English Defence League to march through Plymouth
FAR-right street protest group the English Defence League is to march through Plymouth on Saturday as part of its campaign against what it calls the spread of Islamic extremism in Britain.
A counter-march has been organised by Unison, Unite Against Facism (UAF) and the Trades Union Council.
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The EDL march will start in Exeter Street at 1pm, there will be speeches in the city centre at 2pm and a march back to Exeter Street at 3pm.
A statement on EDL Plymouth's Facebook posting for the event reads: "Above all the English Defence League will be attending Plymouth to hold a peaceful protest anyone causing trouble or making racist remarks will be removed from the demo and is likely to be arrested."
The counter-event will start with a rally at the Jigsaw Garden near Drake Circus at 12pm and there will be a march at 1pm.
Devon and Cornwall Police are planning to deploy officers in the city centre during the events.
Police are readying themselves for the potentially explosive rallies with ‘significant resources’ available.
But they added that protesters have said they would hold peaceful demonstrations.
“It’s important that we plan for every eventuality,” said Superintendent Craig Downham.
“We’re expecting large numbers of people in the city centre and Barbican areas and protesters have stated that it is their intention to hold a peaceful assembly, however, we will have significant police resources available to deal with any situation which presents itself, in a fair, proportionate and impartial way.”
He added that the police and local authority do not have powers to ban the protests and respect everyone’s democratic right to participate in peaceful protest.
But the Force is asking the community to be vigilant and inform the police immediately of any incidents.
“Devon and Cornwall Police is experienced in policing large events and our commitment is to protect the communities we serve and keep the peace, while facilitating peaceful and lawful protests,” he said.
“We want to reassure people that the city centre is still open for business. The two march routes have been negotiated in such a way that there’s less of a chance of disorder but we are there in large numbers should we need to use our powers to deal with anyone who is getting out of hand.”
The EDL have been leafleting around the city centre ahead of their rally with pamphlets saying “peaceful protest in Plymouth” and “defend our culture”.
UAF said that a unity statement has been signed by local politicians and trade unionists in opposition to the EDL protest.
To highlight this they are organising a multicultural We Are Plymouth demonstration.
Kevin Treweeks, equalities officer, city of Plymouth branch UNISON, added that the group is also planning an afternoon of multi-cultural entertainment following the rally.
The EDL formed in Luton in 2009 in response to protests by Islamic groups.
Events by EDL in other cities have sometimes seen a number of arrests, violent clashes with the UAF and other groups and criminal damage.
Between 1,500 and 2,000 demonstrators marched through Newcastle in May 2010 - from both the EDL and UAF.
Police say the event passed without incident.
EDL events are usually heavily policed.








227 Comments
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by qwertyytrewqw
Sunday, July 10 2011, 10:18PM
“The left wing bias of this news paoer ( and I say newspaper as a joke ) . One newspaper has already gone down.... these local communist rags are next .”
by MrReilly
Sunday, July 10 2011, 9:48PM
“This is the Pat Condell speech - (my mistake not the previously posted link)
http://tinyurl.com/5u968qt
A little different wouldn't you say..”
by MrReilly
Sunday, July 10 2011, 9:46PM
“I have just seen the recording of the low life scousers attempt at a public speech.
Alot of what the EDL stand for I agree - But see Pat Condell's version- http://tinyurl.com/5u968qt
- a slightly more erudite presentation of the facts.
EDL - do yourselves a favour and lose the bufoon with only two brain cells who is presently standing in front of the mic. (He's the one with the very hairy hands and the stupid accent)
As an ex british serviceman I am disgusted that the EDL should be using the combined services as an attempt to gain public recognition for their movement. This is not representative of the vast majority of British forces and most, I am sure, would not want to be associated with a scouser such as this "thing" I hear before me.”
by Arabali
Saturday, July 09 2011, 11:39PM
“To MissDMeana, I would like to point out that the only violence I witnessed at both marches was been the EDL members themselves. Chants 'get you t**ts out' and 'green army' just about sums up the intelligence of these members who claim to represent English people. Quite simply an embarrassment!”
