on Thursday, April 18, 2013
A man racially abused a Muslim woman and demanded she took off her hijab before putting a kitchen knife to her throat.
David Norris, 39, approached Farduja Jama who was with her eight-year-old son in Morton Street, Barton Hill at 9am.
Drunken Norris, who was brandishing a six-inch knife told her: "Take the hijab off. This is England, you are not allowed. Take the hijab off before I stab you."
on Monday, January 28, 2013
A businessman who hurled missiles as he marched through Bristol with the English Defence League handed himself into the authorities when he realised he was a wanted man.
Barry Johnson was one of hundreds of marchers who took part in the high-profile demonstration through the city centre in July last year.
Bristol Crown Court heard how he was caught on film by a cameraman and images were later posted online by Avon and Somerset police in a bid to track him down. When he saw the images Johnson travelled from his home in Peterborough to admit his involvement in the incident.
The 29-year-old from Poplar Avenue, Peterborough, pleaded guilty to affray when he appeared in court.
Judge Martin Picton told him: "Throwing missiles is clearly dangerous. Someone could have been hurt."
The judge handed Johnson a three-month prison sentence which was suspended for a year. He also fined him £250 and ordered him to pay £85 towards court costs.
Richard Posner, prosecuting, said: "On July 14 in Bristol there was a demonstration and march by the English Defence League in the centre of Bristol.
"The group was formed in 2009 and it claims to oppose Islamic extremism. It chose to assemble in Bristol and march. That led to tension with United Against Fascism, and there was anticipated to be tension between the two groups." He added: "Police went to the city centre to quell disorder."
Mr Posner told the court that police filmed Johnson in the thick of the crowd, throwing two missiles in the direction of the UAF supporters with no apparent provocation.
He said it was impossible to say if anyone was struck and there was no other violence taking place at the time of the incident.
The judge was shown the police footage which captured the offence. Johnson was in the middle of a crowd of jostling and gesticulating EDL marchers.
Mr Posner said: "There was an intention to identify people and the defendant was identified in that way. He handed himself in. He had seen himself on the Avon and Somerset police website, which asked Do you know who these people are?"
When Johnson handed himself in police interviewed him but he made no comment about the incident.
His criminal record revealed he had previous convictions for football-related violent disorder.
Johnson represented himself in court but, other than handing the judge a letter, said nothing in his defence. The judge confirmed he had read a pre-sentence report from the probation service which revealed Johnson ran his own business with his brother.
on Monday, November 19, 2012
Mickey Bayliss, from Upton Cheyney near Bitton, was arrested on Wednesday, along with another man.
The two had their properties searched but were not charged and have been released on bail.
The arrests were made in connection with two incidents of criminal damage on mosques and a Sikh temple on Valley Road, Bedminster, and Church Road, Redfield, between September 21 and September 25. It is believed that the word "EDL" was dubbed in red graffiti on the properties on Church Road and grey graffiti on Valley Road.
Police spokeswoman Catherine Foster said: "A 47-year-old man has been arrested under suspicion of criminal damage. He has been bailed until January 22. There were three incidents of criminal damage, two on Valley Road and one on Church Road."
She added: "A 36-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the same investigation."
Bristol Post, 19 November 2012
on Monday, July 23, 2012
Trades unions and protesters have called on a Bristol City Council cabinet member to withdraw his claim that the Labour mayor candidate was "weak and naive" in his handling of the English Defence League (EDL) march earlier this month.
Gary Hopkins, the executive member for community safety, said Labour councillor Mike Woollacott was "totally irresponsible" for ignoring police advice and encouraging a counter-demonstration in the city centre. He added Marvin Rees, the party's nomination for elected mayor, was weak, easily led and naïve for supporting him if he did not think violence would follow. Cllr Hopkins also attacked Bristol East MP Kerry McCarthy for calling for a ban on the EDL march.
But at the weekend, the We Are Bristol group – made of trades unions and community groups – hit back, asking whether the Liberal Democrats were "playing the race card".
"We Are Bristol are shocked at the attack by leading Liberal Democrats in the city on Marvin Rees and Councillor Mike Wollacott for giving their support to the rally against the racist EDL," the group spokesman Martin Upchuch said.
"Our march and rally was supported by over 1,000 people, including trade union branches and community organisation across the city. Yet the Liberal Democrats in their statement have chosen to denigrate the people of Bristol who have dared to stand up against the racism and bigotry of the EDL.
"We call upon the Liberal Democrats to withdraw their statement immediately, and to respect our political representatives' right to do their proper job of speaking up for the people of Bristol."
