The English Defence League (EDL) will gather at Castle Gardens while counter protesters, a group called We are Norwich, will march from Chapelfield Gardens.

The EDL, whose protests are frequently marred with violence, are demonstrating in Norwich to protest at the city council's decision to ban a preacher from a stall on Hay Hill for publishing "hate-motivated" leaflets.

Police promised a "substantial" operation to keep order in the city.

Norwich Evening News, 1 November 2012

See also "We are Norwich meeting tells EDL they are not welcome", Unite Against Fascism news report, 1 November 2012

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The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today unveiled an advertising campaign designed to counter anti-Muslim "savage" advertisements sponsored by a designated hate group that are now on display in Washington, D.C. , metro stations.

CAIR's counter ads feature a verse from the Quran stating: "Show forgiveness, speak for justice and avoid the ignorant." (The Holy Quran, 7:199) The CAIR 16-foot banner ads, which are scheduled to go up next week and stay up for a month in stations featuring the hate ads (Glenmont, Georgia Avenue/Petworth and U Street), also direct metro riders to the organization's "Explore the Quran" initiative.

"We hope to expand this anti-hate campaign in the nation's capital and throughout the nation," said CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad. "We need the community's help to challenge the growing propaganda campaign of anti-Muslim hate in our society with positive messages of what Islam is and who we really are."

He added that other groups are placing ads designed to counter Pamela Geller's hate campaign and welcomed their clear rejection of hate.

Sojourners CEO Jim Wallis stated: "When Jesus said, 'Love your neighbor as yourself' he didn't add stipulations. He didn't offer an extra addendum or an added qualifier. It meant love your neighbor; even if they don't look like you, sound like you, or believe like you do. We as Christians need to treat others how we want to be treated – with love and respect."

Awad noted that Geller, the sponsor of the hate ads, was recently the subject of a CAIR "Islamophobe profile" documenting the individuals and organizations involved in spreading anti-Muslim bias in the United States.

CAIR's profile of Geller states in part: "Geller's organization Stop the Islamization of America (SIOA) is designated as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), which also named Geller as a member of the 'anti-Muslim inner circle.'"

Earlier this week, a broad-based coalition of 127 organizations – led by CAIR, the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), Jewish Voice for Peace – DC Metro (JVP), and the Washington Interfaith Alliance for Middle East Peace (WIAMEP) – sent a letter to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) expressing concern about Geller's advertisements.

CAIR press release, 12 October 2012

CAIR is appealing for donations to help defray the cost of their anti-hate advertisements. Go to: https://www.cair.com/support/

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The placement of Pamela Geller's anti-Muslim "savages" ads in the District of Columbia have spurred a wide range of religious groups to counter the ads' message. A coalition of 157 religious groups from across the DC Metro-area signed onto a letter to the Washington Metro Area Transit Authority, pressing them to take stronger steps to work against hate speech.

In the letter, the coalition requested that WMATA pursue greater outreach to communities before publishing possibly inflammatory advertisements in and on the area's public transit, add disclaimers to such ads that they do not represent WMATA's views, and allow free ad space to counter hate speech.

Think Progress, 11 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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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.

Netpol, 13 July 2012

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.

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