Over 1,000 local residents, faith communities, trade unionists and anti-fascist activists gathered at the victory rally today in Walthamstow. The event was organised by We Are Waltham Forest and UAF.

EDL demo in Westminster tiny

Meanwhile the EDL demo in Westminster was tiny with only around 50 attending. The EDL were prevented from entering Walthamstow following a legal restriction imposed on them by the police, under the Public Order Act. No such restriction was placed on the anti-fascist demonstration.

Speakers addressing the rally included: Stella Creasy MP, Tony Kearns CWU Deputy General Secretary, Hugh Lanning PCS Deputy General Secretary, Jean Lambert MEP, Father Steven Saxby, NUS Black Students Officer Aaron Kiley, Monawer Farooq Waltham Forest College Student President, Steve Headley RMT, Varinder Singh from Sikhs Against the EDL, UAF Joint General Secretaries Weyman Bennett & Sabby Dhalu, and Jo Cardwell & Sophie Bolt from local group We Are Waltham Forest.

The event passed peacefully with no arrests.