About 400 EDL members marched through Bristol on Saturday, July 14, with more than 1,000 police drafted in from around the country to marshal the crowd.
Despite police demands for a counter protest to be moved to Castle Park, a group of about 200 anti-EDL protesters gathered at the fountains in the city centre, before moving to the park and then on to the Pride event on College Green.
Although there were some skirmishes on the fringes of the EDL march, the day passed relatively peacefully – no thanks to the statements made by the Labour members, according to Cllr Hopkins.
"The Labour Party were well aware that there was likely to be street violence but still persisted in supporting direct counter-demonstration and, it is reported, speaking at the rally," he said.
"Labour councillor Mike Woolacott faces calls to step down from his position of responsibility on the council after he tried to put pressure on the council leader to speak on behalf of UAF and then ignored police attempts to bring order by encouraging a potentially dangerous assembly in a provocative place. Does Mr Rees support Councillor Woolacott or not?
"This was totally irresponsible. Marvin Rees has shown himself to be weak, easily led and – if he didn't realise violent disturbances might follow – naïve, as well.
"Let's be quite clear how serious this situation could have been. The violence could have been a great deal worse, had it not been for excellent policing and the calm, statesmanlike approach of the Muslim community.
"It beggars belief that a candidate for the highest office in Bristol should have let unelected Labour activists pull his strings and force him into the very embarrassing position he finds himself in now.
"We recognized – as the Muslim community did – that the march would be better controlled if it was allowed to go ahead and we worked closely with the police and the Muslim leaders to help ensure things went off peacefully.
"Ms McCarthy, however, allowed herself to be reported calling for a ban on the EDL march, which, again, was wholly irresponsible. She has some explaining to do. Was she deliberately stirring up passion and anger for political gain or was she genuinely so ignorant of the facts that she thought a ban was possible?"
Mr Rees, Mr Woollacott and Ms McCarthy have been backed by the TUC in the region, which also called on Bristol politicians to unite against the hatred of the English Defence League rather than turn against each other.
The South West TUC's regional secretary Nigel Costley said: "Well done to all those politicians who had the courage to speak at the anti-EDL demonstration. The attacks on them by Bristol's Lib Dems is a great shame as politicians should unite in blaming the hatred spread by the EDL for problems during the day.
"Congratulations to Cllr Mike Woolacott for helping to steward the anti-EDL demonstration that helped channel the understandable anger at the EDL's assault on Bristol's diverse community. As it turned out the right wing group mustered only a couple of hundred supporters for their racist stunt.
"It was good to have Labour politicians like Kerry McCarthy and Marvin Rees speaking alongside trade unionists and community activists to declare that the EDL are not welcome here."
on Sunday, July 15, 2012
Having confidently predicted that "thousands" would be marching with the English Defence League yesterday to protest against the "Islamification of Bristol", Pamela Geller has failed to explain why only a few hundred people turned out for what was advertised as a national mobilisation by the EDL.
Shifting her ground, she has now decided to emphasise the supposedly respectable, non-violent character of the EDL, reporting that they were "well-behaved" and "maintained a calm and peaceful assembly" during their Bristol protest (in contrast to their anti-fascist opponents, who Geller claims "trashed the city and assaulted police").
However, as you can see from the above photograph (via the Press Association), it was only the weight of police numbers (officers had to be drafted in from as far away as Yorkshire to allow the deployment of a 1,000-strong riot control force) that prevented the EDL from attacking their opponents.
On their way home from the march, and without a police presence to restrain them, the EDL were free to indulge in their proclivity for drunken violence, as is illustrated by this Facebook comment (via EDL News) from a witness who was, until then, an EDL supporter (and still shares their hatred of "scummy muslims").
You can understand why Geller might want to cover up the violent nature of the EDL. She and her friend Robert Spencer are jointly launching a "worldwide counter-jihad alliance" with this gang of drunken thugs in Stockholm next month.
And we're still waiting for Geller and Spencer to explain their support for an organisation that recently carried out an attack on a peaceful anti-monarchist protest in co-operation with the neo-Nazi, white supremacist and antisemitic National Front.
on
A controversial English Defence League (EDL) demonstration and a major opposition rally have been praised for passing peacefully despite 11 arrests.
Up to 300 far right campaigners marched through Bristol in protest at what it claims is the "islamification" of the city.
Avon and Somerset Police drafted in extra officers from as far afield as Yorkshire to swell the ranks of the riot control force to 1,000.
Isolated clashes took place between the police and EDL protesters as the rally wound down and supporters left the city. Missiles were thrown at one point and burning paper tossed into wheelie bins in a failed attempt to start a blaze.
