The English Defence League has vowed to return to Cambridge in bigger numbers – despite a low turnout and several arrests.

Its rally on Christ's Pieces on Saturday ended early after only about 40 members turned up. More than 400 officers were drafted in to police them and a counter-demonstration by Cambridge Unite Against Fascism which had more than 500 people in its ranks, according to police.

EDL members said they were furious, claiming they were "penned in" during attempts to protest against a planned mosque in Mill Road. Scores of police surrounded the EDL protesters who were behind fences next to Drummer Street bus station.

EDL members were heckled by passers-by and began to fight among themselves as their stewards tried to eject a man who had a "banned" Nazi banner. When counter-protesters marched past, with the two groups separated by a police "no-go zone", one EDL member broke through but was quickly stopped by police.

A spokesman for the group's East Anglia Division told the News: "We are not thugs or extremists. We are the silent majority but we have been penned in like pigs while the police allow the lefties to march through the city.

"But we will be back in bigger numbers. The leaders are planning a national protest here in Cambridge. All we want to do is have a peaceful protest against a mosque that is not in keeping and will cause no end of traffic problems as it holds 1,000 but has just 80 parking spaces. We are not against Muslims. We are anti-Islam."

Tourist Vic Synott, 50, of Ayr, Scotland, came across the EDL chanting "we are the famous EDL". He said: "They are just showing themselves up by their behaviour. They are a disgrace."

EDL speakers hit out at MEP Richard Howitt for branding them "extremists".

The Euro MP told the counter-marchers the party had sent him a note "adorned with Nazi swastikas" and accusing him of being "a traitor to civilisation and democracy". He added: "There is only one group that represents everything in our society which is uncivilised and undemocratic. The traitors to Britain's traditions of tolerance, fairness and respect – the true traitors – are the EDL themselves. They are a joke."

Cambridge News, 25 February 2013

As you can see from the YouTube link, the so-called Nazi banner featured the word "ISLAM" with the letter "S" replaced by a swastika. The individual holding it shouted that "Islam is fascism – anti-democratic, misogynistic, anti-gay", while his drunken supporters chanted "stick your fucking Islam up your arse". However other EDL members, who were presumably too thick to understand the message behind the banner, attacked him on the basis that he had broken the EDL's ban on the public display of Nazi symbols.

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Hundreds of protesters marched through Cambridge to oppose a rally by the far-right English Defence League (EDL) which saw a major police operation launched in the city.

The EDL rally on Christ's Pieces ended early after only about 40 activists turned up, and they were heavily outnumbered by the Unite Against Fascism (UAF) counter-demonstration, which was attended by at least 500 people.

More than 400 police officers from six forces, supported by dog units and a helicopter, were on the streets to ensure the demonstrations passed off without serious disorder.

There were four arrests, with three being made in the aftermath of the EDL rally – which was held to oppose construction of a new mosque in Mill Road – and the fourth being made following a clash between rival protesters in East Road, at the end of the UAF march.

Two EDL members confronted the anti-fascists and unfurled a flag, which caused the crowd to charge. A man who had been on the UAF march was arrested on suspicion of a public order offence, while the two EDL members were escorted away.

Police said both of Saturday's demonstrations had been "lawful, reasonable and peaceful" overall.

Dr Sejad Mekic, chairman of Cambridge Muslim Council, said the counter-demonstration had been a celebration of the city's diversity and tolerance.

He said: "The clear message for the EDL is that there is no place for them in Cambridge or anywhere in today's society, we have long surpassed this issue of racism. Groups like this need to be condemned because, if we don't, they think we approve them with our silence. We need to oppose them – peacefully."

The UAF rally began with speeches and music at Petersfield before passing up Burleigh Street and Fitzroy Street and confronting the EDL demonstration on Christ's Pieces.

Chanting "EDL, go to hell, take your Nazi mates as well", and "Whose streets, our streets", the anti-fascists snaked through the city before crossing Christ's Pieces again and passing through the Mill Road area, where residents and businesses came out to show their support.

