accessory Posted 13 January 2012 Posted 13 January 2012 http://www.thisislei...tail/story.html The English Defence League has applied for permission to march through Leicester city centre. The group, which staged a major rally in the city in October 2010, wants to return on Saturday, February 4. Its previous protest degenerated into violence as people within a cordoned-off area reserved for the EDL pelted police officers with bricks, bottles and coins. A number of fireworks and smoke bombs were also thrown from the 1,000-strong EDL section, while some of its followers broke through police lines to engage in running battles with local youths and officers. The operation cost police – who put 2,000 officers on to the streets – and Leicester City Council an estimated £850,000. Shops, particularly those in Humberstone Gate East, lost trade because they closed and boarded up their properties for the day. The EDL formally notified city authorities on Wednesday of its wish to stage a march and rally. Police and officials at Leicester City Council held an urgent meeting yesterday to consider their response. They can apply to the Home Office for a ban on the march – as they did on the previous occasion – but cannot prevent a static protest. City mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said he would be working closely with the police and community groups. He said: "Our overriding aim is to ensure that the people of Leicester can go about their business safely. We will do everything we can to ensure that any demonstration passes off peacefully, with as little disruption to the life of the city as possible." Martin Traynor, chief executive of Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce, said a repeat of the disorder would harm the city's image for shoppers. He said: "We would urge the authorities, including the Home Office, to decline this application." Suleman Nagdi, spokesman for the Leicestershire Federation of Muslim Organisations, described news of the group's decision to return to Leicester as "sad". "Our door is always open and we would urge members of the EDL to reconsider their position and opt instead for dialogue with us," he said. A police spokesman said senior officers were speaking to the group about its plans. She said: "This isn't the first time Leicestershire police has had to deal with a large-scale demonstration. "People know from past experience that we do have a commitment to make sure that our communities are well informed of developments." The scale of next month's protest was unclear yesterday. Branches of the group in areas including Yorkshire, Berkshire, Greater Manchester and Nottingham have signalled their intention to take part. A spokesman for Leicester Unite Against Fascism said it was monitoring developments and was ready to stage a counter protest, as it did in October 2010. A march will probably be banned (as it was last time) but the site of their last demo (Humberstone Gate East) is currently being redeveloped, so police will have to find an alternative venue. The Mercury has made its position very clear. It doesn't want the EDL here at all. http://www.thisislei...tail/story.html I doubt the city-centre businesses, whose trade was so badly disrupted on the previous visit, will be too thrilled either.
davieG Posted 13 January 2012 Posted 13 January 2012 Perhaps some of those Forest fans could invite them to the replay
Guest MattP Posted 13 January 2012 Posted 13 January 2012 Just what we need when the country is skint, cost about a million to police this last time. Not surprised they are doing it though after the publicity surrounding the Rhea Page assault.
accessory Posted 13 January 2012 Author Posted 13 January 2012 Just what we need when the country is skint, cost about a million to police this last time. Not surprised they are doing it though after the publicity surrounding the Rhea Page assault. The EDL have said it's directly in response to that incident. But by their own admission (see their website), they don't know the facts surrounding it. They're just using it as a pretext to further their agenda of racism and violence. I'm sure all burger bars and arts centres will be on full alert.
Guest MattP Posted 13 January 2012 Posted 13 January 2012 Argh, not again. What's the point? Because people like the UAF etc go into over drive, the Mercury will splash on the front page every day for weeks before and the whole city gives them the attention they crave for the day. If everyone ignored it and carried in with the day as normal while they are just held in Humberstone Gate hardly anyone would notice.
Guest MattP Posted 13 January 2012 Posted 13 January 2012 All it takes for evil to triumph... Yes Yes when good men do nothing and all that..... If this was some intelligent dangerous co-ordinated force like the 1930's Nazi party I would agree with you, however it's usually 400 odd people getting off a bus steaming pissed being escorted around singing various anti-Islamic dittys. Forgive me for thinking it's not Cable street yet. The only reason their support has swelled to what it is has is through the media's publicity of the group.
Head Honcho Posted 13 January 2012 Posted 13 January 2012 Yes Yes when good men do nothing and all that..... If this was some intelligent dangerous co-ordinated force like the 1930's Nazi party I would agree with you, however it's usually 400 odd people getting off a bus steaming pissed being escorted around singing various anti-Islamic dittys. Forgive me for thinking it's not Cable street yet. The only reason their support has swelled to what it is has is through the media's publicity of the group. There's nothing wrong with a counter demo.It just gets out of hand when the UAF's thugs for hire get involved!
m00nie Posted 13 January 2012 Posted 13 January 2012 wouldnt a march be better than just letting them congregate somewhere?? they then couldnt moan they wasnt allowed to march so no excuses there, would keep them moving which would have thought less likely for them to kick off.. not saying would want them here at all but if there gona come..
Yojoe36 Posted 13 January 2012 Posted 13 January 2012 Bloody hell. Really? Just fvck off TBH, I despise the UAF more than the EDL. I don't support either group, but the UAF are more clueless.
Fox92 Posted 13 January 2012 Posted 13 January 2012 The same thing always happens regardless of where they are. They try and protest back (and it should be allowed, seeing as the Police seem to let other communities protest) but end up getting arrested.
