Re: Anjem's Gang Are Stirring it Again
Reply #35 - October 20, 2009, 03:03 PM
For immediate release.
There has been recent talk in the UK counter-jihad movement about the virtues of diverting resources from a long standing demonstration in Leeds to respond to an Islamist pro-sharia demonstration in London. It is unclear whether the Islamist demonstration has been something that has been planned long in advance or whether it is a reaction to the successes achieved by EDL in recent months. The following is the reason why we are continuing with the demonstration in Leeds:
1) The pro-sharia demonstration is a provocation, which if it was not perpetrated by Muslims would be regarded by the left wing press to be a hateful act, in this instance against mainstream society. EDL is keen to avoid confrontation with Islamic groups and in the interests of public order has decided not to organise a counter demonstration. EDL should be presenting the London event in these terms and demonstrating its own restraint by not taking the bait. It also allows EDL to emphasise its central role as a source of information for the public. EDL has been portrayed as a group that wants confrontation. Not going to London allows it to show that it does not want confrontation. However, EDL does need to show that calls for Sharia Law personify an attitude of hatred towards mainstream British society. EDL can demonstrate this by statements in Leeds just as easy as it can from London, and can do so from a position of higher moral ground.
2) EDL is engaged in a public education campaign designed to inform people in all parts of the country about the dangers of Islamic extremism and Sharia Law. This information sharing exercise will ultimately show how the political and media establishment have engaged in a policy of appeasement in the face of threats of Islamic violence. There are benefits from making the people of Leeds aware of the issues. Without the demonstration those issues would not be available in the public domain.
3) The Leeds event has been planned long in advance so EDL should not be distracted from its mission by events organised by its opponents, with the intention to divide and distract it from its primary objectives. EDL is learning from experience in organising demonstrations and the Leeds event will allow that cumulative experience put to good use. This will in turn assist future demonstrations and the long term evolution of EDL into a mainstream political pressure group. EDL will maintain its focus and pursue its own agenda with persistence and determination.
4) If EDL resources are diverted to London then it demonstrates to the Islamists that EDL can be made to change its policy in response to their initiatives. If resources are not focused then they are not being put to most effective use. Ultimately the Islamists can cancel their London demonstration at their own whim. If confusion has been sown in EDL ranks then it would mean that any event in Leeds would be poorly attended and that the initiative would therefore have been lost. This would impact negatively on future EDL demonstrations and show weakeness. EDL needs to demonstrate that it will not be deflected from its plans.
5) Leeds is an opportunity for EDL to broaden its appeal. It may have been started at the initiative of fearless football fans who are concerned about the political direction that their country is taken. Their action and courage in the face of violent opposition will have emboldened others to get involved with the cause. EDL should be a group that comprises as many different components of our society as possible. It needs to move to the next stage of involvement. EDL needs to show that it is a family organisation with men, women, and people of different age groups, and indeed different ethnicities, involved in its ranks. Even though the movement has just begun, it has already had a big impact - but it must develop and diversify if our goals are to be realised.
6) EDL does however need to record the events in London for posterity. For this reason it would be useful if a small number of activists could record what goes on at that event via photographs, videos, and eye witness accounts. In many regards that event illustrates why EDL exists and why others should be concerned about the rise of the Sharia state in Britain. The outrageous displays outside the Danish embassy following the cartoon crisis made many people aware of the dangerous rise of sharia in the West. This explains the concerns that many of us have about the free reign within the UK, of groups supporting Islamic Fundamentalism and the rejection of our four freedoms.
Topic: Anjem's Gang Are Stirring it Again