EDL Rally Helps Israel: In 2010 the English Defence League (EDL) an excessive right-wing organisation based in June 2009 was reaching the height of its existence and a number of other hundred got here to a protest in Kensington to point out their help of Israel.
The EDL’s help of Israel got here from the anti-Muslim centre of their actions; the group was based following their opposition to a protest at a homecoming parade in Luton by a small group of Muslim extremists in opposition to a regiment coming back from Afghanistan, which was additionally opposed by Luton’s giant Muslim group.
The EDL had invited right-wing US Rabbi Nachum Shifren, a part of the ‘Tea Occasion’ motion from California to talk on the rally exterior the Israeli Embassy. As I wrote on the time, “Though the EDL declare to be opposing the rise of fascism of their opposition to Muslim extremists, they’ve come to a really biased view over Israel and Palestine, and have been very successfully infiltrated by bigoted Zionists.“
The EDL gathered at a pub on Gloucester Highway earlier than their march to the Embassy, filling the pavement exterior. There have been quite a lot of press photographers on the alternative aspect of the road watching them however I made a decision to cross the highway and talked with and {photograph} Rabbi Schriffin. Not one of the different photographers adopted me.
For some minutes earlier than the beginning of the march I used to be capable of speak with him and a number of the EDL supporters and a few have been pleased to be photographed, and even complimented me for my correct reporting on earlier protests – whereas complaining bitterly concerning the media protection they get. As I informed them I all the time attempt to report objectively, whereas additionally making my very own distinction of opinion clear.
The press they bought did replicate the behaviour of at the very least a few of these at their protests, and if the EDL needed to finish the accusations of racism they wanted to take extra constructive motion in opposition to the type of behaviour that makes them doable. However lots of their members together with main figures had a protracted historical past of membership of right-wing racist teams, and it was clear that the declare they made “We don’t help racism or intolerance of any type” was merely window dressing.
The leaflet they handed out described themselves as “the knights of previous, defending our nice nation for the specter of Militant Islam” and stated “All welcome regardless of of color, faith or intercourse” and there was at the very least some fact in that proven within the composition of these within the march, with definitely quite a lot of ladies, some claiming to be homosexual however, search as I’ve, not a single black face in my footage.
For as soon as Unite In opposition to Fascism did not mobilise a lot efficient opposition to this demonstration – and didn’t seem to have tried very arduous to take action. On their website online I discovered the assertion “UAF doesn’t have a place on the query of Israel and Palestine – our members have many alternative views on this query. As an alternative, we unite round our widespread purpose of opposing the rise of fascism.” And as I commented, “Maybe on this event they felt that taking motion may offend a few of their Jewish supporters.”
A few of these Jewish supporters have been there within the slightly small crowd opposing the rally, and there was a extra direct motion by a younger man in a black jacket and gloves who got here and stood listening for a short time, who took out his water bottle, had a drink after which reached over and poured the remainder of it over the amplifier earlier than turning and operating down the road.
The sound from the microphone lower instantly, and the individuals contained in the pen burst into indignant shouts. It took the police longer to react and by the point they have been shifting the person had escaped, most likely disappearing into Excessive Road Kensington to catch the tube. I’d additionally been taken unexpectedly and hadn’t managed to take his {photograph}. Or maybe I’d been questioning whether or not I ought to…
Finally the water was tipped out and the amplifier wiped dry and got here again into some very crackly life. Police shut the steady door by shifting everybody exterior the pen away and that and the sound high quality made it arduous to listen to a lot of Rabbi Shifren’s speech, some minutes of which have been in Hebrew. However he made clear his opposition to Sharia Regulation and Muslim extremists and I believe to any facet of multiculturalism. And I believe he additionally denied the Palestinians any proper to exist within the land which had been given to Israel.
I went residence slightly than go on with the EDL to Audio system Nook, the place they have been apparently closely heckled. One other photographer who was there informed me “{that a} small group of EDL supporters had attacked a Muslim bookstall and the 11-year-old boy who was operating it, after which turned on photographers for taking footage of their actions.” His digicam had been smashed into his face by an EDL supporter. Images on the internet confirmed this story.
On My London Diary I wrote at some size about my very own views on the EDL and the occasion in addition to placing way more footage than normal on-line which you’ll be able to view at EDL Rally to Assist Israel.
Tags: anti-Muslim, bigoted Zionist, EDL, EDL’s Jewish Division, English Defence League, Gloucester Arms, Gloucester Highway, Islamophbia, Islamophobic, Israel, Israeli embassy, Kensington, Kevin Carroll, London, march, Muslim extremists, Palestine, peter Marshall, police, protest, Rabbi Nachum Shifren, racist, Roberta Moore, sabotage, UAF, Unite In opposition to Fascism, US Rabbi
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