Hundreds sign up to oppose ‘March for England’

Hundreds of people have signed up on Facebook to a protest group that pledge to stop the ‘March for England’ from taking place in Brighton over fears that members of the ‘racist and violent’ English Defence League will be attending.

The ‘March for England’ is due to take place in the city next Sunday (25th April) to mark St George’s Day, but it has been speculated that the event could be hijacked by EDL, which is an organisation with apparent links to BNP and Combat 18.

The event, set up by United Against Facism, has so far got over 450 people pledging to attend an as of yet undetermined location.

A statement from United Against Facism said: “We state our strong opposition to a march that is planned for Brighton town centre on the 25th of April.

“We believe this march, which claims to celebrate St Georges Day, will actually bring the unwelcome presence of the violent and racist group the English Defence League (EDL) to our city.

“The organisers ‘March for England’ claim to be an anti-racist organization with no connection to the EDL, but the site forum has several mentions of EDL groups joining this march, and the website includes links to other far-right organisations including the EDL.”

The statement adds: “Brighton and Hove is a city that its residents value for its tolerance and peaceful nature.

“We live in a vibrant multi-cultural community, where other peoples’ lifestyles, race and faith are accepted and appreciated, we do not need this march and we will not support it.

“Many people in Brighton will enjoy and celebrate St Georges Day and the rest of the weekend, without the nasty xenophobic and islamaphobic rhetoric of the groups involved with this march.”

Find out more about this on the Facebook event page.

While to find out about March for England, which stresses that it is not a racist group, visit their Facebook page or website.

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Posted by Joseph Lewis on April 19, 2010. Filed under Brighton and Hove News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

28 Responses to Hundreds sign up to oppose ‘March for England’

Gemma

April 20, 2010 at 8:44 am

This is not going to end well.
Paul Perrin

April 20, 2010 at 12:36 pm

If March for England are non-racist (as they say) and Brighton Unity are purely anti-racist (as they say) why aren’t they all working *together*?

It looks like someone has a hidden agenda – and the innocent public are (as usual) going to be the ones who suffer for it.

Paul Perrin
PPC – UKIP – Hove and Portslade
England

April 20, 2010 at 2:32 pm

why is it when supporting St Georges day, all the anti idiots come out the woodwork and look for trouble, celebrating St Georges day is a family event with old and young, and March For Englands first march was lead by the Gurkha’s… so where this far right nonsense comes from i have no idea.

Not once has March For England had any arrests, or events of trouble at any of there organised march’s, demos, e.t.c.. so why unity wish to stop and turn up to provoke is a shame really.

Would be better if they joined in to celebrate and maybe after debate if they see any “far right” rubbish as they class us as.
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england4ever

April 20, 2010 at 9:26 pm

well said
Sean Carney

April 20, 2010 at 10:16 pm

“but the event may well be hijacked by EDL, which is an organisation with apparent links to BNP and Combat 18. ”

Where do you get this tosh from??? The EDL do not have links to any of the Groups you claim they do.
utter rubbish,that thankfully people (with half a Brain) are beginning to see through
The EDL thats got links to the BNP,is thia th same EDL thats had a sikh as one of its main speakers in the recent London march,or the same EDL that had several Black peopl marching with it?
Bill Baker

April 20, 2010 at 10:48 pm

Sick really.The UAF are far more fascist than those they oppose
Luke

April 21, 2010 at 12:31 am

I would like to point out that March for England have gained police permission to have the St Georges day parade – the same parade that has been had before with no problems. In fact, having been on last years parade, I can honestly confirm that the police were very happy with how well organised and polite the March For England group were. Bit strange how the past couple of years, this CELEBRATORY march has gone along very happily and smoothly, and now people start organising counter protests and the such just incase something happens.

What I find racist and utterly disgusting is the fact that this Brighton Unity lot deny the right of English people to celebrate their national day completely legally.

