Unite Against Fascism | It is ‘quite clear’ EDL will come to Bradford

UAF statement

The racist English Defence League will come to demonstrate in Bradford on Saturday 28 August.

Although a march is likely to be banned by the home office following a recommendation from West Yorkshire police, the EDL will turn up in the city anyway to hold a “static demonstration” – which the police and home secretary cannot ban.

Previous EDL rallies have almost all been static demonstrations of this sort, with the EDL’s thugs typically being escorted en masse to their rally point by the police. In Luton, Stoke and Dudley these demonstrations have led to the EDL rioting and lashing out at the Asian population.

The EDL are racist thugs, with links to the British National Party and other fascist groups.

The fact that the EDL will be coming to Bradford on 28 August, despite high profile efforts to ban them, shows that anti-fascists were right to call for protests against them on the day.

Unite Against Fascism is backing the We Are Bradford event that aims to unite Bradford’s communities in a peaceful show of anti-racist unity against EDL thuggery.

Weyman Bennett, joint secretary of Unite Against Fascism, said: “The EDL’s racist thugs will be coming to Bradford on 28 August – that is quite clear. This makes it vital for anti-racists in Bradford and beyond to stand up in solidarity with the city’s Muslim population – the main targets of the EDL’s racism.

“That is why Unite Against Fascism is backing the We Are Bradford event in the city that day. We need a peaceful, united and multicultural event to act as a focus for everyone who wants to express their opposition to the EDL’s racism, fascism and bigotry on 28 August.”

Event details

The We are Bradford celebration of unity and our multicultural society takes place on Saturday 28 August. Assemble: 12 noon at Exchange Square, Drake Street, Bradford city centre. We will have details of musicians and speakers for the event soon.