Three members of the English Defence League, including one from Buckinghamshire, have appeared in court charged with conspiring to commit racially aggravated criminal damage.
Charlotte Davies, 19, of Aylesbury, Anthony Smith, 24, of Easington, Peterlee, County Durham, and Steven Vasey, 31, of High Pittington, County Durham, are alleged to have plotted to daub graffiti on a mosque and buildings linked to a family business.
Each spoke only to answer their name during a short hearing before Peterlee Magistrates on Wednesday.
Read more at Bearsden Herald
Wednesday, 11 May 2011
EDL protest rally ‘not wanted’ (UK)
A controversial Bank Holiday weekend rally will take place on the headland at South Pier, it has been revealed.
Police today confirmed the location of the event organised by the English Defence League after fears were raised it would disrupt town centre trading.
The news comes as trade union bosses slammed the rally, which is calling for justice for missing schoolgirl Charlene Downes, due to be held on Saturday May 28.
Peter Billington, secretary of the Lancashire Association of Trades Union Councils (LATUC), said the EDL were not welcome.
Members of LATUC are now calling on the Home Office to ban this demonstration because of its potential for violence.
He said: “This conference opposes plans by the EDL and they are not wanted in Blackpool.
“At the April EDL demonstration in Blackburn, members of the group fought among themselves in brawls.
“Ten of them were arrested for offences including assaulting a police officer, breach of the peace, and affray.
“The march cost £500,000 according to Lancashire Police Authority.”
The march is in response to the police inquiry into missing teenager Charlene. Two men were charged with murder and disposing of her body but later acquitted.
But Mr Billington said the EDL were in no position to make judgements on a criminal inquiry.
He added: “The protest is supposed to be about teenage girls in Blackpool who are victims of grooming or sexual abuse.
“We say the EDL is in no position to sit in judgement on anyone.”
EDL supporters say they will bring thousands of supporters to the rally.
But police say they are confident of a peaceful rally.
Blackpool Gazette
Police today confirmed the location of the event organised by the English Defence League after fears were raised it would disrupt town centre trading.
The news comes as trade union bosses slammed the rally, which is calling for justice for missing schoolgirl Charlene Downes, due to be held on Saturday May 28.
Peter Billington, secretary of the Lancashire Association of Trades Union Councils (LATUC), said the EDL were not welcome.
Members of LATUC are now calling on the Home Office to ban this demonstration because of its potential for violence.
He said: “This conference opposes plans by the EDL and they are not wanted in Blackpool.
“At the April EDL demonstration in Blackburn, members of the group fought among themselves in brawls.
“Ten of them were arrested for offences including assaulting a police officer, breach of the peace, and affray.
“The march cost £500,000 according to Lancashire Police Authority.”
The march is in response to the police inquiry into missing teenager Charlene. Two men were charged with murder and disposing of her body but later acquitted.
But Mr Billington said the EDL were in no position to make judgements on a criminal inquiry.
He added: “The protest is supposed to be about teenage girls in Blackpool who are victims of grooming or sexual abuse.
“We say the EDL is in no position to sit in judgement on anyone.”
EDL supporters say they will bring thousands of supporters to the rally.
But police say they are confident of a peaceful rally.
Blackpool Gazette
EUROPEAN JEWISH, MUSLIM LEADERS DENOUNCE EXTREMISM
Jewish and Muslim leaders in several European countries are joining to denounce the rise of far-right extremist groups in their countries. In a monthlong initiative co-sponsored by the European Jewish Congress, the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding, the Muslim Jewish Conference, the World Council of Muslims for Interfaith Relations and the World Jewish Congress, Jewish and Muslim community leaders are uniting to speak out against the increasing popularity of far-right extremist groups throughout Europe.
On May 8, under the auspices of the Jewish-Muslim Friendship of France, participants called on Muslims and Jews to reject the right-wing National Front Party, which has been gaining in the polls since its new leader, Marine Le Pen, has taken power. “We are holding this event to make unmistakably clear that the Jewish and Muslim citizens of France stand united in opposition to the National Front,” said Rabbi Michel Serfaty, president of the Jewish-Muslim Friendship of France. “Despite claims to the contrary, Marine Le Pen has not changed one iota the racist, Islamophobic and anti-Semitic politics of her father,” he said, according to reports, referring to the founder of the National Front party, Jean-Marie Le Pen.
JTA
On May 8, under the auspices of the Jewish-Muslim Friendship of France, participants called on Muslims and Jews to reject the right-wing National Front Party, which has been gaining in the polls since its new leader, Marine Le Pen, has taken power. “We are holding this event to make unmistakably clear that the Jewish and Muslim citizens of France stand united in opposition to the National Front,” said Rabbi Michel Serfaty, president of the Jewish-Muslim Friendship of France. “Despite claims to the contrary, Marine Le Pen has not changed one iota the racist, Islamophobic and anti-Semitic politics of her father,” he said, according to reports, referring to the founder of the National Front party, Jean-Marie Le Pen.