Earlier, demonstrators walked through rain swept streets to Queen Square where EDL leaders made speeches to their supporters while at the same time up to 500 anti-EDL protesters with the We Are Bristol campaign marched in the city in an counter-demonstration.
Press Association, 14 July 2012
"Up to 300" demonstrators? Rather fewer than the "thousands" Pamela Geller was anticipating.
on Saturday, July 14, 2012
The police have today used their powers under the Public Order Act to prevent a counter demonstration to the presence of the right-wing and anti-Islamic EDL from going ahead in Bristol City Centre tomorrow (Saturday). Organisers of the rally, which had significant trade union backing, have been issued with legal notices enforcing restrictions on the counter demonstration, and have been told that they face potential prosecution if the rally goes ahead as planned. A statement from 'We are Bristol' reads,
Today's Bristol Evening Post includes information from police statements about a change of venue for tomorrow's (July 14th) counter demonstration against the EDL, moving the timing and location of the counter demonstration to Castle Park.
We Are Bristol wish to make clear that the police have imposed conditions on our demonstration backed by legal orders. This has placed the organisers of the counter demonstration under extreme duress, no agreement was reached with the police, and legal advice has been sought to defend our right to protest.
The original plan had been for counter demonstrators to meet at the Fountains in the centre of Bristol at 11am. The police have insisted that the demonstration must now start no earlier that 1pm, and will take place at Castle Park, some distance to the North of the centre.
Plans for the EDL demonstration are unchanged, and this will take place as planned at 1pm, in a central location. Other counter-protests, which have been organised separately to the 'We are Bristol event' are still expected to take place in the city centre, despite police opposition. Demonstrators have been called on to 'line the route' of the EDL march from 11am onwards.
The move to stop the 'We are Bristol' rally is merely the latest attempt by the police to undermine and restrict the rights of Bristol residents to protest against the presence of the EDL. Earlier this week, Bristol activists accused Avon and Somerset police of deliberately dissuading local people from attending any demonstration. Bristol Anti-Fascists claimed,
Avon and Somerset Constabulary have made appeals for locals not to attend any counter-demonstrations. These have often been targeted at Bristol's Muslim community. The police should not determine who is and who is not able to exercise their rights to protest.
Activists have also highlighted the police intention to use a 'heavy handed' approach with anyone demonstrating or assembling in the City centre without police approval. Assistant Chief Constable Anthony Bangham has warned that those taking part in unauthorised protests, "must not be surprised at the policing response on the day."
Netpol have documented similar police strategies in other areas of the country, notably Leicester, where police strongly pushed a 'stay at home' message to Mosques and community forums, and distributed 20,000 leaflets to schools and youth centres warning young people not to attend protest related to the EDL. The leaflet also contained the statement; "There may be people who will try to get you involved in the event. They are doing this for themselves, not you."
Netpol are concerned that the police are operating an on-going strategy to undermine and reduce participation in lawful demonstrations against the presence of the EDL.
The police are quick to use the fear of violence and disorder to justify their actions, but their treatment of local communities, Muslim youth and anti-fascist protest groups can only increase the potential for confrontation. The police are perceived as operating a policy of appeasement towards an extreme right-wing, anti-Islamic organisation, which is permitted to have the run of City centres while local people and protesters are confined to the outskirts. This inevitably creates anger and resentment and heightens community tensions, setting the stage for more serious conflict.
This Is Bristol has posted a statement by Zaheer Shabir, chair of Building the Bridge, who says that "the Muslim community did not encourage anyone to sign the e-petition demanding a ban on EDL marching in our City of Bristol" and "also met with UAF and We are Bristol to clarify our position on the counter protest requesting them not to confuse and entice Muslim youth to join their counter protest".
Further, "the Muslim community leadership have met with the EDL to create a pathway for future dialogue. This was the first of its kind in the UK and positive assurances were given by the EDL representatives".
It would be unfair to hold Zaheer Shabir and his colleagues entirely responsible for this spineless response to the threat from a gang of violent anti-Muslim racists. They are clearly following police advice as outlined last year by Adrian Tudway, head of the national domestic extremism unit at Scotland Yard, who in an email to a Muslim organisation stated that the EDL are "not extreme right wing as an organisation" and suggested that the Muslim community should open a "line of dialogue" with these racist thugs.
on Thursday, July 12, 2012
Bristol's two Labour MPs, and the party's candidate for elected mayor, have issued a joint statement condemning Saturday's march by the English Defence League (EDL) in the city.
Dawn Primarolo (Bristol South), Kerry McCarthy (Bristol East) and Marvin Rees said yesterday there was "no place for the EDL in Bristol", but urged those planning to protest against the group to co-operate with police.
