EDL in Tower Hamlets on 20/06

[Bristly Pioneer]

I can't find anything else about this.

The EDL have announced that they are going to be protesting in Tower Hamlets on the 20th of this month, in opposition to a the UK Islamic Conference happening at the Troxy venue.

http://uk-ic.com/

This has obviously now caused the UAF and others to call for a mass demo to stop the EDL from marching in what is clearly a very provocative place. Concerns that the EDL intend to march onto the East London Mosque are rife.

However, as usual, there seems to be very little critique of the Troxy conference amongst the traditional left (SWP, UAF, Stop the War) who are all focussing on their usual "EDL = Nazi's" line. We must remember this is a conference which has not been allowed to take place in the mosque or nearby muslim centre, instead having to book a concert venue. It's a conference hosting such characters as Bilal Philips, below seen telling us that Aids is god's 'devine retribution' on homosexuals and that Islamic Law calls for all queers to be put to death.

http://gaymuslims.org/2007/01/15/bilal-philips-video/

The only group who I can see that are coming out with a progressive line are the Whitechapel Anarchist Group, who are calling for both divisive elements to be run out of town. The Racists in the EDL and the Homophobes and Sexists in the conference. Alas I don't think this is going to make them many friends in the UAF etc.

http://whitechapelanarchistgroup.wordpress.com/

I'm with them 100%, without addressing the route causes of EDL recruitment we will never defeat them. We must stop the EDL from marching through east London (they are billing it on their forums as Cable Street Mk2), however we must be clear in our approach and reject all forms of discrimination, not just picking the easy option of calling the EDL hooligans a bunch of Nazi's.

NO TO UK ISLAMIC CONFERENCE SPEAKERS! NO TO THE ENGLISH DEFENCE LEAGUE!

On Sunday 20th June 2010 extremists from both the UK Islamic Conference (UK-IC) and the English Defence League (EDL) threaten to invade our local community in Tower Hamlets. Neither of these groups originates from this area but attempt to recruit, divide and create trouble spreading their respective poisons. To this we say NO.

The UK-IC are hosting a dubious event involving controversial speakers Muhammad Hassan, Hussain Yee, Bilal Philips and others who espouse extremist lines condoning rape, pedophilia, killing homosexuals, military camps and anti-Semitism. This is taking place at The Troxy 490 Commercial Road and not at a mosque or religious school due to the fact the communities using those places of worship have identified the speakers as not welcome.

The EDL are planning to hold a counter-demonstration under the rhetoric of anti-Islamic extremism, spreading a racist sentiment while waving the banner of nationalism in response. They are a divisive element, not understanding the fact that the extremist elements they claim to be against (Islam4UK, Abu Hamza, Al-Muhajiroun) have all been kicked out of mosques by Muslims themselves! What the EDL do is polarise our communities, lumping all Muslims into one homogenous group while justifying pro-war sentiments and fueling Islamophobia. Their drunken presence chanting football songs will do nothing but trigger conflict within our community – the real reason behind them wanting to come here!

As one of the most socially deprived areas in London we know things aren’t perfect in Whitechapel or Tower Hamlets, but as neighbours living side by side, trading within the markets, as workmates in the hospital, post office and colleges we put aside our minor differences and get along as an east end community. We are proud of the multi-ethnic working class history of standing up for ourselves that defines our areas identity, from the memorial commemorating locals stopping the fascists marching down Cable Street to the memories of kicking the National Front off Brick Lane after the murder of Altab Ali. That’s why we have to say NO to both the UK Islamic Conference and the English Defence League in coming to our east end. We have to stand together united and let them know by our presence that they are not welcome here.

We cannot let these divisive groups enter our community and must defend whitechapel against them!

Whitechapel Community Defence.

UNITED WE STAND! DIVIDED WE FALL!

 

[Dan U]

tbh in a Borough that is over 30% Bangladeshi, i think UAF will be the least of the worries the EDL have that day.

think the anarchists have it right opposing both fwiw, could be quite a confusing day.

