By Emdad Rahman:
The national demo against the English Defence League assembled today at 11am, on the corner of Vallance Road and Whitechapel Road, London E1. Tower Hamlets Mayor Lutfur Rahman and Unite against Fascism have toured the surrounding areas.
Two national unions – the Communication Workers Union and the civil servants’ PCS – have joined Tower Hamlets Unison, East London NUT and Tower Hamlets College UCU to support the event organised by UAF and the United East End coalition and backed by One Tower Hamlets – No Place for Hate.
The event is also backed by community leaders and campaigners including Hanif Osmani, chief executive officer, Council of Mosques (Tower Hamlets); Sirajul Islam, East London Mosque and London Muslim Centre; Dilowar Khan, director East London Mosque and London Muslim Centre; Denis Fernando, One Society Many Cultures; Rev Alan Green, chair Tower Hamlets Inter Faith Forum; Azad Ali, Islamic Forum of Europe; Muhammad Rabbani, Aasha Gang Mediation Project; Glyn Robbins, secretary United East End; Sabby Dhalu, joint secretary UAF, secretary One Society Many Cultures; Weyman Bennett joint secretary UAF; John McLoughlin, Tower Hamlets Unison; Alex Kenny, branch secretary East London NUT; Richard McEwan, Tower Hamlets College UCU; Sarah Creagh, Tower Hamlets UAF.
All three of the “new” pubs that the EDL planned to meet in announced yesterday that they wouldn’t open for the EDL. Similarly, RMT members have refused to work extra shifts to provide special trains for EDL ahead of today’s proposed demo in Tower Hamlets.
At a meeting last week, Tower Hamlets Council unanimously agreed to support a United East End petition condemning the EDL.
More updates to follow…