On Tuesday the EDL's Yorkshire division announced that an "EDL candidate" would be contesting the Rotherham parliamentary by-election. "Vote for him it's the way to stop grooming gangs", they urged.

Some on the extreme right expressed surprise that the candidate (at that point still unnamed) wouldn't be standing under the banner of the British Freedom party, as EDL co-leader Kevin Carroll is doing in the Bedfordshire police commissioner election. According to one contributor to a British Democracy Forum discussion thread, the candidate had originally wanted to stand for the BFP but it had been "mutually agreed" that it would be "best if he stood as an independent due to a colourful past".

The meaning of this cryptic remark became clear yesterday when the list of candidates was published. The EDL candidate (who can't of course stand in the name of the EDL as it is not a registered political party) turns out to be one Clint Bristow.

As Hope Not Hate points out, Bristow (who also goes under the name of Brian) was jailed in October last year having been convicted of threatening behaviour after attacking an Islamic literature stall at London's Hyde Park. The assault followed an EDL demonstration outside the Israeli embassy at which Rabbi Nachum Shifren was a featured speaker. Shifren had whipped the crowd up into a frenzy of Islamophobic hatred, stating that Muslims "eat each other alive, like the dogs that they are", adding "we will not let them take over our countries. We will never surrender to the sword of Islam".

As part of his sentence Bristow was also given a five-year CRASBO (criminal anti-social behaviour order) which prohibits him from attending any EDL march, demonstration or similar event in England and Wales without having notified a specified email account of Westminster police at least seven days before the event. You might think this would put Bristow in a difficult position when it comes to campaigning in the by-election, given that the EDL has stated clearly that he is standing on their behalf, as indeed has Bristow himself, so even a leafleting session would presumably qualify as an EDL event.

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Anti-fascists in the Yorkshire town of Rotherham vowed today to maintain and build their campaign after racists targeted the community for a second time.

Twice the community has rallied in the face of demonstrations first by the English Defence League (EDL) and then by the National Front (NF). On both occasions the racists and fascists were heavily outnumbered by counter-protesters – and organisers said they were ready to mobilise again.

The most recent fascist action was on Saturday when the NF had a pitiful turn-out. Counter-demonstration organiser Phil Turner said: "At first there were only seven or eight of them and later it was 20 to 30. They couldn't meet in the pub where they'd planned to go because the landlord wouldn't let them.

"They weren't allowed to march. The police told them to go to their rally point which was the most isolated part of the town centre, near some buildings waiting to be demolished. They were really quite isolated. We had 300 to 400. We had a big turnout from the local Asian community as well as trade unionists, faith groups etc."

He said the fascist and racist EDL and National Front were trying to exploit the grooming issue. Mr Turner said: "There has been an issue of sexual exploitation of young women which they are trying to use to whip up racism. Obviously they don't give a toss about the victims.

"It is a serious issue and the authorities have a lot to answer for but that is not the issue when it comes to the fascists. They are just using it to whip things up. It is a criminal issue, not a racial one. The Jimmy Savile scandal shows you that."

The Rotherham community has united in the face of the EDL and NF demonstrations with trade union activists and a growing number of protesters from the Asian community, including many young people, joined forces to oppose the fascists.

Morning Star, 29 October 2012

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Rotherham's councillor responsible for community cohesion has written to Home Secretary Theresa May describing the impact of the far right English Defence League's march in the town – and calling for membership of the group to be banned.

Coun Jahangir Akhtar said there were "several arrests" and a number of skirmishes between groups of people in the town centre after the march. He estimated the cost of the police operation during the event, and a rival gathering by Unite Against Fascism, was £300,000.

Coun Akhtar said: "The damage to the wider economy is also significant – possibly of greater magnitude to the policing costs as many town centre businesses decided not to open for fear of staff and customer safety, damage to their premises, the rise in insurance costs and the down-time in making repairs."

Coun Akhtar said he has since asked South Yorkshire Police why they did not apply to have the EDL march banned.

He said: "The EDL's expressed reason for this demonstration was to protest against 'the sexual exploitation of young girls'. The EDL has misused this issue in Rotherham, as it has misused other issues in local communities, not because it has a great sense of justice for these communities but instead because it serves their racist, Islamophobic objectives."

Coun Akhtar urged Ms May to ban the EDL. He said: "It is high time the EDL was added to that list of proscribed organisations for creating fear and promoting hatred."

The Star, 26 October 2012

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Residents revealed they were too frightened to go into Rotherham town centre when hundreds of marchers took to the streets.

The town came to a standstill as around 300 English Defence League supporters from across the country descended on the town on Saturday.

They were heavily marshalled by police on foot and horseback as they marched through the streets chanting anti-Islam songs.

Around 200 people also took part in a peaceful Unite Against Fascism rally and march – staged to celebrate multiculturalism – in the town centre.

South Yorkshire Police deployed 800 officers amid fears there could be clashes. Three men were arrested – one on suspicion of public order including making threats towards a police officer, another on suspicion of affray and a third on suspicion of possessing an offensive weapon.

