIMUM
couldnt give a monkeys what colour/religion they are
now back to the issue, what makes you feel you have the right to ban freedom to protest/speech ?”
by bristolsariot
Saturday, June 30 2012, 3:06AM
“@ bulbous
"...the poppy burners ?" and...? One poppy was burnt!
How many poppy boxes were stolen? Are you not interested? What's your problem? What's your difficulty in grasping this very fact? Are YOU really a PATRIOT? Or, simply a RACIST BIGOT? I politely ask you this question... what is your reasoning? Over 18 poppy boxes were stolen during last Rememberence... what have you to say about that if you're so concerned?
Like a sick parrot, you go on and on and on about one poppy and the twit who burnt it... If you're not racist then what exactly are you? Thousands of pounds of charity money was stolen by predominanetly white people- they stole money that belonged to veterans, the maimed, disabled soldiers. What's your problem? You NEVER mention this.
Obviously you've been found out for what you are and for WHAT YOU STAND FOR! fake!
Six poppy tin thefts in East Lancashire (From Lancashire Telegraph)// More poppy donation boxes stolen// 10 poppy boxes stolen in London, Ont. break-in | CTV News//No arrests in poppy box thefts - Worldnews.com// Reward offered for the safe return of £25000 poppy stolen// Outrage as poppy appeal charity boxes stolen (From Croydon ...// BREAKING NEWS: Taxi firm's poppy boxes stolen - Local ...// BBC News - Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal box stolen in Dorset// Poppy collection box stolen from Merseyside newsagents ...// Norfolk Constabulary: Poppy Appeal charity boxes stolen”
by bulbous
Friday, June 29 2012, 5:41PM
“@morrisey
They are hardly going to tackle any segregation or isolation issues by having angry young men marching and waving placards, shouting abusive songs
the poppy burners ?”
by Morrissey9
Friday, June 29 2012, 2:36PM
“@Martin - maybe some Muslims feel the need to separate themselves off because of groups such as the EDL? They are hardly going to tackle any segregation or isolation issues by having angry young men marching and waving placards, shouting abusive songs. I think I'd retreat into my own community if I felt I was hated just for the religion I happen to follow.”
by Martin_
Friday, June 29 2012, 2:29PM
“Is this the same Kerry McCarthy MP who recently called for the death of a fellow train passenger?
The one who used twitter to advocate social cleansing of people she did not like.
http://tinyurl.com/73llyho”
by bedmobaloo
Friday, June 29 2012, 2:26PM
“@ all soap box sociologists and crack pot theologians - Why do you think Muslim society is less intergrated? Maybe due to a sense of mutual antagonism? No? Oh ok they just don't like you white folk...morons...”
by Martin_
Friday, June 29 2012, 2:20PM
“"Muslim Communities" in particular are nervous.
Why do muslims feel the need to separate themselves off. They move to this country for our freedoms, then find that are freedoms don't agree with their religious views, so segregate themselves, and demand special privileges. This create divisiveness, and problems.
Then we have the looney left who try and shout down anyone who disagrees with them.
If we had proper open debate about immigration with allegations of racism, then people would not join far right organisations.”