The Scottish Defence League is planning a march on Glasgow to pay tribute to soldiers fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan – despite a
veterans’ group warning that troops do not want its support. An application has been lodged with Glasgow City Council for a march on Saturday, September 18, during which up to 250 members of the far right organisation will lay a wreath at the Cenotaph on George Square. Its March for Heroes is part of a fresh bid to win support in Scotland, after dismal marches on major Scottish cities where the SDL was hugely outnumbered by counter-demonstrators and bussed off by police. The event is intended to pay tribute to soldiers fighting in current wars as well as the veterans of past conflicts. But The British Legion, which represents soldiers and veterans, said the armed forces would be furious that the cenotaph was being used as the fulcrum for a protest. George Ross, general secretary of the Royal British Legion Scotland, said: “The Cenotaph is there to remind us all of the sacrifice of
individuals, past and present, who have given their lives in the line of duty to bring about democracy and freedom.
“The legion would not get involved in any political events. “Using the cenotaph to make a political point is totally wrong. It’s disgraceful.” When asked if veterans of either modern conflicts or past wars would be angry about the SDL’s protest, Ross said: “Yes. We are one great country. We believe in democracy and freedom, which our forefathers fought to bring about.” Aamer Anwar, the human rights lawyer who brought together rival political parties, trade unions and activists under the banner of Scotland United to oppose the SDL, said: “I think the whole of Scotland and Glasgow will be united in their disgust and will be determined to make
sure these people do not get to march in the city.” The SDL has not previously sought permission for marches in Edinburgh or Glasgow. A form which was submitted to Glasgow City Council ahead of its abortive rally last year did not have a full name on it, rendering the application ineligible. The current application was filed by a Mr Scott Clinton and seconded by Mr D Close. The address was given as an office building in Glasgow. Clinton did not want to speak to the Sunday Herald. The far right organisation is trying to regroup after being confronted with mass protests when it attempted to rally in Glasgow and Edinburgh.
A previous march in Kilmarnock in protest at the opening of a mosque marked a change in tactics, targeting a smaller town to avoid the same scale of opposition. However, it has no clear leadership structure in Scotland, relying on small, cell-like groups that do not have contact with each other. The man who led the Kilmarnock demonstration, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “I don’t know who Scott Clinton is. “There are different divisions, which is our strategy. “The EDL don’t have a lot to do with us. They just let us do our own thing.” Glasgow City Council has not yet met with police and organisers of the march, or decided whether it will allow it to go ahead.
Herald Scotland
