London Transport to Luton on 5th February

Please note, the departure time has been revised for transport to Luton.

Calling all London UAF supporters:

Transport for Luton will now be leaving London at 8.30am, from York Way, London N1 (Kings Cross tube station).

Please contact the UAF North London to reserve your place (£6.50 per seat).

email: northlondon@uaf.org.uk
call: 07818553443

All antiracists and antifascists should be in Luton on Sat 5 Feb

Wednesday 12 January 2011

All antiracists and antifascists should be in Luton on Sat 5 Feb

UAF is calling on antiracists and antifascists across the country to mobilise against the English Defence League in Luton on Saturday 5 February.

The EDL, a violent racist organisation with links to the British National Party and other fascist groups, has called a ‘protest’ on that day – they describe it as going ‘back where it all began’.

It is clear what they mean: the EDL was formed after masked racist thugs went on the rampage through Luton last year, attacking Asian residents and spreading fear and intimidation.

That is the reason they are targeting Luton again – their own publicity is designed to remind its supporters of their hate-filled history. They claim Luton will be their biggest demonstration yet.

They are refusing to cooperate with police and EDL divisions are planning to split up and roam around the town in groups to threaten and intimidate local residents, especially Muslims. Their aim is to go on the rampage again.

UAF believes we need to have a peaceful counter-protest that makes it clear racists aren’t welcome in Luton. We are urging people to gather in Luton town centre for a peaceful counter-protest.

Assemble: 12 noon, George Square, Luton

We will also be supporting local people who will be gathering in the Bury Park area, where many local Muslims live, to help defend local homes and places of worship.

UAF national officer Martin Smith said:

It’s time now to make a stand. We cannot allow racists to rampage through our towns, threatening and attacking Muslims or anyone else. We urge all antiracists and antifascists to come to Luton on 5 February, in the largest possible numbers.

Local UAF groups should organise transport to be in Luton by midday and to leave the town no earlier than 4pm.

Where antiracists and antifascists have turned out in numbers to show their opposition to the EDL and to support our diverse, multicultural communities, the EDL has been unable to run rampage as it did in Luton last year.

We need to build the widest possible opposition to the EDL and their anti-Muslim racism and violence. We need to stand up for unity in our community.

>> Read the statement supporting the Luton demo
>> Download leaflets
>> Read more about the Luton demo

Getting to Luton

We will have transport details from around the country shortly.

London UAF groups will be meeting up at York Way, next to Kings Cross station, at at 10.30am and will leave for Luton at 11am sharp. Please bring £6.50 towards transport costs if you are coming from London.

Photo: Balaclava-clad racists in Luton, May 2009. Copyright: Martin Spooner

EDL backs down on Terry Jones: now stop home-grown racists

The English Defence League has backed down over its plans to invite Terry Jones – the anti-Muslim racist US pastor who sparked international outrage with calls to burn the Qur’an – to its demonstration in Luton on Saturday 5 February.

Jones is pastor of a church with just 50 members but his call to burn the Qur’an on the anniversary of 9/11 made him a key figure for anti-Muslim racists around the world.

The EDL, an organisation of racist thugs with links to the British National Party and other fascist groups, had boasted it was “proud to announce” that vicious racist and homophobic bigot Jones would speak at its demonstration in Luton on 5 February.

Backtrack

But the EDL has been forced to backtrack after its announcement sparked widespread revulsion among the public in Britain and abroad. The racist thugs did not have the confidence to carry through their invitation.

It has been reported that home secretary Teresa May was considering a ban on Jones. But that is not why the EDL backed off – home office bans on EDL marches in Bradford, Leicester and elsewhere have done nothing to stop the EDL from mobilising.

The EDL includes hardcore fascists who periodically try to “harden up” its racist support. From time to time, they test the water to see how far they can push their violent racism.

Mobilise

Where they have been pushed back this has been because the vast majority of ordinary people reject the EDL’s racism and violence and because antiracists and antifascists have been prepared to mobilise against them and demonstrate that opposition on the streets.

That is why it is essential that antiracists and antifascists turn out again to oppose the EDL in Luton on Saturday 5 February, when UAF is organising a major demonstration against them.

The EDL was formed after masked racist thugs went on the rampage through Luton last year, attacking Asian residents and spreading fear and intimidation.

That is the reason they are targeting Luton again – their own publicity is designed to remind its supporters of their hate-filled history.

Home-grown racists

The invite to US pastor Terry Jones was designed to whip up publicity for the EDL – but he is not the main event. The problem in this country is the home-grown racists of the EDL.

We need to build the widest possible opposition to the EDL and their anti-Muslim racism and violence.

The campaign to push back the EDL and marginalise their racist hatred must not be scaled back because Terry Jones will no longer be coming. Let’s show the EDL they are not wanted here either.

Saturday 6 November national demo: march route

The national demo against racism, fascism and Islamophobia on Saturday 6 November will march through central London to parliament.

The demo has been called by UAF and our sister campaign Love Music Hate Racism, and backed by the TUC and the Muslim Council of Britain, along with a host of trade unions, artists, musicians, writers and community organisations.

Come and show your opposition to the racists of the English Defence League (EDL) and the fascists of the British National Party (BNP)!

UAF North London Public Meeting - CHANGE OF DATE

Dear All,

Due to a number of events happening in north London on the Monday 18th of October, the UAF North London Public Meeting will now take place the following week, on Monday 25th of October at 7PM.

The Venue is unchanged.

Tottenham Chances, 399 Tottenham High Road, N17 6QN

We continue to build for the National Demonstration against Racism and Islamophobia on November 6th.

In the past week the Green Party have endorsed the event, joining the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Muslim Council of Britain. This broadening of support is of vital importance to the success of the demonstration, as is your support.

The scenes in Leicester this weekend clearly demonstrate the need for unity in the face of racism and Islamophobia. On Saturday the English Defence League descended on Leicester, attacking Police, Journalists, and Black and Asian people. The EDL have held over 30 demonstrations nationwide this year, bringing hate and violence with them. Over 800 local anti-racists joined the UAF demonstration in Leicester, with many more having to protect their community and places of worship.

We must not be complacent. The EDL and the Nazi BNP will not go away if we ignore them, we must show them that we oppose their poisonous ideas. November 6th is our chance to build momentum in the campaign against racism and fascism.

Contact UAF North London to get involved. We hope to see you at the public meeting.

uafnorthlondon@googlemail.com

UAF North London Public Meeting

NORTH LONDON PUBLIC MEETING

MONDAY 18^th October 7PM

Tottenham Chances

399 Tottenham High Road

N17 6QN

Racism, Fascism, and Islamophobia are persistent threats to the unity of our communities in North London. We have beaten back the Nazi BNP in Barking, and continue to oppose the Racist English Defence League nationally. However, the economic crisis is seeing scapegoating on the increase. Immigration controls, deportations and further attacks on the rights of asylum seekers is being encouraged by the media and politicians alike. It is of vital importance that we continue to show our unity and oppose intolerance at every turn.

On Saturday 6^th November Unite Against Fascism and Love Music Hate Racism, supported by the Muslim Council of Britain and the TUC, will coordinate a national march and carnival against racism, fascism and Islamophobia in Central London.

http://uaf.org.uk/2010/09/add-your-support-for-6-nov-antiracist-demo/

North London UAF will hold a Public Meeting on Monday 18^th of October at Tottenham Chances to bring together all those who would oppose these evils in society. We must defend our multicultural community, our individual freedom to worship, and not be divided by hate and intolerance.

All are invited to attend. Also, we require volunteers to leaflet and staff UAF stalls, please contact uafnorthlondon@googlemail.com for more information.

Why it is right to peacefully oppose the EDL in Bradford on 28th August

It is important that we oppose the EDL and stop them intimidating and terrorising communities. Please make sure you have booked your coach ticket to Bradford so that we can stop the EDL - email northlondon@uaf.org.uk for details.
http://uaf.org.uk/2010/08/why-it-is-right-to-peacefully-oppose-the-edl-in-bradford/