The racist English Defence League – which has links to the British National Party and other fascist groups – has announced that they plan to “protest” outside a charity event organised by the Al-Khair Foundation at Wembley Arena, north west London, on Saturday 26 June.
The Al-Khair Foundation is a registered charity that raises aid and delivered relief to Haiti and Kashmir after the earthquakes there. The convention that the foundation is organising at Wembley aims to “remove misconceptions, false fear and hate of Islam and Muslims” and to promote dialogue between faiths.
The EDL are using the convention as a pretext to target the local Muslim community in Brent, a London borough with a hugely diverse population.
Unite Against Fascism and local trade unions, local councillors and representatives of all the area’s faith communities, have signed a unity statement demanding that the EDL call off their protest.
Counter demonstration against the EDL in Wembley
Saturday 26 June, 1.30pm to 6pm
Outside Wembley Arena, Engineers Way, London HA9 0DH
(Wembley Park or Wembley Central tube)
2 comments
alf · 18 June 2010
Wembley unity statement
Local trade unionists, faith group leaders and councillors in Brent have backed a unity statement against plans by the racist English Defence League to “protest” at an event held by a Muslim charity in Wembley.
The statement says:
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.
Signed by:
Pete Firman president, Brent Trades Union Council, Benjamin Rickman, secretary Brent TUC and Hendon and Wembley Unite, all 40 councillors in Brent Council’s Labour Group, Pete Broadbent Bishop of Willesden, Felicity Scroggie area dean of Brent, Peter Murry Brent Green Party and secretary, Green Party trade union group, Navin Shah London Assembly Member for Brent & Harrow, Fr David Neno rector, Christchurch with St Lawrence, Brondesbury, Harrow College UCU branch, Alf Filer Harrow College UCU, Nick Grant National Union of Teachers national executive, An-Nisa Society, Nisar & Rashida Dean, Tala and Thomas Birch, Jane Morris St Gabriels Church, Jo Lang president, Harrow Teachers Association (NUT), Jon Gamble secretary, Watford Trades Union Council, Nikita Joshi secretary, LGBT committee and student governor, Harrow College NUS, Joshua McKenzie vice-president, Harrow College NUS and NUS executive, Clive Morton vicar, Holy Innocents Church, Kingsbury
Demonstrate against the EDL
Brent and Harrow UAF have also called a counter-demonstration against the EDL on Saturday 26 June, 1.30pm to 6pm, outside Wembley Arena, Engineers Way, London HA9 0DH (Wembley Park or Wembley Central tube).
alf · 23 June 2010
Due to the unity of the anti-fascist and anti-racist movement in Brent and the wide support it has recieved over the past few weeks, the EDL fearing a similar defeat as in Tower Hamelts, have withdrawn from Wembley.
Instead they are going to Dagenham and we in Wembley Unite- Brent and Harrow UAF, are calling on all to support the campaign there on the 26th June.
We intend to plan a festival of unity with Love Music Hate Racism and others in the Autumn. Watch this space.
Thanks to all for their support.