This article by Martin Smith and Tash Shifrin first appeared on Dream Deferred on 11 June 2018. Thousands of protestors turned out in Whitehall, central London, on Saturday 14 July for the latest “Free Tommy Robinson” demo – and the latest in just over a year of far right racist street protests, which we have listed […]
EDL
A sudden escalation: fascists and far right mobilise in London, Leeds and Manchester in a week
This article, by Martin Smith and Tash Shifrin, first appeared on Dream Deferred on 7 June 2018. A sudden escalation in far right and fascist street mobilisations has taken place in Britain over the space of just seven days. Snap demonstrations called at 24-hours notice and each turning out several hundred protestors took place in Whitehall, […]
Scarborough Spa urged to cancel far right ‘mouthpiece’
Stand up to Racism (SUTR) Scarborough has urged Sheffield International Venues, the subsidiary of Labour-controlled Sheffield City Council that manages Scarborough Spa, to cancel the ‘Sargon of Akkad’ (Carl Benjamin) show scheduled for 16 June. Using his stage name, Benjamin recently shared a platform with incarcerated former English Defence League leader Tommy Robinson (real name […]
Oppose far-right march for Tommy Robinson in London
Supporters of fascist and English Defence League founder Tommy Robinson, have said they will march in London on Saturday 9 June. Robinson and his supporters have a history of racism and Islamophobia, and have many links to fascist organisations. Anti-fascists have issued a national call for a counter demonstration which will gather at 2pm in […]
Oppose the racist DFLA in Manchester next Saturday
The Democratic Football Lads Alliance, a split from the Football Lads Alliance, have called a demonstration in Manchester on Saturday 2 June to protest against the remand in custody of Tommy Robinson, founder of the English Defence League, Unite Against Fascism writes. The DFLA also want to exploit the recent anniversary of the Arena bombings, […]
EDL founder pulls out of Iceland lecture
The English Defence League’s co-founder Tommy Robinson, who was scheduled to give a lecture today in Iceland, will not be coming after all, Reykjavic Grapevine reports. The organisers have therefore cancelled the event. Vakur, a self-described “organisation of European culture”, had invited British far-right activist Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, to Iceland to […]
Stop racists’ and fascists’ Islamophobic “Day of Freedom”
On Sunday 6 May, fascist EDL founder Tommy Robinson and the racist DFLA (‘Democratic’ Football Lads Alliance) have organised a so-called ‘Day of Freedom’ for racists and Islamophobes in London. They are seeking to use Islamophobia as a way of rebuilding the far right movement in the UK. Tommy Robinson is a notorious racist who […]
Joint liaison group brings together FLA, Tommy Robinson, EDL, hardcore nazis and a UKIP MEP
This article by Tash Shifrin first appeared on Dream Deferred on 22 February 2018. Figures from a range of fascist and far right groups in Britain have come together in a joint liaison group with the aim of coordinating their activities and seeking a “political direction”. They include key personnel from the Football Lads Alliance, […]
Ex-EDL members in failed bid to arrest London mayor
Last Saturday in Central London, a botched effort to arrest Sadiq Khan, London Mayor was made by a group calling themselves the ‘White Pendragons’., Unite Against Fascism reported on 15 January. Leading them was one Davey Russell. Russell, in a previous light called himself DJ Bossman of the EDL. Russell interviewed former British National Party […]
FLA, the mask slips
Stand Up To Racism published the following article on 9 January 2018. The Football Lads Alliance (FLA) have increased in their Islamophobia and racism, in recent weeks. John Meighan, FLA founder, revealed his true colours in defending Donald Trump after even Theresa May had criticised Trump for retweeting the fascist group, Britain First. That Meighan […]
Protest against EDL founder’s book launch tomorrow
MANCHESTER CITY CENTRE PICCADILLY GARDENS 5.00PM TOMORROW, 3 NOVEMBER Unite Against Fascism has issued a call for a protest against the fascist English Defence League founder’s book launch in Manchester tomorrow. It was been confirmed today that the event will take place in Manchester City Centre as a previous venue, the Bowlers in Trafford, […]
Opposition grows to EDL founder’s book launch in Greater Manchester
MPs, MEPs, councillors and trade unionists support anti-fascist statement, Unite Against Fascism has announced. Opposition to a book launch being held, in Greater Manchester, by the founder of the far right English Defence League – ‘Tommy Robinson’ – is being organised by anti-fascist coalition Unite Against Fascism (UAF). Signatories to a statement organised by UAF, […]
Rochdale unites against fascist EDL!
For the second time in a week, anti fascists protested at a fascist incursion into the town of Rochdale, last Saturday, Unite Against Fascism writes. Following a far from successful Britain First gathering, last Saturday, the English Defence League (EDL) held a march and rally, over this weekend. The fascists tried to exploit the issue […]
Fascist EDL – not wanted in Rochdale, this Saturday, 29 July
Just seven days, after the fascist group Britain First held a hate gathering in Rochdale, another group of fascists, the EDL, will be making an incursion into the town. The EDL are, like Britain First, trying to create division by racialising the issue of crimes of sexual exploitation. Our thoughts must be with all those […]
A second warning for antifascists: thousands on the streets of London as far right reorganises
This article is reproduced with permission of the authors, Martin Smith and Tash Shifrin and first appeared on the Dream Deferred website on 24 June 2017 here. It includes their eyewitness report from the FLA march. Up to 5,000 assorted Islamophobes, racists and fascists marched through central London today, mobilised by a rightwing coalition of […]
On the streets again: ‘Tommy Robinson’ and the EDL reloaded
This article is reproduced with permission of the authors, Martin Smith and Tash Shifrin and first appeared on the Dream Deferred website on 19 June 2017 here. This post was written shortly after the fascist march in Manchester, but we decided to hold back its publication in the wake of the tragic fire at Grenfell […]
Update on anti-EDL protest in London, Saturday 24 June
The fascist Islamophobes of the English Defence League have called a march in central London this Saturday, 24 June. The EDL is seeking to scapegoat Muslims following the appalling terror attacks in the UK. We must ensure the EDL’s poison is countered. Last Sunday 18 June several thousand racists, fascists and Islamophobes demonstrated in Manchester. […]
No to the fascist EDL in London – 24 June
The remaining rump of the fascist English Defence League (EDL) are returning to London, on 24 June, Unite Against Fascism writes. This is just a few weeks after their humiliation at the hands of over 1,000 anti fascists in Liverpool. The supposed reason for their demonstration is concern over the recent terror attacks in the […]
EDL haters never learn
Liverpool lived up to its historic record as being one of the most unfriendly places for the extreme right to visit when the English Defence League tried to hold a march on Saturday 3 June. For the EDL it was an unmitigated disaster. Just 60 supporters scraped up from gutters nationwide turned out, supported by […]