The EDL will march through the city, ending in Queen Square, on Saturday. A counter march, organised by a trade unions and community groups, will begin in the city centre. Up to 1,000 police officers are expected to keep the two sides apart.
The two marches come on the same day as the city Pride Festival comes to an end, with a party at College Green.
In a joint statement yesterday, the Labour group said: "We reject entirely the aims, philosophy and method of the EDL. At a time when decent people from all backgrounds are working together to improve their communities, the EDL seeks to cause division, fear and hatred.
"There is no place for the EDL in Bristol. On July 14, thousands of Bristol residents will be celebrating the Bristol we know – a proud and welcoming city that celebrates our differences and rejects totally any attempts to divide us. Bristol is much stronger than a motley collection of EDL members, bussed in from far-flung corners of the country.
"We hope that Bristolians from all backgrounds will go about their normal business on the 14th, but we do understand why those who feel especially strongly about the EDL's presence in our city will want to protest against their presence. We would ask simply that they co-operate with the police, who will be working hard to ensure that public safety is protected.
"By Saturday evening, the EDL will have left Bristol. They will find little support for their dangerous views and we hope, and expect, that they will never return."
A group called We Are Bristol – made up of trades unions, politicians, academics and community organisations – have organised the counter demonstration for 11am on Saturday in the city centre, opposite the Hippodrome.
The group has claimed they have been faced with a "hostile attitude" from police who have "focussed attention on 'extremists' who wish to show their opposition to the racism of the EDL, rather than on the violent record of the EDL against local communities and on their demonstrations".
Against the backdrop of the arrests of three men on terrorism charges – thought to have been plotting an attack on the EDL – the We Are Bristol group has insisted it is aiming to hold a peaceful rally.
"We wish in our counter-demonstration to hold a peaceful and family-friendly protest against the EDL," it said. "In this way we wish to express through our trade unions and other groups our abhorrence of the racism of the EDL, and to celebrate our city's cultural diversity and innovation. We hope that the authorities, including local police, will take notice of our peaceful intentions, and support our right to protest."
It would have been better if the three Labour leaders had issued a call to Bristolians to join the We Are Bristol counter-demonstration. This is backed by the TUC South West Regional Council. What is the objection to Bristol Labour politicians supporting it?
As for Bristol24-7, its report adds that tomorrow it will publish "our interview with the EDL, and its response to the Labour MPs' claims".
If the EDL were antisemites protesting against the supposed threat posed by the Jewish community, would Bristol24-7 be providing them with a platform to promote their vile views and lie about their real aims? You can bet it wouldn't.
on Tuesday, July 10, 2012
The EDL, which describes itself as an anti-Islamist group, is planning to press ahead on Saturday with its controversial march through the city.
Meanwhile, a group of trade unions, community groups and anti-racist organisations called We Are Bristol will stage a counter demonstration opposite the Bristol Hippodrome at the same time.
Labour councillor Mike Wollacott (Brislington East) wrote to Mr Cook, inviting him to attend the anti-EDL demo. But Mr Cook has turned down the invitation, saying he thought it would send out the wrong message.
Mr Cook added: "We have made absolutely clear that we do not agree with their extremist views and do not want them in Bristol. They are not a proscribed organisation and have a right to march.
"Council officers have worked closely with the police to ensure that the march goes off peacefully. At all times, the police have made it very clear that they do not believe that banning the march would be in the public interest.
"I and other members of the cabinet will respond to the EDL presence in our city by showing solidarity with Pride on the Saturday and the multi-faith event on the Sunday. I do not believe however, that attending a counter demonstration would send out the right message: it would simply give the EDL the oxygen of publicity."
The EDL march and counter demo clashes with the climax of the week-long Pride Festival which celebrates the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community.
Paul Stephenson, who received an OBE earlier this year for his work with race relations in the city, has urged council leaders to review their decision not to ban the march. A petition was handed in last week asking cabinet councillors to call on Home Secretary Theresa May to stop the march. Cabinet Councillor Gary Hopkins said there was not the slightest chance of winning a ban without a police recommendation.
Policing the EDL march is expected to cost £500,000 and involve about 1,000 police officers.
March organiser Mickey Bayliss expects about 500 EDL members to take part in the march which starts at Redcliffe Wharf at 1pm.
Mr Stephenson, Bristol's first black social worker, founded the West Indian Development Council to campaign against racism in Bristol, and in particular the ban on the employment of black people to work on Bristol buses. Within six months, the ban was lifted.
He told the Post: "I was surprised and deeply disappointed that the city council decided not to ban the proposed march. The decision by the council to allow this march to take place on the spurious grounds of freedom of speech flies in the face of the EDL's members' bid to stir up racial hatred, bigotry and intolerance.
