Link to this page: http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/630/9878
From The Socialist newspaper, 23 June 2010
Anti-EDL protest
Anti-EDL demonstration in Tower Hamlets, photo East London Socialist Party (Click to enlarge)
AT LEAST 5,000 people marched in Tower Hamlets last Sunday (20 June) to keep the racist and hooligan English Defence League (EDL) out of the London borough. A large number of young people in particular came out, despite the EDL announcing a week before that they weren't coming after all.
The march was still absolutely necessary to bring people together and show that the vast majority of people in Tower Hamlets oppose the EDL's divisive politics. It had a big effect in counteracting the fear that the EDL's original threat to march in the borough had caused and it also gave confidence to people that the EDL can be stopped.
Anti-EDL demonstration in Tower Hamlets, photo East London Socialist Party (Click to enlarge)
Asian, white, black, Muslim and non-Muslim, students, unemployed people and trade unionists marched together in a common cause, with many of the large number of bystanders expressing support.
Socialist Party leaflets called for the demonstration to be a springboard to unite the local community around opposition to government spending cuts as well as opposing racism and social division. These leaflets were snapped up and eagerly read.
Anti-EDL demonstration in Tower Hamlets, photo East London Socialist Party (Click to enlarge)
The Youth Fight for Jobs contingent's chants of "jobs and homes, not racism" was appreciated by other marchers. Unfortunately, most of the platform speakers didn't adopt this class approach and therefore missed an excellent opportunity to rally thousands of young and overwhelmingly working class people against cuts as well as the EDL.
As the Con-Dem government spending axe comes down on jobs and public services, the best way to stop racist groups like the EDL turning anger against the government into racism and divisions, is to build a strong fightback of workers' organisations united together with youth and local communities.
Naomi Byron
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In The Socialist 23 June 2010:
Stop budget attacks with mass action
Budget cuts hitting the poorest hardest
Youth fight for jobs
Young people: fight for your future!
Youth speak for jobs at UCU union rally
Protesting at Iain's Dickensian Society
National Shop Stewards Network
The role of the NSSN in the battle to defend public sector jobs and services
Budget
Budget Day: workers' responses
Fightback to stop the cuts - public meetings
Bloody Sunday
Bloody Sunday: Innocent protesters murdered by the British army in 1972
Workplace news and analysis
PCS union rejects 'inevitable' cuts
Unison election: Over 42,000 votes for socialist candidate
Unison leadership: Lack of anti-cuts strategy
Fighting cuts in Nottingham: Save the WAP day centre
National Shrewsbury 24 Justice Campaign March and Rally
Socialist Party news and analysis
Refugee and Migrant Justice: Save this vital service!
Coventry rally against public sector cuts
Stop attacks on services for the vulnerable in Nuneaton
Birmingham: Growing anger against cuts
Socialist Party feature
How deep is Britain's media crisis?
International socialist news and analysis
Ethnic conflict explodes in Kyrgyzstan
Donate to aid Greek socialists
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