Statement from Waltham Forest Unite Against Fascism

Waltham Forest says ‘stop the EDL’ on Saturday 9 May
We condemn the announcement by the violent, fascist English Defence League to march through
Walthamstow on Saturday 9 May.
The group had planned to march through Woolwich in a sickeningly cynical attempt to exploit the murder
of Fusilier Lee Rigby. His mother condemned this, saying ‘I have never given any permission or agreed to
any part of this demonstration, I have never believed in this nor would Lee.’ The EDL should apologise to
Lynn Rigby, not turn its politics of hate and division on the multicultural borough of Waltham Forest again.
Waltham Forest has a proud history of standing up to fascism and celebrating diversity. Its peaceful protest
in 2012 united the community against the EDL and contributed to the collapse of this violent street-fighting
organisation.
However, a climate of bigotry and hatred is on the rise – the scapegoating of migrants, attacks on Muslims
and growing antisemitism. Some politicians are using the general election to whip up hatred. The EDL is
using this to try and revive itself. We will not allow this to happen.
Waltham Forest has shown that to defeat fascism you cannot ignore it. You must instead stand united to
challenge its politics of hate and violence.
This is why we support the peaceful protest called by local residents on Saturday 9 May to defend and
celebrate Waltham Forest’s multicultural community and send a clear message that the fascist EDL is not
welcome.
Signed by the following:
Tahla Ahmed, Executive Member of the Muslim Council of Britain
Yusuf Hansa, Chairman, Noor Ul Islam Trust
Abdul Majid, Vice President, Lea Bridge Road Mosque
Rabbi Richard Jacobi, South Woodford Liberal Synagogue
Canon Steven Saxby, Vicar of Saint Barnabas Church, Walthamstow
Stella Creasy , Labour parliamentary candidate for Walthamsow and previous MP
Ellie Merton, Independent parliamentary candidate for Walthamstow
Nancy Taaffe, Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition parliamentary candidate for Walthamstow
Rebecca Tully, Green Party parliamentary candidate for Chingford and Woodford Green
Michael Gold, Green Party parliamentary candidate for Walthamstow
Jo Cardwell, Chair, Stand up to UKIP
Reverend David Britton, Vicar, St John's, Leytonstone
Dr Shaukat Khan, Chair, Walthamstow Migrants Action Group
Reverend David Britton, Vicar, St John's, Leytonstone
Dr Shaukat Khan, Chair, Walthamstow Migrants Action Group
David Sharkey, SERTUC LGBT Network
Sasha Simic, Shop Steward USDAW C133 branch, Central Books, Hackney Wick (pc)
English Disco Lovers
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Lindsey German, Stop the War
Dean Harris, Co-ordinator Waltham Forest Unite Against Fascism
Claire Chandler, co-ordinator Waltham Forest Stand up to UKIP
Viv Barrett, Panikos Constantinou and Joanna Barrett Constantinou
Mark Bushell, Ruby Sehra, co Directors Incloodu Deaf Arts Festival
Steve White and the Protest Family: Steve White, Lol Ross, Doug Harper, Russ Chandler
Alison Cadlow, Waltham Forest UAF and Waltham Forest Migrants Action
Paul Knight and Trish O'Hara, Lost Horizons Folk and Acoustic Club Leytonstone
Ray Goodspeed, Waltham Forest Palestine Solidarity and Left Unity
Jenny Garber
Brian Steedman
Eleanor Firman, Unite Community Waltham Forest
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