"Despite the assertions the EDL make in denying they support a racist philosophy aimed at attacking Bristol's Muslim communities, they use them as a scapegoat for high youth unemployment and dismantling the welfare state. At a time of economic collapse both locally, nationally and globally, Bristol's citizens do not wish to see racial and religious bigotry promoted on its streets in the name of freedom of expression."
Mr Stephenson said that this year's St Paul's Carnival, which was an expression of peace, love and friendship had to be cancelled because of lack of financial support. Yet the EDL march, which was going to cost so much of council taxpayers' money to police, was going ahead.
on
'Sikhs Against the EDL' to join the counter demonstration against the EDL march in Bristol on Saturday 14th July
Sikhs from London, West Midlands and Cardiff will be marching against the English Defence League (EDL) in Bristol on Saturday 14th July under the banner of 'Sikhs Against the EDL'.
They will be there to support the counter demonstration against the EDL march in Bristol on the same day. The counter demonstration is being organised by a multi-cultural, multi-racial and multi-faith organisation known as 'We Are Bristol'. It is a broad-based network of local community groups, political organisations and trade unions. Their aim is to 'celebrate diversity and oppose racism and fascism' and to show the EDL that they are not welcome in Bristol.
The EDL is a racist organisation that particularly targets Muslims. In the last three years, since it was formed, they have staged more than 90 provocative demonstrations in towns and cities around the country, attempting to stir up anti-Muslim racism and hatred. Many of their marches have ended in violence when in some cases they have broken free from police cordons and rampaged down the streets attacking cars shops and passers-by.
They claim to oppose 'extremism' but EDL supporters have been filmed chanting 'Burn a mosque down'. A series of arson and other physical attacks on mosques and community centres have taken place in areas where the EDL is active. In Dudley, after one of their marches, a Hindu temple and a Sikh elderly gentleman were also attacked by their supporters.
EDL leader 'Tommy Robinson' – real name Stephen Yaxley Lennon – and a number of other leading members are former members of the fascist British National Party (BNP). Many more former members of the BNP, the National Front and other fascist organisations are also active in the EDL and often EDL supporters have been photographed giving Hitler's 'sieg heil' salute.
Recently the EDL announced a formal alliance with the British Freedom Party (BFP), a breakaway group from the BNP but with equally fascist policies who want to 'scrap the Equalities Act and ban all manifestations of religious and cultural separatism'.
The 'Sikhs Against the EDL' campaign was formed about 18 months ago in response to some Sikh youth being recruited by the EDL. The campaign immediately received wide support from some major Sikh and Hindu organizations, MPs, councilors as well as many other prominent people from the community. As a result of the campaign most of the Sikh supporters of the EDL now seem to have disappeared.
However, about six weeks ago the EDL tried to hijack a Sikh protest outside the Luton police station when some 200 to 300 Sikhs had gathered to protest at 'police inaction' regarding an alleged attack upon of a Sikh girl by a Muslim man. A dozen EDL members, including their leaders, and some wearing headscarves, also joined the protest and tried their best to inflame the situation by blaming all Muslims rather than the individual concerned. But, soon the EDL were requested to leave by some Sikh leaders. Since then a young Muslim man has been charged with 'common assault'.
Balwinder Singh Rana, spokesperson for the 'Sikhs Against the EDL' said, "The EDL may pretend that they are friends of the Sikhs. But they can not fool us. Their alliance with the BFP has now totally exposed their true nature. They are no different than the BNP as they are against all minorities and are opposed to multiculturalism. We should never fall for their 'divide & rule' policies and we should oppose them where ever they show up to spread their racist poison".
He further added, "At times like these when there is a deep economic crisis with mass unemployment and massive public spending cuts, they have always looked for scapegoats to blame. In the 30s it were the Jews, in the 70s and 90s it were the blacks and the Asians and now they have found a convenient scapegoat in the Muslims. But we should never forget that today it's the Muslims and tomorrow it would be all of us".
The details for the counter demonstration are: Saturday 14 July. Assemble at 11am, Fountains, Bristol City Centre.
Turban Campaign press release, 9 July 2012
on Wednesday, July 4, 2012
A petition with more than 2000 signatures calling for a ban on the English Defence League's march next weekend, will be handed in to Bristol City Council tomorrow.
It includes names from trade unionists and faith groups across the city, asking to prevent the march taking place on the 14th of July .
Similar EDL marches in Telford and Luton have been banned. There will also be a lobby outside of the Council House, College Green at 5.30pm before the Cabinet meeting.
