"Hang Paedo Scum", said one of the banners, with EDL/NWI/CxF perhaps not realising that this sentiment is in agreement with the Hudud (capital) punishment aspect of Sharia law as practiced by several Islamic states. Notably, Britain abolished hanging in 1998, while beheading was abolished in 1973. The death penalty could only be restored if Britain withdrew from the Council of Europe.
Update : 21:00hrs GMT:
Snowy has come down from the roof in Bury and is expecting not to be arrested.
Apparently Karl was co-ordinating the stunt from the ground.
Where are we again?
For reasons unknown, NWI are seem to think they're in Heywood, and not Bury:
CxF demand TV coverage
CxF demand TV coverage of their rooftop protest in Bury, so the "BBC" (AntiEDL Comedy Dept) threw this short video together for them:
CxF warn GMPolice of intent to flashmob after 8pm at night
Around 100 members of the National Front and the North West Infidels took part in a protest in Heywood today (Saturday 3 March).
The demonstration, which took place in the Memorial Gardens on Church Street, passed peacefully with only a small number of arrests for minor offences.
Two protestors were arrested for public order offences while a 49-year-old man was arrested earlier in the day for a racially-aggravated public order offence.
The demonstration started at around 1.15pm and by 2.30pm all those partaking had been dispersed.
The people who were taking part held placards, banners and flags and were confined into the gardens where they listened to speeches. They made a request to march through Heywood, which was denied by police.
There was an increased police presence in the town to manage the demo. Businesses opened as normal but pubs in the area closed.
23rd February 2012
English Defence League and British National Party supporters held a flashmob demonstration tonight.
Around 200 people, mainly youths, clashed with police officers and brought the town of Heywood to a stand still. Yobs threw missiles and bricks at police during the disturbance on the 23rd Feb 2012.
A 35-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of a public order offence and police assault. A 14-year-old boy was arrested for causing danger to a public highway.
Police have stepped up patrols after the flashmob's night of violence.
Around 100 members of the Infidels of Britain, an EDL splinter group comprising North West Infidels (NWI), North East Infidels (NEI) along with the Scottish Defence League (SDL) and another EDL splinter group Combined Ex forces (CxF), gathered together on a snowy side street outside Rochdale Town Hall.
Infidels of Britain announced on their facebook page that the demonstration was: "against immigration, EU membership and multiculturalism". There were 2.5 police for every demonstrator. Protestors sang "We're the famous EDL", chanted "S, S, SDL" and speeches were made (see videos below).
Despite social media suggestions of brick-battles and other assorted promises of violence, the demo was over by 2pm, and passed peacefully with no arrests.
"We will act like animals", promise disgruntled Infidels
After the demo, a disgruntled Infidels of Britain announced on their facebook page that they will flashmob without warning and not liaise with police beforehand anymore:
"The demo was cut short due to GMPolice caging us in like animals and not allowing public access. GMP have been informed that the next demo will be on a Friday or Saturday night, with no proir (sic) warning or police liason (sic). If you chose (sic) to treat us like second class citizens, we will re appear (sic) at the most inconvenient time possible." (via @EverythingEDL)
"Due to GMP searching everyone at the station and putting on buses that were not agreed, then forcing people on them, Infidels of Britain and other assocoatied (sic) groups will no longer be informing them of any further demonstrations in their borough. This only applies to GMP as there are no issues with any other police forces. If you treat us like animals, we will act like animals". (via @EverythingEDL)