Following the demonstrations, three men – a 24-year-old from Thetford, a 25-year-old from Norwich, and a 23-year-old from Cambridge – were being held on suspicion of public order offences. A 56-year-old man from Cambridge was arrested on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly, a public order offence, and assaulting a police officer.

A spokesman for the EDL's East Anglia Division denied the turnout was disappointing. He said: "I am pleased with the turnout. It is low but even if there was just one of us here I would be pleased."

Cambridge News, 23 February 2013

See also BBC News, 23 February 2013

Photo: Varsity

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Calls for students to join an anti-English Defence League march through Cambridge this Saturday have heightened following Marine Le Pen's visit to the Cambridge Union earlier this week.

It was revealed in December that the English Defence League (EDL) would be staging a demonstration against the building of a new mosque on Mill Road. Police confirmed last month that the far-right group would be holding a "static protest", rather than marching through the city.

The Cambridge branch of Unite Against Fascism (CUAF) responded by calling for a counter-demonstration on the same day. More than 1,000 people have said on the Facebook event page they will be attending the anti-EDL protest.

Cambridge MP Julian Huppert announced yesterday that he would be joining protestors: "I feel very strongly about the need to make it clear that Cambridge stands together against fascism and racism.

"I want to make it very clear that [the EDL] are not welcome here. I hope their demonstration will pass peacefully and the fact that they are to be contained in one place, will hopefully go some way in helping to achieve that.

"We are fortunate in Cambridge to have a multi-national mix of people who make our city a vibrant and unique place in which to live and visit. They have diverse qualities and share their cultures, living and working together for the good of our communities and our city generally. I don't want to see anything that could detract that. If we were to lose that mix, Cambridge would be a far poorer place in which to live."

The march will begin near the Parkside Swimming Pool, Petersfield at 12pm, with the planned route taking protestors past the Grafton Centre through Burleigh Street and Fitzroy Street, down Sidney Street, Green Street and Trinity Street towards the Market Square, before looping back round to Norfolk Street, Gwydir Street and Mill Road. The route will see protestors marching twice past Christ's Pieces, where the EDL rally is set to begin at 2pm. More than 400 officers will be policing the EDL demonstration and the counter-march at a cost of tens of thousands of pounds.

However, speaking to the Cambridge News, local MEP Richard Howitt said he expected less than 50 EDL members to gather for the demonstration. "The EDL rally may perhaps see an estimated 30-40 protesters turning up which could mean taxpayers paying more than £1,000 for each one."

"The previous EDL march was few in number and attracted no local support so it is a huge and disproportionate cost to the police and to the city that they have chosen to come back again. It would be better if they didn't get off their buses in the first place. I hope this will be the last time."

Richard Rose, co-ordinator of CUAF, said: "[It] is important to show that anti-racists in Cambridge are the vast majority and that the racists are just a small minority bussed in from outside. It looks like we will massively outnumber them, but it pays never to be complacent and to never let the fascists go unchallenged however ridiculous they may appear – people in Germany initially thought Hitler was ridiculous."

"This is especially important after Le Pen's visit: her brand of racism has gone largely unchallenged in France and has resulted in her electoral success. It is important we don't let them make capital from herv isit."

A statement on the website of CUAF and Love Music Hate Racism reads: "The EDL is a racist and Fascist group dedicated to attacking Asian people and Muslims. EDL members have embarked on a violent campaign aimed at those they see as 'legitimate targets'... The EDL's aim is to divide us by making scapegoats of one community, just as the Nazis did with the Jews in the 1930s and the National Front attempted in the 1970s. Today they target Muslims, tomorrow it could be you!"

Varsitry, 22 February 2013

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Parts of Cambridge could be "shut down" by police because of Saturday's English Defence League (EDL) rally in a city park. The far-right group will be fenced in on a corner of Christ's Pieces next to Drummer Street bus station where they will have a stage and speakers.

