By South London Anti-Fascists Group / @SouthLondonAF
South London Anti-Fascists Group was formed in 2008 in the response to the British National Party getting elected to the Greater London Authority. We are refugees, migrants, trade unionists and anti-fascists from various traditions.
We are calling all South London based anti-fascists to help form community defence groups to stop the English Defence League (EDL) and further racist attacks in our area. Contact us via email: southlondon-antifascists@aktivix.org to help co-ordinate defence and a response. We cannot rely on the police to prevent violent attacks on Islamic places of worship, visible migrants and South Asian people.
Yesterday we witnessed a gruesome attack in Woolwich, carried out men of African origin purporting to be Muslims. The used this incident to re-ignite their flaccid and shrinking racist movement. About 100 EDL members, many protecting their identity using EDL branded balaclavas, drank, chanted and terrorised local people in Woolwich area. We know that they assembled at The Queen’s Arms pub on Burrage Grove, last night, steps can be taken to prevent this from happening again.
The Queen’s Arms Pub, Woolwich
This report and video by the Guardian shows EDL leader, Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, declaring that “Islam is not a religion of peace… enough is enough..”
EDL Stephen Yaxley-Lennon aka “Tommy Robinson”
The EDL attempted to attack the Greenwich Islamic Centre, and were located mostly near Woolwich Arsenal and the DLR station. This racist attack was mirrored in Braintree, Essex, by the report of a man walking into the local mosque with a knife, he was arrested on suspicion of having an offensive weapon and attempted arson. Sikander Saleemy, the local secretary told Channel 4 News:
“The police said it’s too early to try and link it to what happened in Woolwich, but those of us who were here feel that it was some sort of revenge attack. It was clear from the man’s behaviour.
“We absolutely condemn what happened in Woolwich, but it had nothing to do with us. It was an appalling act of terror – but it wasn’t Islamic in any way. I wish it wasn’t described like that, because sadly people will now start to blame Muslims.”
In Kent, a window and bookcases were smashed and a man was arrested on suspicion of racially-aggravated criminal damage. We can’t assume this has stopped and we must be prepared.
5 Comments
You have to be joking!
A repulsive attack by two Muslims. Not purported to be, alleged or any other such weasel worded nonsense but Alluha Akkbar shouting Muslims and anti fascists decide to chose this moment to take to the streets and confront the EDL with a group they claim is made up of ‘Migrants and refugees” amongst others.
I can think of nothing MORE LIKELY to raise support for the EDL. You will be seen as pro terrorism and you will encourage racial hatred if you really do have any migrants and refugees in your ranks.
The EDL are falling aaprt on their own and certainly don’t need their profile raised by a bunch of tuppenny ha’penny’ vigilantes.
So migrants and refugees are pro terrorists are they? Standing up to neo Nazi racist filth is pro terrorist is it? The most prolific and violent terrorists in this country reside in Westminster, elected by morons like you who have turned a convenient blind eye to the devastation and destruction unleashed on millions of brown skinned men, women and children over the last 12 years in the middle east and north Africa.
If you think it is acceptable to scapegoat every single migrant and refugee for a crime committed by two BRITISH men on another British man, then more fool you.
So what do you expect the average joe on the street to do about our governments actions aboard? Seriously what can we do?.
And who is scapegoating anyone here?. The only scapegoating I see is by two MUSLIMS (why you feel the need to put BRITISH in caps is the same reason why I have here) who took out their ill thought out and radical believes on an innocent UNARMED young man walking down the street.
This country has many a person in it who hates everything it stands for and uses foreign policy as an excuse yet happily reeps all the benefits it has given them whilst throwing it back in the face.
I may be mistaken here but I get the impression the left are much more upset of 100 drunken EDL loons than they are at the brutal murder of a young man in cold blood because of the profession he was in.
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A racist attack did happen in South London yesterday, Somebody died from it. Remember it was not the EDL who killed anyone.
Let him rest in peace, you lot and the EDL. You and your differing styles of extreme politics are both not wanted.