Stop the far right from 'uniting' on 27 October

Fight for jobs, homes and services, not racism

Suzanne Beishon, London Youth Fight for Jobs

The English Defence League (EDL) is a far-right racist group. Many EDL organisers are not just racists. They are Nazis who oppose rights for women, LGBT people, trade unionists and the left.

It regularly takes to the streets across the country, often violently, to intimidate and spread its racist lies.

It now threatens to return to Waltham Forest, north east London, scene of its recent humiliation.

On 1 September, the EDL was stopped from holding a rally in front of Waltham Forest town hall. Thousands of young people, trade unionists and others joined a counter-demonstration that blocked the EDL's original march route with a sit-down protest that was then surrounded by police.

Hearing that the EDL was being escorted by police though back streets to get around the blockade, hundreds of young people, led by Youth Fight for Jobs and the Day-Mer Turkish-Kurdish youth group, broke through police lines to occupy the EDL rallying point.

EDL leader Tommy Robinson, attempting to muster credibility, has called for a return to Waltham Forest on 27 October - a show of strength to 'unite the far right'.

This must be stopped - but how? Labour-led Waltham Forest council is campaigning for a ban. While this may seem attractive, it is not the answer to stopping the far right.

Where EDL demonstrations have been banned, counter-demos have also been banned and intimidating static protests have taken place, with EDLers often breaking free from police pens to rampage through local communities.

Labour-led Waltham Forest council has voted to do the Con-Dems' dirty work and slash 600 jobs. And Labour councillors have a record of trying to ban anti-cuts protests. It's no wonder working class people feel like no one stands up for them.

The EDL's claims to do so are lies. Disgracefully it attempts to lay the blame for the problems faced by working people on those with different colour skin, different nationalities and different religions.

The blame lies with the bosses and pro-big businesses politicians who caused the economic crisis. They want to make the 99% pay for it.

That is why the fight against the EDL and their racist lies is a dual task. We need to organise mass opposition to stop their vile marches.

Already workers and young people are being mobilised to stop the EDL on 27 October. The RMT union in London has agreed to again block the EDL from London stations, demonstrating clearly the huge potential strength of the organised working class.

But a programme and action against the brutal cuts is also needed. Working class people need a mass party to fight austerity - this would show that the real enemy is those at the top who continue to leech and profit while we suffer.

Stop the EDL - 27 October, 11am Walthamstow town centre, E17

Rotherham opposes racist EDL

Around 200 protesters joined the rally and march against the EDL coming to Rotherham on Saturday 13 October.

This mobilisation, at short notice, will now have to be built on as the National Front have announced their intention to march in the town on 27 October.

Stop the far right from 'uniting' on 27 October

Fight for jobs, homes and services, not racism

Suzanne Beishon, London Youth Fight for Jobs

Stop the EDL - 27 October, 11am Walthamstow town centre, E17

Rotherham opposes racist EDL

Rotherham Socialist Party