 

[Das Uberdog]

the "easy option" of just calling the EDL Nazis? as if it's not so much easier to wax lyrical about how 'both sides are wrong'...

you've really got a twisted perspective on things if you think it is any kind of priority for the non-Muslim left to start opposing paltry little gatherings of social rejects like this Troxy thing. not only is it not our place to go around trying to sort out the Islamic 'house', it also does exactly what the EDL want by isolating a group of people who 'everybody hates' and bashing them as an indirect attack on the Islamic community as a whole. what are the EDL actually saying with this demo? "know your place". tbh we can really do without thick-as-shit anarchists wanking off with their frankly liberal bullshit.

 

[TopCat]

Das Uberdog, I don't know wheer to start challenging your bullshit. The beginning I guess but it's all a stinky turd sandwich.

 

[Bristly Pioneer]

the "easy option" of just calling the EDL Nazis? as if it's not so much easier to wax lyrical about how 'both sides are wrong'...

you've really got a twisted perspective on things if you think it is any kind of priority for the non-Muslim left to start opposing paltry little gatherings of social rejects like this Troxy thing. not only is it not our place to go around trying to sort out the Islamic 'house', it also does exactly what the EDL want by isolating a group of people who 'everybody hates' and bashing them as an indirect attack on the Islamic community as a whole. what are the EDL actually saying with this demo? "know your place". tbh we can really do without thick-as-shit anarchists wanking off with their frankly liberal bullshit.

Calling the EDL nazi's simplifies the whole thing to a black and white choice between the EDL and radical Islam. The reason the EDL are gaining support is that they are able to wrap up their extreme nationalist stance in all manner of other clothes (they even have an LGBT wing ffs). Unless the left starts to have a consistent approach to dealing with things like the situation developing in Tower Hamlets then it loses all legitimacy. Refusing to address the blatant homophobia, sexism and other vile things being promoted in the Troxy event (which is the reason for the EDL protest) and simply calling the EDL racist makes any counter protest come out as apologist for that behaviour.

It's got fuck all to do with saying 'know your place', if the EDL weren't demonstrating outside this conference, then we probably should have been anyway. As it is, it's being used as a launch pad for a group of football firms to come into tower hamlets and cause further division.

A plague on both of their houses!

 

[Citizen66]

Although it's right to oppose both the EDL and the Islamists, I'm not too sure how you can pull off a protest that says "we are protesting against radical Islam, but you're not allowed to!"

 

[butchersapron]

It's not supposed to say that - 'allowed' is neither here nor there.

 

[rioted]

Refusing to address the blatant homophobia, sexism and other vile things being promoted in the Troxy event (which is the reason for the EDL protest)

No it's not.

 

[Citizen66]

It's not supposed to say that - 'allowed' is neither here nor there.

Ok, I'll rephrase it.

"We're protesting against the Islamists but protesting against the EDL for purportedly doing the same."

 

[Bristly Pioneer]

how about

"We're protesting against both of you outsider divisive elements coming into the area we live and trying to shit stir, neither of your groups are from here, you're both bussing in people in the hope of causing further division in our community. You should both fuck off and take your backwards, nasty opinions with you."

 

[Bristly Pioneer]

No it's not.

yes it it

they are basically saying "the EDL are Nazi's, erm that's all, nothing else to see here, everything else is just chipper" which is not the case

 

[Bristly Pioneer]

sorry, missed your bolding there

yes, perhaps it's not the reason, but it is the public excuse they're using

 

[butchersapron]

Ok, I'll rephrase it.

"We're protesting against the Islamists but protesting against the EDL for purportedly doing the same."

So where's the problem - you're allowed to disagree with things in public.

 

[Citizen66]

So where's the problem - you're allowed to disagree with things in public.

They're actually agreeing with the EDL.

 

[butchersapron]

No they're not.

