Community Protests Against the EDL

bristol | protests | press release Tuesday July 10, 2012 10:11 by We Are Bristol WeAreBristol at yMail dot com

 We Are Bristol Press Statement: July 11th, 2012

As you will know We Are Bristol are co-ordinating a counter-demonstration against the English Defence League (EDL) at the Fountains, 11 am, Saturday July 14th. The EDL will be marching through a small area of the city adjacent to Redcliffe Wharf, before meeting in Queens Square and then being escorted by police out of Bristol. The national joint secretary of Unite Against Fascism (a constituent part of We Are Bristol) has met with the police to confirm arrangements, but we are increasingly disturbed at the hostile attitude of senior police to the counter demonstration, as evidenced in direct statements to us and in press releases from the police, whereby they focus attention on 'extremists' who wish to show their opposition to the racism of the EDL, rather than on the violent record of the EDL against local communities and on their demonstrations. The Evening Post also recently run a front page article claiming the police are drafting in 1000 officers from the Greater Manchester area as part of their operation. We Are Bristol wish to emphasise that the counter demonstration at the Fountains is a peaceful demonstration, aimed at opposing the racism of the EDL, and celebrating the cultural diversity and innovation of our city.

To this end We Are Bristol wish to issue the following statement to the press and media:

" We Are Bristol are co-ordinating a counter-demonstration against the English Defence League (EDL) at the Fountains, 11 am, Saturday July 14th. We Are Bristol is an umbrella group of community organisations, political groups and trade unions opposed to the racism, bigotry and message of hate brought by the EDL whenever it marches through our towns and cities. We wish in our counter-demonstration to hold a peaceful and family-friendly protest against the EDL.In this way we wish to express through our trade unions and other groups our abhorrence of the racism of the EDL, and to celebrate our city's cultural diversity and innovation. We hope that the authorities, including local police, will take notice of our peaceful intentions, and support our right to protest."

The statement to the media is signed by the following:

Richard Capps, Chair South West TUC
Dave Chapple, Vice Chair South West TUC
Alex Gordon, National President, RMT
Mike Woollacott, Labour Councillor, Brislington East
Roger Berry, former Labour MP, Kingswood
Owen Jones, Journalist
Michael Jempson, Editor Bristol Globe
Dave Merrick, Love Music, Hate Racism
Nick Gill, founder member Sing Out Bristol (personal capacity)
Varinder Singh B. Sikhs Against the EDL
Julie Boston, Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways (personal capacity)
Jelena Timotivejic, National Convenor, Defend the Right to Protest

Professor Harriet Bradley, Bristol University, National Executive member UCU
Dr. Madge Dresser, Associate Professor of History, UWE
Dr. Michal Nahman, UWE
Dr. Michael Richardson, UWE
Dr. Ana Dinerstein, Bath University
Dr. Gregory Schwartz, Bath University
Professor Martin Upchurch

Bristol and District Anti Cuts Alliance
Bristol Trades Union Council
John McInally, Vice-President, PCS union
Steve West, PCS DWP Group Executive Committee
Adrian Probert, Assistant Sec, Bristol West Country PCS
Roger Thomas, PCS South West Region Vice-Chair
Anne Lemon, National Executive National Union of Teachers (NUT)
Paul Vernell, Joint Secretary South Gloucestershire NUT
Nina Franklin, past President NUT, Bristol NUT
Phil Jones, Bristol division NUT Committee
Claire Nicholls, Bristol NUT
Phil Jordan, FBU Regional Secretary
Jaz Thomas, Avon Fire Brigades Union Vice-Chair
Steve Crawshaw, Unison Service Conditions Officer
Simon Duckett, Unison steward, Bristol Gateway School
Huw Williams, Unison steward, South Gloucestershire
Rich Gurney, Unison Branch Chair, BANES (personal capacity)
Salena Williams, Unison International Officer, Central Health Branch (personal capacity)
Matt Proom, social worker and Unison workplace representative (personal capacity)
Liz Brown, Unison representative, Bristol City Council branch (personal capacity)
Bob Marshfield, Unison steward, Bristol City Council
Steve Mills, Secretary Bristol City Council Unison.
Berny Parkes, Chair Dorset Unison
Karen Cole, Unite the union, Health Sector Women's and Equalities Organiser 
Kathy Taylor, Secretary, Unite Bristol Health branch
Stephen Buckingham, treasurer, Unite Bristol Health Branch
Gwyneth Powell-Davies, Vice-Chair, Unite Bristol Health Branch
Chrissie Gardner, Unite representative Bristol Childrens’ Hospital
Celia Hollingworth, Bristol University UCU representative
James Annett, Bristol University UCU President