Racists thugs of the English Defence League (EDL) bussed in supporters to Portsmouth to target a local Mosque last Saturday.

The EDL used a football game as cover to descend on the town as part of their so called “flash mob” protests.

They claimed they were protesting against a “poppy burning” incident in London earlier in the week — an act that was condemned by Portsmouth Mosque, who took part in local Armistice Day commemorations.

The racists were met by a determined, and quickly organised, counter protest by Portsmouth Unite Against Fascism.

Simon from Portsmouth UAF said that: “We became aware something was afoot shortly before midday Saturday when someone walking past the Jami Mosque saw the thugs gathering with placards and flags.”

A local telephone tree was quickly activated and some 20 people, including a group of students and young Muslim women, rushed to the Mosque to stage an emergency counter protest.

Abuse

According to Simon they found over 50 EDL supporters shouting “Allah is a paedo” and “you’re not welcome anymore” at worshipers. Along with other racist obscenities, the EDL also chanted the old National Front slogan: “There ain’t no black in the Union Jack.”

Police said that the EDL were bussed in from London.

By early afternoon the thugs marched off to watch a football match, but returned in the evening with their numbers selling to over 100. Some 120 joined the counter protest by then.

Simon said:

Over the afternoon we called on people to come down and stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our Muslim community and defend the Mosque.The EDL have a track record of attacking Mosques and defiling them with racist graffiti and causing criminal damage.”

At about 6pm the EDL turned very nasty. It also became clear that they were becoming increasingly drunk. We were pelted with eggs, beer bottles, fireworks and other missiles. One woman was hit hit by a roof slate.”

But despite the violence the anti-fascists refused to be intimidated and maintained the vigil outside the Mosque. Later in the evening Mike Hancock, Liberal Democrat MP for Portsmouth South, and council leader Gerald Vernon Jackson attempted to negotiate with the EDL. But as they approached the mob they were abused and spat on. The EDL were eventually led away by police.

In a statement Portsmouth UAF said:

We left feeling proud that we had stood in unity with Portsmouth’s Muslim community against a bunch of violent  drunken racists. The dignity of Portsmouth’s Muslim community in the face of outrageous provocations was a source of considerable respect for the people who attended the vigil.”

Portsmouth UAF will be launching a unity statement and organising an emergency public meeting.

An EDL supporter gives a Nazi salute in Leicester last October (top). Pic by Kelvin Williams