Guest MattP Posted 13 January 2012 Posted 13 January 2012 Bloody hell. Really? Just fvck off TBH, I despise the UAF more than the EDL. I don't support either group, but the UAF are more clueless. With you there...awful people, looks like a sex offenders convention when the UAF meet up. wouldnt a march be better than just letting them congregate somewhere?? they then couldnt moan they wasnt allowed to march so no excuses there, would keep them moving which would have thought less likely for them to kick off.. not saying would want them here at all but if there gona come.. Nah, look what happened last time when about 200 odd broke off, they went charging up George Street and started smashing up Big Johns.
Bugg Posted 13 January 2012 Posted 13 January 2012 The thing that annoys me with the EDL is that they are supposed to be protesting "Islamic Extremism", now the Rhea Page incident obviously was bad, but what on earth does it have to do with Islamic Extremism? Because the girls are muslim? A lot of other reasons for their protests have nothing to do with extremism either, such as Halal meat.
m00nie Posted 13 January 2012 Posted 13 January 2012 With you there...awful people, looks like a sex offenders convention when the UAF meet up. Nah, look what happened last time when about 200 odd broke off, they went charging up George Street and started smashing up Big Johns. that wasnt from a march though was it, wasnt that when they all was held in town outside sainsbuires.. gathering together, with people against it gathering also, police in the middle.. shouting over each other.. tensions raising etc..
Jagdinho Posted 13 January 2012 Posted 13 January 2012 With you there...awful people, looks like a sex offenders convention when the UAF meet up. Nah, look what happened last time when about 200 odd broke off, they went charging up George Street and started smashing up Big Johns. When does something get 'smashed'? I saw a few kids chucking cones and that was about it.
Guest MattP Posted 13 January 2012 Posted 13 January 2012 When does something get 'smashed'? I saw a few kids chucking cones and that was about it. Sorry i thought this was on the end of that video.
Jagdinho Posted 13 January 2012 Posted 13 January 2012 Why do people get so worked up about it? Unless any of your property is likely to get damaged then why do people stress so much? Them people in the shop and the shopkeepers have only got themselves to blame. They all knew the EDL were coming and they all know what the EDL can do so don't go into town on that one day and don;t open your shop. Surely opening your shop and going into is giving you a bigger chance to become a victim of whatever happens. Let the police do there job, keep out of the way and insurance will cover the windows.
m00nie Posted 13 January 2012 Posted 13 January 2012 Why do people get so worked up about it? Unless any of your property is likely to get damaged then why do people stress so much? Them people in the shop and the shopkeepers have only got themselves to blame. They all knew the EDL were coming and they all know what the EDL can do so don't go into town on that one day and don;t open your shop. Surely opening your shop and going into is giving you a bigger chance to become a victim of whatever happens. Let the police do there job, keep out of the way and insurance will cover the windows. why should people have to suffer because of it?? people work all week and need to do things on a saturday, and some people cant afford to just close there business for a day..
Webbo Posted 13 January 2012 Posted 13 January 2012 Why do people get so worked up about it? Unless any of your property is likely to get damaged then why do people stress so much? Them people in the shop and the shopkeepers have only got themselves to blame. They all knew the EDL were coming and they all know what the EDL can do so don't go into town on that one day and don;t open your shop. Surely opening your shop and going into is giving you a bigger chance to become a victim of whatever happens. Let the police do there job, keep out of the way and insurance will cover the windows. So it's the shopkeepers fault that a bunch of knobheads come into town drive their custom away and smash up their businesses?
Guest MattP Posted 13 January 2012 Posted 13 January 2012 Why do people get so worked up about it? Unless any of your property is likely to get damaged then why do people stress so much? Them people in the shop and the shopkeepers have only got themselves to blame. They all knew the EDL were coming and they all know what the EDL can do so don't go into town on that one day and don;t open your shop. Surely opening your shop and going into is giving you a bigger chance to become a victim of whatever happens. Let the police do there job, keep out of the way and insurance will cover the windows. No one should have to close up for the day because of this, that's why I said earlier everyone should about their normal business and ignore them. Unfortunately there are certain people in the UAF and EDL that seem to actually enjoy shouting across each other in town centres on saturday afternoons, it's very strange.
Jagdinho Posted 13 January 2012 Posted 13 January 2012 In reply to both of you, i never really thought it through thoroughly, just first thought that maybe it would be cheaper to close than suffer all of the potential damage costs. They wouldn't make much money because not many people would go town anyway? Also never ment to come across in a bad way? I disagree with the EDL but sometimes I think idiots go around trashing and smashing stuff claiming to be the EDL but there actually not.
Guest MattP Posted 13 January 2012 Posted 13 January 2012 In reply to both of you, i never really thought it through thoroughly, just first thought that maybe it would be cheaper to close than suffer all of the potential damage costs. They wouldn't make much money because not many people would go town anyway? Also never ment to come across in a bad way? I disagree with the EDL but sometimes I think idiots go around trashing and smashing stuff claiming to be the EDL but there actually not. No worries. It didnt come across in a bad way, don't worry its not Accessory you are having to explain yourself to.
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