Residents said the EDL march was unlike anything they had witnessed in their home town before and said many people had stayed away.

A 32-year-old woman, from Rawmarsh, who did not wish to be named, said: "I've lived in Rotherham all my life and we've never had anything like this. I find it very frightening. I walked into down and didn't know it was happening but when I saw I contacted friends who have kids to tell them to avoid it."

And a 62-year-old woman said: "This should not be happening in Rotherham. It is a lovely town. I know a lot of people have avoided coming into town today because they were scared of what might happen."

Police boarded trains, were stationed at bus and rail stations and lined the streets of the town centre. The force helicopter was also deployed.

The EDL march was organised after the revelation Asian men had been grooming young girls for sex in Rotherham.

Around 200 people joined the Unite Against Fascism counter demonstration in All Saints Square, where crowds engaged in a peaceful protest against the EDL.

Fred Thomson, aged 26, who travelled from Ecclesall, Sheffield, to show his opposition to the march, said: "I wanted to show that people in South Yorkshire oppose the EDL. We cannot just let people march through our towns and city centres spreading hatred."

Rotherham Coun Brian Steele said: "We have got to stand up to fascists in this country. They are not welcome in Rotherham. We want the EDL out of our town."

Steve Parkin, from Rotherham UAF, said: "By speaking out in public unity today, we show that fascist groups like the EDL will not succeed in their attempts to use racism to divide our towns and cities."

The Rev Eve Rose added: "The EDL cannot speak for Christians. Their politics of hate have no place here."

On the EDL march, a 34-year-old, from Thybergh, who refused to be named, said: "The important thing is keeping hold of our identity. I am proud to be English and proud to be EDL. I am a Christian and I go to church. We get violence directed at us at marches. I can't understand why they let them have the Unite Against Facism on the same day."

His friend, a 27-year-old from Clifton said: "I don't want values in our country to be changed by people coming into it."

The Star, 15 October 2012

See also "Rotherham sends the EDL packing", Morning Star, 14 October 2012

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Rotherham will unite on Saturday to see off the racist English Defence League, who plan to march through the town. Trade unions, anti-fascists and faith groups came together at a packed public meeting on Monday to plan the town's peaceful counter-protest.

And it is rumoured that Rotherham United will play their Saturday home game on a weekday to head off potential trouble.

The EDL's march route ends 50 yards from a mosque, which locals see as a blatant provocation.

Sheffield PCS rep Martin Hickman said: "The public meeting was packed. The room held 100 people, it was standing room only and they were queuing outside." He said the "very mixed audience" included people from the town's Asian community and local unions.

"There was a vigorous debate. We came to agreement that we be united in Rotherham on Saturday," he said. "Everyone will stand together in unity against the fascists. My own union PCS is supporting us on their website."

"We have been told the police are going to allow them to march from the station to the old town hall, which is only 50 yards from a mosque," said Mr Hickman. "They are going to do everything they can to provoke an incident. Marching right next to a mosque, you couldn't have a worse act of provocation."

He said that having the Rotherham match switched to a weekday would avoid potential problems. Unite members spoke to the club's chairman, but the Millers have since refused to comment.

Between 100 and 200 EDL supporters are expected – nearly all of them from outside the town.

The anti-fascist protest will mobilise local people who will be supported by communities across Yorkshire and Humberside, including nearby Sheffield and Barnsley. "We are expecting a big turnout," said Mr Hickman.

The anti-fascist protest starts at 11 am at All Saints Square in the town centre. The EDL are expected at 1pm.

Morning Star, 9 October 2012

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Anti-fascist protesters have called for a peaceful multi-cultural rally on the day the extreme right English Defence League descends on Rotherham.

The EDL has urged its followers to attend a demonstration in the town next Saturday after revelations about the sexual exploitation of young girls. Rotherham Unite Against Fascism has urged for people to attend a planned counter-rally in All Saints' Square as a show of strength against the EDL.

Pat Keenan, president of Rotherham Trades Council, said: "The overwhelming majority of people reject the EDL's attempt to use racism to divide our society. Their attempts to spread racist myths about sexual exploitation must be exposed and challenged. They seek to blame one community for society's problems. The EDL does nothing to protect the victims of sexual violence. Sexual predators and paedophiles exist in all communities, as do their victims."

He added: "Each time the EDL assemble, minorities and trades unionists are subjected to threats and racial and religious abuse. Recently the EDL were prevented from marching through Walthamstow in London due to a fantastic show of unity from the local community. It is essential that we show the same level of unity here. There's no place for Nazis, racists or their allies in Rotherham's multiracial, multicultural and multi-faith community."

A public meeting to discuss the issue will be held on Monday at 7pm at the Unity Centre. Speakers are expected to include Rotherham MP Denis MacShane, Unite Against Fascism's Weyman Bennett, faith leaders and other prominent figures.

Rotherham Advertiser, 4 October 2012

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