Friday 28 August 2009

Solidarity Vigil at Harrow Central Mosque September 11th

Update from Martin Francis


I leafleted at the Wembley Mosque today. It is clear that some are opposed to a counter-demonstration because it might turn violent but others are clear that we have to make a stand. It is not particularly an age-split. We are monitoring the situation but at present plans are as on the leaflet.


Contact uafbrentandharrow@googlemail.com




THERE IS NO PLACE FOR NAZIS IN HARROW
DEFEND THE UNITY OF OUR COMMUNITY
Join us to show that fascists are not welcome in Harrow.
Friday September 11th from 1.30 pm
Outside Harrow Civic Centre, opposite the Mosque
Rally with local and national speakers at 6.00 pm
The "English Defence League", a group of racist football hooligans linked to the fascist British National Party, is threatening to invade Harrow on 11th September to "demonstrate" against the Harrow Central Mosque.


Islamophobia - bigotry against Muslims - is as unacceptable as any other form of racism. Its aim is to divide us by making scapegoats of one community, as the Nazis did with the Jews in the 1930s.


Today they threaten the mosque - tomorrow it could be a synagogue, temple or church. Today they threaten Muslims, tomorrow it could be Jews, Hindus, Sikhs, blacks, gays, travellers or Eastern Europeans. .


We have beaten fascists and racists before by standing up in unity against them: at Cable Street in the East End in the 1930s, at Lewisham in the 1970s, and recently in Derbyshire where black and white, young and old, Hindu, Christian, Muslim and Jew, gay and straight, all came together to oppose the BNP’s fascist rally.


Let’s protest against the racists and fascists and let's oppose their politics of hatred. Let's defend Harrow’s diverse and united community.


We are black, white, Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Sikh and Jew
And there are many, many more of us than you!


Called by UAF Brent & Harrow (uafbrentandharrow@googlemail.com)
and national Unite Against Fascism (unite@ucu.org.uk / www.uaf.org.uk or call 020 7801 2782. UAF, PO Box 36871, London WC1X 9XT)
with support from (among others) Harrow NUT, Harrow College UCU, Unite the Union at Harrow Weald, Harrow & Edgware bus garages and Brent Green Party


BRENT & HARROW
UNITE AGAINST FASCISM
●No to Racism
●No to the BNP
Defend Harrow’s multi-cultural community
Fascist thugs not welcome here


Friday September 11th assemble from 1.30 pm
outside Harrow Civic Centre
opposite Harrow Central Mosque
6 pm: Rally with local and national speakers




The "English Defence League" - a group of racist football hooligans with links to the fascist BNP - is threatening to hold a protest against the Harrow Central Mosque. We cannot stand by and let these racists attack any section of our community.
In May the "English Defence League" rampaged through Luton, attacking Asians and Asian owned businesses. In July they marched through Birmingham shouting "Muslims out" at people going shopping.
We don't want these racist thugs in Harrow.
Join our protest when you can, maybe during your lunch break, but especially after work.
Sign the statement defending Harrow Central Mosque against racist attacks.
Solidarity Vigil at Harrow Central Mosque September 11th


The 'English Defence League' and a motley selection of other rightwing groups have said they are going to protest at Harrow Central Mosque on the anniversary of 9/11. This is deliberately provocative, seeking to link the mosque with terrorism and held during the holy month of Ramadan and coinciding with Friday prayers. A similar demonstration in Luton resulted in a mob attacking Asians and Asian-owned businesses.


Brent Green Party is supporting the call by Brent and Harrow Unite Against Fascism for a 'Solidarity Vigil' outside Harrow Civic Centre, opposite the mosque, from 1.30pm on Friday September 11th with a rally at 6pm. Timings may change as these have not been announced yet by the EDL et al. A similar protest, this time against sharia courts, due to be held on Saturday 29th August was recently cancelled and it may well be that evidence of substantial opposition will lead to similar action for September 11th.

No comments: