EDL retreat in face of potential debacle in Bolton
Despite their announcement, made little more than a week previously, it would appear that EDL will not now be staging their planned protest, allegedly against ‘Islamic extremistm’, in Bolton on 6th March.
In their recently revised statement (their initial statement demonstrated a very poor command of the English language by its author, contained numerous spelling mistakes and grammatical errors and has now been removed from their website no doubt out of embarrassment by the more literate members of the leadership) they state their reason for doing so as being the fact that “a Hindu religious festival is scheduled for the same day, at the same time and in the same location as their planned demonstration.”
Their statement further goes on: “We have received information that far-left groups were planning to attack Hindus whilst dressed in EDL clothing, which may be purchased freely from our internet shop. This cowardly attack, had it taken place, was to be blamed on our organisation with the intent of discrediting our stated aim of peacefully protesting against radical Islam.
“Due to the respect we have for the peace loving Hindu community, we deemed it only right and proper that we cancel our own plans to ensure their safety. We hope that the action we have taken will be taken as further proof that we stand only against Muslim extremists. No other decent, honest, peaceful person or group has anything to fear from the EDL.
“The good people of Bolton, who have shown us solid support, should be reassured that we will arrange another demonstration in due course. No street, town or city is off-limits to the English Defence League in our own land. We shall never surrender a single, solitary inch of our country to extremists. We shall defend our freedoms, our values and our culture against all who would destroy them.”
Needless to say the EDLers from Daubhill (an area of Bolton with a large Muslim community), who one of them said would be ‘on the rampage’ on the 6th March in Bolton, on the EDL’s own facebook page for the event, are not likely to be very happy to know that the ‘values or culture ‘ the EDL referred to in its initial statement calling off the event, and said they shall ‘never ever’ surrender (but which as now been replaced with they shall never surrender to extremists a ’solitary inch of our country to’ and to which a further sentenced has been added concerning defending our freedoms, values and our culture) embraces that of the ‘peace loving Hindu community’! This since most of them wouldn’t likely know the difference between a Muslim and a Hindu even if their life depended on it, and who ultimately are mostly racists in general and against all foreigners and not just Muslims!
Hence the EDL leadership’s dilemma in Bolton - the potential debacle of loads of their own guys indiscriminately beating up Hindus and others non-Muslim minorities in the town hall square - something which would be clearly recorded on video, since Victoria Square likely has more cctv cameras per square yard than most places in Britain, not least as a result of previous NF and fascist marches there in the past, a scenario which would be a PR catastrophe for the EDL. Hence also arising from this fact, their slander of the UAF in their initial statement, the words ‘UAF’ are replaced with ‘far-left groups’ in the revised statement (if it was not so obviously laughable a charge!) preparing to attack the Hindu Festival dressed up as EDLers had the EDL march taken place.
If they actually had anyone with any brains on the ground in Bolton (they claim to have several thousand supporters in Bolton as opposed to the zero locals in the UAF), and done their homework, then they would have sussed out what was going on in the town hall square before they planned their protest, also concerning all those cctv cameras. They would have also known the Hindu Forum were planning to cancel their event if the EDL protest was to be allowed to go ahead anyway, so even if people from the UAF or ‘far-left groups’ had been planning to do as they say, which of course is an outrageous accusation, might likely have found none of them there to attack anyway.
This failure of intelligence is surely doubly embarrassing for the EDL’s leaders should it become widely known amongst their rank and file, since had the EDL stuck to their guns, and the march not been banned by the police, the ‘peace loving Hindus’ they say they called their demo off in respect for, wouldn’t have been there for their own thugs to attack either, a fact which effectively means they called off their protest needlessly and prematurely, if at the much lesser PR damage of the proposed Hindu festival being cancelled by its own organisers, a decision which could have been more easily countered.
Further if the EDL’s ’spin’ concerning the cancellation of the Bolton protest, which we should all see as a big tactical retreat by them, having been done without their protest having been banned by the Council or the police, had any truth in it, all anyone needs to do in the future to stop the EDL protesting anywhere is to ask their nearest Hindu community to organise a religious festival in the same place and however many thugs the EDL might be able to muster are going to be asked to stand down. It is difficult to imagine this is either the truth of the matter or is an idea that is going to go down well at all with the EDL’s generally racist and football hooligan type rank and file foot-soldiers. As a consequence must lead to both demoralisation and internal conflicts as a result, also to likely reduced mobilisations at other such proposed events by these elements, who at some stage are going to start to work out that they are nothing but pawns in a bigger game played by people they don’t know or ever elected and who don’t seem to have the stomach for fighting themselves, against not only ALL immigrants and minorities, but Muslims either, if any Hindus are around. In short is going to really ‘do their heads in’.
Mark Krantz of the SWP conjectures that the BNP’s suit and tie brigade leaders are the ones calling the shots here not only out of fear of Bolton becoming a potential PR disaster too close to the forthcoming elections (which it would have been had they come anyway given the growing cross-community, trades union backed campaign beginning to build up against the EDL’s protest locally which would have been greatly strengthened by a national UAF mobilisation) but as part of a strategic retreat by the EDL in the run up to the elections generally for the very same PR and electorally orientated reason. However, if that were so, one has to ask why they are still planning to protest in Dudley on the 4th April, and why the word on the street in Daubhill today, is they want to re-schedule their visit to Bolton to May Bank Holiday Monday (3rd May), ie. in the same week as most likely the local elections and General elections will be taking place?
Whatever date they decide on, should they decide to re-schedule their protest in Bolton, we need to be in the town hall square to give them the mother of all unfriendly receptions to our town.
Their current retreat fortunately provides those of us locally with greater room to manoeuvre and to organise, which we should utilise to the full. Our first action should be a big united celebration in Victoria Square of Bolton’s rich and diverse cultural heritage on the 6th March as if the EDL were still coming, and as a dress rehearsal for any future visit by the EDL to our town which will show them our determination to stand up to the intimidation and threats of violence by their overtly racist hooligan supporters. We also need to go on the offensive against the EDL locally, especially in Daubhill and in other working class areas of Bolton were they are active, to counter their Islamaphobic propaganda and activities and to weed out and publicly expose their local racist and fascist leaders and organisers.
See you in Bolton on the 6th March.
Stephen Hall - South Lancs Respect Party organiser
Great news, this is one of a number of significant setbacks for the far right in recent days.
The thuggery of their rank and file, coupled with the cowardice and incompetence of their leadership is being highlighted thanks to all those brave anti-fascists and anti-racists, trade unionists and socialists who have stood their ground in the face of intimidation and slander.
Comment by River — 8 February, 2010 @ 1:49 pm
Excellent and non-sectarian report.
Comment by johng — 8 February, 2010 @ 1:53 pm
Good news about setback to EDL lets hope there’s lots more to come.
A very interesting discussion here on counter mobilisation to fascist threat, Farrell Dobs US Teamster leader and Socialist.
http://www.marxists.org/history/etol/document/swp-us/education/counter/dobbs02.htm
an important part of our history.
Comment by non-partisan — 8 February, 2010 @ 2:16 pm
Who is this idiot claiming to be Martin Sullivan and linking to Islamophobia Watch? It’s certainly not yours truly.
Comment by The Real Martin Sullivan — 8 February, 2010 @ 4:01 pm
#6 on another thread I explained that it’s a vile racist moron by the name of Bill Corr, an expat in Saudi Arabia.
Comment by Eddie Truman — 8 February, 2010 @ 4:20 pm
Corr and other right wingers regularly turn up on Osler’s blogs. not surprising really considering he’s in New Labour and spends half his time slagging off real socialists who aren’t.
Comment by Doug — 8 February, 2010 @ 5:30 pm
Unfortunately, the ‘logic’ of the EDL’s change of plans in Bolton might be more to do with their decision to prioritise their national action in support of Geert Wilders on March 5th in London.
Comment by Reissner — 8 February, 2010 @ 5:38 pm
“part of a strategic retreat by the EDL in the run up to the elections generally for the very same PR and electorally orientated reason. However, if that were so, one has to ask why they are still planning to protest in Dudley on the 4th April, and why the word on the street in Daubhill today, is they want to re-schedule their visit to Bolton to May Bank Holiday Monday (3rd May), ie. in the same week as most likely the local elections and General elections will be taking place?”
Clearly the EDL aren’t the only organisation to employ embarassing illiterates!
Comment by John Milton — 8 February, 2010 @ 5:42 pm
This is very heartening news and confirms that the fash are vacillating due to the consistent pressure being placed upon them by anti-nazis. There is no doubt that the leadership of the EDL are in cahoots with the BNP so if the order has come from Griffin he must be very worried about a repeat of Stoke where the naked thuggery of the EDL was exposed.
There was an overwhelming ‘yes’ vote to ban the EDL demo in the Bolton local press and local anti-nazis have been very effective in building for the counter-demo. I think Stephen Halls suggestion to celebrate this outcome is an excellent one and will really demoralise the racists and nazis who will witness people in Bolton enjoying a joint Hindu and anti-nazis celebration instead of an ugly racist riot.
The anti-Griffin campaign in Barking is also going well with a good Saturdays campaigning just gone and more to come. If we continue to keep the pressure on then the cracks will widen among the nazis so that the few shreds of respectability they’ve tried to cultivate will fall away and reveal their true violent nature.
Comment by Ray — 8 February, 2010 @ 8:11 pm
“Clearly the EDL aren’t the only organisation to employ embarassing illiterates!”
And they aren’t the only snide, nasty little pricks either John Milton.
Comment by Ray — 8 February, 2010 @ 8:16 pm
# 12, 13
With the bizarre phoney excuse that the EDL munchkins gave for calling off their drunken, racist orgy they can only be seen for what they are and why direct opposition counts.
Comment by Halshall — 8 February, 2010 @ 8:44 pm
#13 Should of course be ref: #11, 12
Comment by Halshall — 8 February, 2010 @ 9:01 pm
“There is no doubt that the leadership of the EDL are in cahoots with the BNP”
Proof please.
Comment by Tim — 8 February, 2010 @ 11:34 pm
You have doubts?
Comment by KrisS — 8 February, 2010 @ 11:42 pm
Excellent non-secterian report, thank you very much Steve.
I was dubious about the Bolton one taking place, I had a feeling after the Stoke debacle that the police would refuse permission for them to march through Bolton, or any of the
I’d also like to add that through thorough monitoring of their forum and private facebook groups that there some serious division emerging in the EDL. As well as the fallout over Paul Ray’s “St.Georges division”, which was one of the most important early factions in the EDL but has since been out-manouvered and proscribed as a result of Ray’s bizarre christian fundamentalism, there’s lots of animosity starting to develop between some of the rival hooligan firms too. After stoke the entire movement seemed to have a collective panic attack, rightfully worried that any future claims to being non-violent and non-racist are going to be impossible to defend. Some of the comments I saw on facebook and the EDL forum were absolutely superb, and I think that before long the EDL will be in complete meltdown. The Luton and Villa firms are not happy with the northern firms for behaving the way they did, in particular the EDL Oldham division were blamed quite heavily for the trouble that broke out with the police. Rumours of an EDL protest in Oldham are exactly that, rumours. The oldham lot are desperate for one in their home town, and are desperate to have a go at the local asian community, but there is tension over this because large parts of the organization are scared that if they let the lads from Oldham have their demo it would be an even bigger PR disaster than stoke. There are clear divisions developing between the “anti-racists” and the “BNP’ers” too. The early EDL were more islamophobic, keeping their racist bile directed at muslims rather than anyone else, although of course this in itself reprehensible, the new breed of EDL, often younger lads from northern football hooligan firms, are more openly racist and antagonistic. The arguments that have been taking place on facebook about whether or not they should co-operate with the police are a good example of where these fault lines exists. It also exposes the extent to which BNP activists are involved in the EDL.
Closer to the general election I, along with some others, will be releasing a dossier of 12 months worth of online infiltration and subversion, aimed at exposing the links that exist between the BNP and the EDL, and the developments of these sub-trends within the EDL will be a major part of that.
I also think that after stoke the left has been making some serious attempts to up the ante and make sure we would be able to confront them properly in Bolton. The organising for Bolton began the moment stoke was finished, and the left response to this was looking like it was going to be very strong indeed. New tactics were being formulated, new groups were coming together, and the local muslim community were very much on side this time round. UAF, an orgnaization that I have mixed feelings about, put its money were it’s mouth was and called a national mobilzation, and the local organizing that was taking place seemed to be coming together very well, very quickly. I am almost disappointed it isnt happening because I have faith that the left response in Bolton would’ve been huge, and that we’d have been able to run the EDL out of town without much problem. I think they’re aware of this, and that has played some part in their thinking in cancelling the event, effectively surrendering before they could get beat.
Finally Steven Hall didn’t mention that one of the major reasons that the Bolton thing has been called off is that, as well being unsure of the support of their souther counterparts, the Bolton hooligans wont even be in town that day because Bolton are playing away if I’m not mistaken. Without their hooligans, all the EDL can muster is a bunch of naive kids who’ve watched Football Factory and Green Street too many times, and having looked them in the eye in Manchester, outside of a hardcore of nazi’s and hooligans the majority of the EDL are soft little kids from middle-class backgrounds wanting to play hooligan. Without the hardcore their to give them confidence i think these facebook warrior kids would be an absolute walkover, and seeing as the hardcore of Bolton’s firm will be out of town, I think they’ve decided to be sensible and spare themselves more embarassment by cancelling the demo.
Comment by Salford Red — 9 February, 2010 @ 3:14 pm
you make me laugh u aint got a clue have u
Comment by edl — 9 February, 2010 @ 3:28 pm
Comrade John Milton, I’d love you correct my grammar! Please feel free to re-write the extract on my behalf - show me where I go wrong. English was never by best subject in all honesty, but I’d hardly say I was worthy of the jibe of embarrassing illiterate. I suspect you didn’t like the post but couldn’t think of what to say beyond the one sentence?
It was certainly not in the same league as the EDL’s original statement which is worth posting so everyone can have a laugh!
Comment by Steve Hall — 9 February, 2010 @ 5:07 pm
Here is the EDL’s initial statement.
Bolton Demo Cancelled
Statement regarding planned Bolton Demo
After many discussions between the EDL leadership we have decided on 06/02/10 to cancel
our planned Demo in Bolton city centre.
This decision was not take lightly, We outlayed £200.00+ on advertising for this demo, But
we have taken this decision due to the fact there is a Religious Hindu festival on the
same day at the same time at the same place to our planned demo.
Due to the respect we have to the peace loving Hindu community we felt there was
only one decision at the end of the day.
We strongly believe the UAF were planning on attacking the Hindu festival whilst dressed
in EDL official merchandise in a desperate attempt to falsely accuse us of being racist.
The action we have taken only strengthens our cause that we are against Militant Islam only
and not all “foreigners” like the Left like you to believe.
We will come to Bolton very soon and there is not one street in the UK we will not go.
We shall never ever surrender our values or culture.
EDL Leadership team.
Posted by John Sheridan edl admin at 5:42 pm
(The statement actually appeared on the EDL’s site at least an hour earlier - so maybe he can’t tell the time either?)
Comment by Steve Hall — 9 February, 2010 @ 5:11 pm
It’s encouraging to see so many positive comments on here apart from the comment by the EDL troll and comment number 10 posted by John Milton who has nothing to say other than to have a go at Steve Hall.
By the way John it might be an idea if you use spellcheck before posting again I wouldn’t like you to have anymore “embarrassing” moments.
Comment by peter franzen — 9 February, 2010 @ 6:00 pm
“Oppose the EDL Demonstration in Bolton 6/3”
THE FIGHT GOES ON.