JTA
Greece: Fatal stabbing triggers violent far-right protest
Police say 25 people have been detained in central Athens following a violent anti-immigrant protest by a far-right group.
Several hundred youths took part in the march late Tuesday, chanting "Foreigners Out" and "Greece for Greeks" in a rally held after man was stabbed to death during a street robbery in an area of Athens where many immigrants live.
Police said the protesters smashed the glass entrance of an apartment building and a nearby storefront. The youths, some carrying clubs, also chased immigrants through a central district of Athens before riot police intervened.
Violent far-right groups have won growing support in recent months. The leader of extremist group Chrysi Avgi won a seat on Athens city council for the first time in a November election.
Google Hosted news
Several hundred youths took part in the march late Tuesday, chanting "Foreigners Out" and "Greece for Greeks" in a rally held after man was stabbed to death during a street robbery in an area of Athens where many immigrants live.
Police said the protesters smashed the glass entrance of an apartment building and a nearby storefront. The youths, some carrying clubs, also chased immigrants through a central district of Athens before riot police intervened.
Violent far-right groups have won growing support in recent months. The leader of extremist group Chrysi Avgi won a seat on Athens city council for the first time in a November election.
Google Hosted news
Government to probe racist group (Australia)
Victoria's Multicultural Affairs Minister has called for an investigation into a white supremacist group to see if its messages of racial hatred being preached on the Surf Coast are breaking the law.
Nicholas Kotsiras was appalled to read about the Creativity Movement in the Geelong Advertiser yesterday, including comments by the group's Australian leader Patrick O'Sullivan that Torquay is, and should remain, "a white area".
"To me it's uneducated, it's naive, and it's wrong," said Mr Kotsiras, who was in Geelong to launch Volunteering Week at a refugee support agency.
"I think these people should actually come and speak to migrants who have come here and see for themselves that they're making a wonderful contribution to this state."
Stickers have been put up around Torquay reading, "White Power! White People Awake. Save the White Race."
"I am going to refer (the group) to the Multicultural Commission to investigate and that will work with the Equal Opportunity Commission to see if the Racial and Religious Tolerance legislation has been breached," Mr Kotsiras said.
The proud Greek-Australian said he struggled to believe that such groups were operating in Victoria today.
The US-based Creativity Movement's members believe the white race is their religion and they are opposed to immigration.
Mr O'Sullivan, who lives in Melbourne, said that parts of the city had been "taken over by non-whites" and that "something has to be done to protect the white race".
He has refused to say how many people follow the Creativity Movement, but posted on the Geelong Advertiser's website yesterday that it "certainly has more than 12 and is growing".
Mr O'Sullivan said the minister would be wasting his time and taxpayers' money investigating the group.
"It looks like he's taking an opportunity to grandstand. We have every right to propagate our religion," he said.
The Racial and Religious Tolerance Act defines vilification as "public behaviour that incites hatred against, serious contempt for, or revulsion or severe ridicule of another person or group of people because of their race or religion".
"The Act sets a high standard for determining vilification, and it is only in extreme and serious cases that vilification will be found to have occurred."
Geloong Advertiser
Nicholas Kotsiras was appalled to read about the Creativity Movement in the Geelong Advertiser yesterday, including comments by the group's Australian leader Patrick O'Sullivan that Torquay is, and should remain, "a white area".
"To me it's uneducated, it's naive, and it's wrong," said Mr Kotsiras, who was in Geelong to launch Volunteering Week at a refugee support agency.
"I think these people should actually come and speak to migrants who have come here and see for themselves that they're making a wonderful contribution to this state."
Stickers have been put up around Torquay reading, "White Power! White People Awake. Save the White Race."
"I am going to refer (the group) to the Multicultural Commission to investigate and that will work with the Equal Opportunity Commission to see if the Racial and Religious Tolerance legislation has been breached," Mr Kotsiras said.
The proud Greek-Australian said he struggled to believe that such groups were operating in Victoria today.
The US-based Creativity Movement's members believe the white race is their religion and they are opposed to immigration.
Mr O'Sullivan, who lives in Melbourne, said that parts of the city had been "taken over by non-whites" and that "something has to be done to protect the white race".
He has refused to say how many people follow the Creativity Movement, but posted on the Geelong Advertiser's website yesterday that it "certainly has more than 12 and is growing".
Mr O'Sullivan said the minister would be wasting his time and taxpayers' money investigating the group.
"It looks like he's taking an opportunity to grandstand. We have every right to propagate our religion," he said.
The Racial and Religious Tolerance Act defines vilification as "public behaviour that incites hatred against, serious contempt for, or revulsion or severe ridicule of another person or group of people because of their race or religion".
"The Act sets a high standard for determining vilification, and it is only in extreme and serious cases that vilification will be found to have occurred."
Geloong Advertiser
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