More than 400 officers will police the event as well as a counter-demonstration by Cambridge Unite Against Fascism (CUAF). The Cambridgeshire force has cancelled all leave for officers on Saturday.

But there has been criticism of the choice of the park. Tony Carter, chairman of Cambridgeshire TUC, said: "We were shocked when we heard the EDL would be in Christ's Pieces right next to the bus station and the playground. Lots of families pass through the park and children use it to play in."

The EDL assembly will happen from 2-4pm and CUAF will gather in Petersfield at noon before marching through the city, passing the EDL twice.

The marchers will walk on pavements and walkways from East Road to Burleigh Street, Fitzroy Street, New Square, Christ's Pieces, Emmanuel Street, St Andrew's Street into Sidney Street, Green Street, Trinity Street, Market Street and Market Hill, before returning along the same route to East Road crossing over to Norfolk Street, Gwydir Street, Mill Road and back to Petersfield.

Cambridge News, 21 February 2013

During their last protest in Cambridge, in July 2011, the EDL tried to break through police lines to get at a mosque and later attacked a Muslim bookstall.

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The Cambridge News reports that Front National leader Marine Le Pen, notorious for her virulently Islamophobic rhetoric, is billed to speak at the Cambridge Union on 19 February.

A spokesman for the Cambridge Union Society is quoted as saying:

"Whether you agree with her politics or not, this event represents one of the very few opportunities a British audience has had to directly engage with Mme Le Pen, who finished third in the last French presidential election, behind Hollande and Sarkozy, and currently sits in the European Parliament as a democratically elected representative.

"The Cambridge Union has a two-hundred year history of promoting the art of debating and free speech and this event is fundamentally in keeping with that tradition."

See also Morning Star, 12 February 2013

Unite Against Fascism is organising a demonstration against Le Pen. Details can be found here.

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English Defence League leaders are meeting police to "reduce disruption" during a demonstration in Cambridge.

The right-wing group, which disputes claims from supporters of Cambridge Unite Against Fascism that it was forced to call off a march, told the News the group had decided to hold a "static protest" to reduce disruption in the city centre.

A spokesman said: "All I can say at the moment is that it's an awareness demo until I have my next meeting with police within the next seven to 10 days to finalise the rest."

Police are planning their strategy to deal with the EDL demonstration on February 23. The EDL has previously protested against the building of a new mosque off Mill Road.

Almost 750 people have signed up to a counter-demonstration under the banner of Cambridge Unite Against Fascism (CUAF).

CUAF is holding a meeting on February 11 at the Squeaky Gate, Norfolk Street, Cambridge, to discuss plans for its counter-rally. Muslim leaders and local politicians have signed a list on the CUAF website opposing the EDL's demonstration.

Richard Rose, of CUAF, previously told the News he wanted the EDL to gather outside the city centre. But the EDL spokesman said: "Our demo will be in a central area. I can't say the exact location as I'm still in talks with the police, but I will say all the talk going around on Facebook at present about us not being allowed to march is total rubbish.

"I approached the police a few weeks back stating that we only wanted a static awareness demo because it's only a local demo so we are not expecting huge numbers. And if only a few turn up it's really not worth marching and causing a lot of disruption for the city of Cambridge, which is the last thing we want to do."

Cambridge News, 6 February 2013

"If only a few turn up"! Whatever happened to the "biggest street movement in history"? Even some of its own spokespeople are now openly admitting that the organisation has hit the skids. Meanwhile, over in some parallel universe, the EDL is growing.

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The English Defence League (EDL) will not be marching through Cambridge, but will be kept to one place in the city, police said.

The Cambridgeshire force is planning its strategy to deal with the demonstration by the right- wing group which has protested against the building of a new mosque off Mill Road.

But almost 700 protesters have signed up to march against the group under the banner of Cambridge Unite Against Fascism (CUAF). Muslim leaders and politicians have signed a list opposing the EDL's planned march on February 23.