 

[Citizen66]

The EDL have announced that they are going to be protesting in Tower Hamlets on the 20th of this month, in opposition to a the UK Islamic Conference happening at the Troxy venue.

So they agree that the conference should be opposed, just not by the EDL. I'll accept the point that the EDL have a divisive approach and the WA don't.

 

[the button]

They're actually agreeing with the EDL.

Pandering.

 

[Bristly Pioneer]

So they agree that the conference should be opposed, just not by the EDL. I'll accept the point that the EDL have a divisive approach and the WA don't.

I don't think 'divisive approach' quite covers the riots that the EDL have been causing up and down the country, rolling in by coach, smashing the place up, goose stepping and calling for the shutting down of all mosques.

 

[Citizen66]

Very confusing. It's just down the road from me so I'll probably pop along. Although I have a mate visiting so it does depend a bit on how heavy the saturday night is.

 

[Citizen66]

I don't think 'divisive approach' quite covers the riots that the EDL have been causing up and down the country, rolling in by coach, smashing the place up, goose stepping and calling for the shutting down of all mosques.

I accept that. I just mean their stated protest the WA agree with. I don't dispute that the EDL are being disingenuous though.

 

[fiannanahalba]

They will never get out alive after George, Weyman and Martin have done their work.

 

[treelover]

so, the Trots are going to defend Islamist ultras, who even other muslim groups have denounced, this is going to be a significant move in the slow but speeding up decline of the far left, of course they will spin it as the Second Battle Of Cable St or something, but ultimately unless they challenge the Fundis, the people who will lose apart from them, will be the general muslim population as the EDl gets a massive propaganda boost esp if the ultras denounce the soldiers in Afghan or call for attacks on Uk if we help blockade Gaza as is being proposed, etc. Further, as others have pointed out, local people will respond robustly to the EDL, (though TV images will make it look like race war), but if the left doesn't also picket this event then it is fucked.

 

[treelover]

they are billing it on their forums as Cable Street Mk2

btw, are you sure about this, the EDL try to distance themselves from the fascists/blackshirts, etc why would they implicate themselves?

 

[treelover]

Uberdog, you are pathetic,

 

[Das Uberdog]

anyone who can't comprehend how counter-productive it would be for the left to start actively pursuing powerless Islamisist sects, whose retrogressive political opinions though isolated still represent a genuine grievance with society on behalf of the Islamic community, are too moronic for me to even attempt conversation with.

yeah, you go ahead and protest against Islamic extremism 'from the left', applying yet further pressure on a marginalized community to declare their solidarity with soppish liberal values against evIL Islamist authoritarians. it's so ridiculous it's untrue. what fucking planet are you on? just because you're too fucking cowardly to actually defend the Islamic community properly (which involves understanding that oppressed communities often turn towards reactionary ideas, and that the way to wean them off these is not to seemingly join in with establishment demands that as a community they must 'know their place') and take hard arguments to the rest of the working class, you cave to general public pressure and join the rancorous denunciation of specific 'alien' values.

 

[Davo1]

anyone who can't comprehend how counter-productive it would be for the left to start actively pursuing powerless Islamisist sects, whose retrogressive political opinions though isolated still represent a genuine grievance with society on behalf of the Islamic community, are too moronic for me to even attempt conversation with.

yeah, you go ahead and protest against Islamic extremism 'from the left', applying yet further pressure on a marginalized community to declare their solidarity with soppish liberal values against evIL Islamist authoritarians. it's so ridiculous it's untrue. what fucking planet are you on? just because you're too fucking cowardly to actually defend the Islamic community properly (which involves understanding that oppressed communities often turn towards reactionary ideas, and that the way to wean them off these is not to seemingly join in with establishment demands that as a community they must 'know their place') and take hard arguments to the rest of the working class, you cave to general public pressure and join the rancorous denunciation of specific 'alien' values.

(((((((((((((((what fucking planet are you on))))))))))))))))))))))))?


Stupid cunt...... Stupid, stupid cunt!

