Demonstrations in Luton by the English Defence League ( EDL ) or their associate groups, offspring of this years extreme nationalist islamophobic uprising, have been banned for the next three months by the Home Secretary.
Fears of further violence prompt march ban ( Luton news ) and Safety fears prompt marching ban (BBC)
The Council, the Police and many residents have been petitioning the Home Secretary for a definitive ban, and yesterday
anti BNP and far right campaign, Hope not Hate launched a letter writing campaign: Stop the haters. It reached some 10,000 in the first few hours and now stands at 14,000. The ban was announced yesterday.
Its been 6 weeks since I last posted on Luton and a new level of agressive Islamophobia (Islamophobia: troubling developments and the Luton connection). I wish I could say my break from the subject indicated that nothing has been happening. I will review the activities in another post, but the Luton event, first scheduled for August 30th was moved to September 19th to tie in with a Luton Town game to assure good numbers. EDL switch march date to up support It was probably never in doubt it would take place but was guaranteed when it was announced that a sponsored walk by Royal Anglian members and friends through the region covered by the regiment was going to avoid Luton.
EDL spokesman Tommy Robinson said: “It shows Luton is a no-go area for soldiers. It’s another way of saying the extremists have won. They’ll be celebrating. We’ll have more than 1,000 for our September march.”
Quite what will now result we have yet to see. A ban is unlikley to make them go away; but it does allow the police to be a lot more proactive in preventing the liklihood of trouble rather than responding to it.I believe It was necessary -- in that it creates conditions for safety, and prevents further aggravation by more and more clashes -- but I am not sure its good. It will undoubtedly -- and understandably -- cause more festering of anger. It is certainly not the long term and final answer to the problems. That will only come as we encourage dialogue.
That is the next stage.
One worrying issue, the truth of which is yet to show, are the reports of an incident in Luton town centre last weekend where a number of Asians allegedly stormed a pub and caused damage and injury. A short report in the Sun newspaper (no longer on line) has generated a long thread on Stormfront, the white supremacist forum, a thread on DigitalSpy and numerous blog rants that have made the event a cause celebre. The police have reportedly said it was an incident that didn't warrent comment and that has enraged many. The mainstream media silence is seen as a cover up. The fact that it happened at a pub which is a known gathering place of individuals and groups who have been causing the problems does not justify it but does make it understandable, and would give some cause to question the accuracy of the scale of the event reported.
Reconciliation Talk senses a lot of work to do.
Comments