Richard Rose, of CUAF, said: "I think it is a clear sign of the weakness of EDL that they are now having a static protest rather than a march.

"We are delighted they will not be marching through Cambridge and we want them to have their little gathering in an out-of-the-way place such as an out-of-town car park and not in the city centre which would cause disruption.

"We are also pleased with the amount of support we've had including from the three mosques in Cambridge and from more councillors. We want to send a clear message that the EDL is not wanted here and they have no support."

Cambridge News, 29 January 2013

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The English Defence League (EDL), an extremist far-right pressure group, has announced that they are planning a march in Cambridge. The anti-Islamic group will gather on the 23rd February, following their controversial march in July 2011.

In response, the Cambridge branch of Unite Against Fascism (CUAF), a national anti-fascist campaigning organisation, has called for a "massive" counter march. PhD student Owen Holland, whose previous political history saw him suspended for one term by the University after interrupting a talk by Universities Minister David Willets, has come out in support of the UAF's counter-demonstration. "When the English Defence League tried to march in Cambridge in July 2011, they were vastly outnumbered." He calls for "the people of Cambridge" to "come together to show that racist ideas and organisations do not have coherent solutions to resolve the present crisis".

His pledge of support has been echoed by other political figures in and around Cambridge. Richard Howitt MEP called for "all the decent people of Cambridge to attend this counter demonstration to show their opposition to racism". Richard Rose, the coordinator of UAF in Cambridge, explained "the racists seek only to spread hatred, scapegoating and division; whatever problems people face in their lives, the EDL will only make them worse".

Academics and activists have also organized an anti-fascist teach-in on Sunday the 17th of February in King's College. Dr. Martin Ruehl, a Fellow at Trinity Hall who specializes in fascist ideology, will speak at the event along with other UAF activists. This comes as academic interest in the study of far right ideology grows; the University of Newcastle has recently established a new centre "for the study of the far-right".

The 2011 EDL march in Cambridge provoked much controversy and overt policing, largely due to the group’s radical stance on Islam. Stephen Lennon, a leading member of the EDL, in a recent interview with Jeremy Paxman, explained that the EDL exist to prevent the spread of Islamism across Britain. He said: "there are one-hundred sharia law courts operating in this country...sharia law is incompatible with western democracy." When asked if the EDL would allow a Muslim to join their group Lennon responded, "of course they could".

Yet in discussing the problems of gang culture, drug chains and "pimping", Lennon argued that "it's an Islamic problem … none of the other communities are spreading it … are we going to pretend that Muslim groups are not out there purposely trying to target our youth and pimping 'em?". Lennon has now been jailed for trying to enter the United States on a false passport.

Fred Cotterill, a Cambridge undergraduate planning to take part on the march, said: "The EDL march has no place in Cambridge." Fred added that "Patriotism is not something to be ashamed of – I am proud to be British – and it should be reclaimed from the racists as it was during the Olympics".

Varsity, 23 January 2013

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The English Defence League (EDL) is planning another march in Cambridge, according to campaigners. A "massive" counter demonstration has already been planned by Cambridge Unite Against Fascism (CUAF).

More than 670 officers policed an EDL march in the city in July, 2011.

Richard Rose, of CUAF, said: "Our head office has information that has been confirmed by the EDL that they will march in Cambridge on February 23. We have organised a counter demo opposing the EDL and what it stands for."

Richard Howitt MEP has released a rallying call to Cambridge residents to join the counter demonstration. He said: "I urge all the decent people of Cambridge to attend this counter demonstration to show their opposition to racism."

Tom Woodcock, secretary of Cambridge Trades Council, said: "The painful austerity measures that working people are facing are not caused by immigrants or by Muslims but by the government and their friends in big business and the banks."

Cllr Jeremy Benstead, who represents Coleridge on the city council, said: "18 months ago we showed the EDL that they are not welcome here – let's do it again."

Cambridge News, 14 December 2012

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