We need to continue to prepare to demonstrate in Bolton on 6th March. In spite of their apparent retreat there is no guarantee that the EDL will not turn up on the day.
Please keep on spreading the word to all of your friends and post this link on Facebook sites.
http://www.facebook.com/inbox/?tid=1324915372685#/group.php?gid=273779230666
We also need to remain vigilant and prepared to oppose the EDL racist thugs and scumbags whenever and wherever they may decide to rear their ugly heads.
Best wishes
Peter Franzen
Comment by peter franzen — 9 February, 2010 @ 6:43 pm
“Proof please.”
You’re either a bit dim or you’ve been locked up in a cupboard for the past year. Who do you think designed their website? I’ll give you a clue, he’s a long term member of the BNP. Stop pretending you don’t know this.
Salford Red makes some interesting points. Searchlight have also been doing some investigating into the rifts within the EDL. And despite the claims of the scaremongers on here who believe all of the EDL trained with the SAS it’s clear that the EDL have a hardcore of thugs surrounded by sundry wannabes and petit bourgeoisie mockneys. That doesn’t diminish the threat in Stoke but it puts into perspective the disparate composition of these racists.
The other point Salford Red makes suggesting the potential turn out of the left in Bolton would have been big is born out by the number of friends and colleagues who haven’t been on a demo since the big anti-war one deciding to go to Bolton. I was pleasantly surprised by this as some of them have also been leafleting in Barking as well. I think Stoke and Barking have provoked a lot of people to come out in opposition. Perhaps that’s why the EDL and the BNP realise how disastrous another racist riot will be for them politically. The great thing is that now that the EDL and (tacitly) the BNP have let the dogs of the leash it will be a bugger of a job for them to reign the thugs in again. I bet Griffin is furious with Stokes BNP for making themselves visible that day.
Comment by Ray — 10 February, 2010 @ 4:54 am
Excellent article by Michael Lavalette about why we can’t rely on the state to stop the fascists.
http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=20232
Comment by Ray — 10 February, 2010 @ 5:43 am
More good news. Anti-nazis are consistently frustrating Griffins plans. Well done activists in Durham.
http://www.uaf.org.uk/news.asp?choice=100205
Comment by Ray — 10 February, 2010 @ 5:51 am
The EDL have decided to re-schedule their visit to Bolton to the 20th March.
Comment by Steve Hall — 10 February, 2010 @ 4:09 pm
This has been confirmed by a number of independent sources.
Comment by Steve Hall — 10 February, 2010 @ 4:09 pm
We need to proceed with our plans for a counter-mobilisation as outlined, and show these bully boys they are not welcome in our town.
Comment by Steve Hall — 10 February, 2010 @ 4:10 pm
Stand up to the racist intimidation of EDL hooligans and thugs in Bolton - Celebrate Bolton’s rich and diverse cultural heritage.
Comment by Steve Hall — 10 February, 2010 @ 4:11 pm
The EDL are still coming, i am from Bolton and i welcome all uaf etc to my town (all 4 of you) you will get a brilliant reception from the locals LOL.The REAL working class will speak and they will say EEEDL.
Comment by bob — 13 February, 2010 @ 6:09 pm
I would also like to say this town was once a staunch labour town built on cotton mills and engineering. Since labour policy changed in 2002 onwards there support has declined and the working man has become annoyed by what he see’s around him. The edl are nothing to do with the bnp or nazis or facism they are to do the changes we see around us that we neither asked for nor want.I support the edl but i do not support the bnp however the longer the main political partys ignore my concerns the more likely i am to turn to the bnp.I have an half english half indian friend who fully supports the edl but is worried it will be hi jacked by c18 etc and to be honest i fear the whole movement will be however i fear the islamists and commie supporters more(i fear they will turn on the left when there numbers are stronger).To summarise i am a boltonion and i support the edl i would also like to warn any leftys etc from out of town us northerners do not take kindly to dickheads you have been warned
Comment by bob — 13 February, 2010 @ 6:29 pm