by Peter20113
Saturday, July 09 2011, 8:43PM
“Ignore these people
They will go away
and hide in the s**t lives
That they created
They will talk c**p
To each other
But they know
No-one else hears them”
by Flipix photography
Saturday, July 09 2011, 7:24PM
“I have also just returned from the demo if you can call it that, what I saw was a bunch of drunken football yobs with enough police escorting them to invade a small country costing the city a small fortune. I tried to listen to the speech from a former forces person, sadly he could not string more than three words together with out saying the "F" word.
We all know what's going on with our Muslim community but do they think we would put our lot behind a load of drunken tattooed unorganised yobs who, lets face it, do themselves no favours and make themselves look exactly what they are, ridiculous. If they really want to contribute to a worthwhile effort then join the Army and kick some real ass, that's if they don't run the other way first and can stay sober for more that a day.
Phil”
by SamBishop
Saturday, July 09 2011, 4:46PM
“Having just come back from both Marches, following them just as an observer, I must comment on the professionalism of all the Police Officers today.
The EDL's 'Peaceful' protest kicked off at the end, but the trouble was soon stopped.
The Police were there to protect the public, and that is what they did, and all were a credit to the Devon and Cornwall team.”
by Loughb
Saturday, July 09 2011, 1:37PM
“Britain declared main hub for Islamist terrorists across world
Published on Friday 8 July 2011 09:01
The UK is "something of a hub for the development of terrorists". the Government's former independent reviewer of terrorism legislation has warned.
Lord Carlile QC said Islamist extremism "remained far and away the greatest, and the least predictable" terrorist threat to the UK and most terrorists were home-grown.
He highlighted several cases from 2010 where British citizens were accused of terrorist activity in the UK and abroad.
Writing the foreword to an overview of the UK's links to Islamism-inspired terrorism worldwide, Lord Carlile said: "Although terrorist training (especially in Pakistan) plays a part in the development of some Islamist extremists, we should not lose sight of the clear evidence provided by the report that a majority of terrorists in the UK are 'home-grown', and have not been trained abroad.
http://tinyurl.com/5rz8xcb”
by MissDMeana
Saturday, July 09 2011, 12:30PM
“I ve been following this since Thurs. The only reason this could end in violence will be due to the UAF, you will note nothing about Islam in thier name. If the freedom of expression was allowed to be carried out by the march of the EDL I believe all would go well. The fact that hundreds of thugs are also coming to oppose them is the problem.
This surely what our country stands for, freedom to demonstrate, freedom to speek your mind.
This is why states all over the world are rising up to have thier democratic rights heard.
The unions automatic knee jerk to anything that may not be pc as have all other spineless councilors. They are all sleep walking into a complete change in our herritage and customs.
The drip drip drip effect over the years where anything against minorities is put down without thinking it thro'. Decades of mind changing has gone on.
Why is parading thro' the roads of England carrying the Union Flag or Cross of St George wrong ?
What is wrong is not allowing them to. If thier is no opponent there can't be a fight !
Why don't the UAF march tomorrow in a peaceful demo' against todays (what would be) peaceful demo'. Both parties expressing thier right under British Law.
Thier are no Islamic states where this could happen and thats why ordinary people all over are rising up and fighting back against oppression.
This country is going the other way until we will not be able to speek out in public. How would UNISON feel about that?
EDL is not preaching the hatered that was allowed from Mosc's by known terrorists for years with no arrests. Seems to me that they want the same rights to protest as the Muslim community.
If you don't like it, hold your own protest on a seperate day.
People in the West Country should take up these Mini City breakes advertised, try Bolton, Luton, Bradford etc you may see that there are areas with no intergration at all, if there was maybe this situation would not arrise ! Have a peacefull day”
by Winstonsmith0
Saturday, July 09 2011, 12:05PM
“I got a leaflet from EDL - saying their Gas and Electricity prices are going up again.
****** disgraceful!”