:facepalm

 

[ernestolynch]

anyone who can't comprehend how counter-productive it would be for the left to start actively pursuing powerless Islamisist sects, whose retrogressive political opinions though isolated still represent a genuine grievance with society on behalf of the Islamic community, are too moronic for me to even attempt conversation with.

yeah, you go ahead and protest against Islamic extremism 'from the left', applying yet further pressure on a marginalized community to declare their solidarity with soppish liberal values against evIL Islamist authoritarians. it's so ridiculous it's untrue. what fucking planet are you on? just because you're too fucking cowardly to actually defend the Islamic community properly (which involves understanding that oppressed communities often turn towards reactionary ideas, and that the way to wean them off these is not to seemingly join in with establishment demands that as a community they must 'know their place') and take hard arguments to the rest of the working class, you cave to general public pressure and join the rancorous denunciation of specific 'alien' values.

You odious racist.

 

[Citizen66]

anyone who can't comprehend how counter-productive it would be for the left to start actively pursuing powerless Islamisist sects, whose retrogressive political opinions though isolated still represent a genuine grievance with society on behalf of the Islamic community, are too moronic for me to even attempt conversation with.

yeah, you go ahead and protest against Islamic extremism 'from the left', applying yet further pressure on a marginalized community to declare their solidarity with soppish liberal values against evIL Islamist authoritarians. it's so ridiculous it's untrue. what fucking planet are you on? just because you're too fucking cowardly to actually defend the Islamic community properly (which involves understanding that oppressed communities often turn towards reactionary ideas, and that the way to wean them off these is not to seemingly join in with establishment demands that as a community they must 'know their place') and take hard arguments to the rest of the working class, you cave to general public pressure and join the rancorous denunciation of specific 'alien' values.

So we shouldn't oppose people who encourage wife beating and death to the gays as people who are marginalised sometimes need to escape to those kind of ideas?

You reprehensible cunt. How are you supporting this community again?

 

[the button]

So we shouldn't oppose people who encourage wife beating and death to the gays as people who are marginalised sometimes need to escape to those kind of ideas?

No shibboleths, comrade.

 

[Pickman's model]

the "easy option" of just calling the EDL Nazis? as if it's not so much easier to wax lyrical about how 'both sides are wrong'...

you've really got a twisted perspective on things if you think it is any kind of priority for the non-Muslim left to start opposing paltry little gatherings of social rejects like this Troxy thing. not only is it not our place to go around trying to sort out the Islamic 'house', it also does exactly what the EDL want by isolating a group of people who 'everybody hates' and bashing them as an indirect attack on the Islamic community as a whole. what are the EDL actually saying with this demo? "know your place". tbh we can really do without thick-as-shit anarchists wanking off with their frankly liberal bullshit.

on the one hand you seem to suggest you're not of the moslem persuasion, on the other hand you imply you are. not that what you have to say in either stance is persuasive.

the reason it's 'the place' of the whitechapel anarchist group to take a stand on this is that the troxy ain't a million miles from whitechapel - it's local for them.

that bit about some people being thick as shit? i think you're projecting.

anyone who can't comprehend how counter-productive it would be for the left to start actively pursuing powerless Islamisist sects, whose retrogressive political opinions though isolated still represent a genuine grievance with society on behalf of the Islamic community, are too moronic for me to even attempt conversation with.

yeah, you go ahead and protest against Islamic extremism 'from the left', applying yet further pressure on a marginalized community to declare their solidarity with soppish liberal values against evIL Islamist authoritarians. it's so ridiculous it's untrue. what fucking planet are you on? just because you're too fucking cowardly to actually defend the Islamic community properly (which involves understanding that oppressed communities often turn towards reactionary ideas, and that the way to wean them off these is not to seemingly join in with establishment demands that as a community they must 'know their place') and take hard arguments to the rest of the working class, you cave to general public pressure and join the rancorous denunciation of specific 'alien' values.

fuck off you shitfer wankstain. you know not of what you witter.