How come two years ago March for England brought the Ghurkas into this march if they’re racist? I mean physically brought the Gurkhas in, they lead the parade. No-one had any problems then. And last year was just a regular parade: flags, singing, patriotism and smiles, smiles all round. Nobody countered then and there was no bad air or element of risk. Now look what this “anti-racist” group has done. Turned a happy celebration into a potential hazard to public safety. Makes me very sad.
Adrian Thurston

April 21, 2010 at 12:49 am

I’m a member of Edl and I’m not racist. The news article above is bunkum. Racism is illegal so if there are any racists anywhere, then they’ll be prosecuted either by the British or UAF. Violence is always wrong.

Its those who support a broken Britain and its crooked politicians who hate the English and who hate the country they live in AND the people who’s country this is, who I dislike. I support a merry England and would oppose anyone who wished to undermine the right of the English to exist and prosper in England. Britain is finished and political correctness doesn’t work because it is unjust. Multiculturism has failed us for the same reason and we now need to look at accultration as a means to maintain our national integrity and to keep the peace.

Its crazy to accuse English people like myself as being racist or being members of extremist organisations. Its untrue and can only lead to a stronger English Defence League to stand firm and to protect our families against the politically motivated ignorant and subversive people who believe that foolishness must prevail so that they can pander to the lowest common denominator. That time is now ended and it will never happen again while I am alive.
Frederic

April 21, 2010 at 1:33 am

Rubbish ! I was at the London demo with the EDL.There were Muslim & Black people with us and there was no problem at all.I’m a foreigner and I spoke to a lot of people and there was no problem too.Strange for so-called nazis ?
tony groves

April 21, 2010 at 2:12 am

I have been to two EDL marches anonymously and simply observed from the outside. At neither was there any racist chanting and the only people I saw genuinely trying to provoke violence were all UAF members who arrived early and then tried to block legitimate protest marches. Like the Anti Nazi League which I came across at university in the 90s, they are rude, arrogant and take the attitude that if you don’t agree with them, you must be a racist, a bigot and all their other redundant insults, unsubstantiated by any kind of logical debate and all driven by abusive behaviour. The UAF should rename themselves the united fascists against free speech. And you will note that the last time there were so called clashes between the two groups, it was almost all UAF supporters who were arrested.
Bill Baker

April 21, 2010 at 9:57 am

All you have achieved by this is drawing BNP and C18 radicals into Brighton to take on the opposing UAF thugs. They wont be part of our March for England as we dont tolerate racists in our ranks and will be elsewhere in the town looking for a fight, but I am sure the police are happy with you for inciting violence on the day and putting police officers at risk from UAF stone chucking morons who have the brains of rocking horses and no respect for the law. If any child or woman is hurt in the march for England parade because of your socialist agitation parade let it be on your conscience, if you have one.
Pompey Dave

April 21, 2010 at 9:59 pm

Official video statement from part of the EDL leadership team. Half way through video St Georges is mentioned and that The EDL are not involved.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZUn85wtgag
mark jenner

April 24, 2010 at 2:50 pm

the fact that someone from UKIP has left a post here shows how events such as these have been hijacked by right wing xenophobic racists. Unfortunately many members of the EDL have stated their intention to join this march. Anti-fascist protestors deplore violence and agression and are not the ones who are looking for trouble….
lyn saddington

March 19, 2011 at 12:14 pm

I am a member of EDL and i have been to protests myself, I am not a racist person neither do i like violence! I believe as do many others that muslims should accept they are in england and stop trying to have mosques built and also join in with english culture rather than ignore it! we should not have people demanding sharia law and muslim extremists here! The trouble i have seen is from muslim UAF members who believe they should be allowed to take this country over and ignore our heritage! The EDL members may attend but we know this is not an EDL demo and also the EDL are patriots of england so we have every right to attend and march as peacefully as the rest there without the usual rubbish we get from the press that we are racist and trouble makers! Now can we stop with all the crap that EDL are racist and cause trouble PLEASE and THANKS!!! Also if the UAF do turn up then the people writing this only have themselfs to blame as they published they are going to be there so any reading this will think they can go and oppose us marching!!! well done do you have brains???????
John G

April 23, 2011 at 7:51 am

I used to take my kids of 2 and 7 to this march, a really nice English day for everyone. Until the UAF Lefty Anarchist scum started attacking women and Children. Why dose our Government help fund this evil group UAF =UNITE AGAINST FREEDOM