Hyde

25th February 2012 - Hyde

Call off the march, urge suspected racial-attack victim's family

The family of a teenage boy who suffered serious injuries after a suspected race attack have pleaded for a march by the English Defence League (EDL) not to go ahead.
Read more: MEN Media | Family of Hyde race-attack victim, Daniel Stringer-Prince, urge English Defence League to call off protest march

"No-whites allowed"

In the run up to the Hyde demo, Bolton BNP put out an image that claimed "no whites allowed" in Hyde shops. The image and rumour went viral on far-right social media, and not one spotted that the other signs in the shop were written in German, including an advert for the Bundesliga (German Football League). Anti-EDL issued a jocular spoof showing "Hyde" Airport's racial segregation.

Duelling Dual Demos

Both British National Party (BNP) and the English Defence League (EDL) were present in Hyde, Tameside (Manchester). Prior to Hyde, the far-right duo have only ever been noticeable at Blackpool demos for missing, presumed murdered teenager Charlene Downes, with EDL holding their demo outside a pub in South Shore, while BNP members hand out leaflets in Blackpool's centre.

Left: BNP manage a measly 50; Centre: EDL March; Right: Approx 600 in a Hyde car park.

BNP leader Nick Griffin and EDL leader Tommy Robinson gave separate speeches. A desperate Nick Griffin lifted his earlier proscription on BNP members moonlighting with EDL; an act which was rebuffed by EDL's Tommy Robinson during his speech. EDL have sworn allegiance to the BNP reform party, British Freedom after their September meeting with Counterjihad Europa Project heads of the US-based Center for Vigilant Freedom.

In his speech to approximately 600 people, Tommy Robinson praised the Heywood rioters and called for more vigilantism. Robinson also claimed that white Britons were being persecuted by Muslims because they were Christians, and that they weren't racist, but had problem with "fascist ideology masquerading as a religion in our lands". He also called Islam "an invading ideology" that raped "our women".

Not once did he mention any other paedophile court cases where the groomers were not Muslim. I'll leave you to make your own minds up why EDL fail to take a stand against Priest, Scoutmaster, Teacher, Police, Child Pornopgraphy Rings or other type of "white" British paedophile.

Despite the Hyde demo having been called because of an vicious attack on two young men by a gang of Asians - an attack which the victims perceived as a racist attack, theEDL leader's focus was mainly on what EDL and BNP call "Muslim paedophile gangs", and not extremist Islam.

EDL social media was abuzz with claims that Greater Manchester Police had turned away buses in their droves. Their cunning plan to explain the 600 who turned up to the joint BNP and EDL demo was scuppered by GMPolice who confirmed that no EDL buses had been turned away.

Ever the opportunists, BNP were seen leafletting after the EDL demo had finished.

English Defence League to be sent bill for clean-up operation after rally in Hyde

Tameside Council were considering sending their bill for the pre-demo preparations and the after-demo clean-up to the far-right English Defence League, whilst Greater Manchester Police stated they might also look to charge the group for policing the Hyde event, presumably under Section 25 of the Police Act 1996. EDL promoted their Hyde demo as a community event (even though they bussed in their members from outside Hyde), and sold souvenir T-shirts and EDL-themed clothing.

Members launch EDL 2012 collection in Hyde car park

Glasgow

25th February 2012 - NWI, NEI and SDL go to Glasgow

Rochdale - 4th February 2012

4th February 2012 - North West Infidels in Rochdale

Photo credit: BAC Photography (c) 2012 All Rights Reserved.

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)

Videos for Infidels of Britain demo in Rochdale

Credits

See more: BAC Photography | Infidels of Britain in Rochdale - 4th February 2012
See more: EverythingEDL | NWI in Rochdale
Read more: EDLNews | NWI in Rochdale

Read more: Rochdale Online | Right wing demonstration passes peacefully

Leicester

4th February 2012 - Leicester

Above: Richard Schultz presents

'The true EDL spirit in Leicster' (sic)

(source: @Everything EDL)

#EDL and #UAF could be marching through Leicester on 4th Feb. @BBCLeicester fields the reaction. http://t.co/iOXjERtN

#EDL in Leicester #photography #photojournalism bit.ly/wJltkn by Russ_el

Rochdale - 14th January 2012

EDL members demonstrate at Asda

Around 15-20 EDL members flashmobbed Asda in Rochdale at around 3:30pm, to protest at the sale of Halal meat. They were moved on, without arrest, by police.

"Town centre business owner, Paul Turner-Mitchell, was doing his shopping when he saw the group. He described it as “really bizarre.”

Speaking to Rochdale Online, he said: “I turned up at Asda at about 3.30pm on Saturday and there were two police officers outside Asda and a couple of Asda security guards, I thought it seemed strange but then I didn’t give it another thought and went about my shopping.

“I had two of my children with me and we were near the milk section and by the halal meat section there was a big group of men and then more police officers turned up.

“The police were there very quickly and the police moved them on and it was business as usual.

“When I finished my shopping and had paid, the police were still outside so I asked them what was going on and they said they were members of the EDL and they had been dispersed into the town centre where there were extra police.”
(via: Rochdale Online

Credits

Read more: Rochdale Online | EDL Members demonstrate at Asda

Bernard Martin Holmes

The Life and Times of an EDL activist

Name: Bernard Martin Holmes

Position: EDL Blackburn Regional Organiser (RO)

Pseudonyms

• Bernard;


• Big B;


• Mr.B.


• Mrr-Bee

Tommy Robinson on Bernard Holmes:

"The legal fund was set up for all the right intentions. Now, there's a couple of things - if people agree - anyone who doesn't agree can contact - I think there was £3000 donated - anyone who doesn't agree can contact and ask for their money back. But I'm just trying to find out. I've heard we've got a lad, Big B, up in Blackburn, Lancashire who's in jail. I heard - just trying to get to the bottom of it - there may be a chance of getting the lad bail for £5,000. Now if there is, then that £3000 will be put towards getting the lad bail. He's one of our top lads. One of our main activists across the country. He's a good lad, and there's no doubt he's in there, he's purely in prison because of his involvement in the English Defence League. I know there's a lot of people getting penalised across the country, so we can't do all of them, but I'd like to put that £3000 from the legal fund plus another £2000 from the EDL fund into that."
September Video Diary, 3:31m - 4:26m

"So once again with regards to the legal fund. [...] There is £3000 there. We'll now discuss what we do with it. If anyone wants the money back [...] you can have a refund. As I said, if Bernard, if Big B, needs it, we'll give the money up for him in bail, if not, we'll look at something we can use it for constructive in the EDL. "
September Video Diary, 10:45m - 11:24m

History

October 2007 - Sword wielding man "purple in the face with anger"

A man who came out of a house wielding a sword was described as "purple in the face with anger." Blackburn magistrates heard that a woman looked out of her window and saw Bernard Martin Holmes remonstrating with some other people.
http://bitly.com/x974zM

January 2010 - Blackburn men left for dead in road with fractured skull after unprovoked attack

A Blackburn man was left lying by the side of the road with a fractured skull after an unprovoked town centre attack.
http://bitly.com/A2BMoE

February 2010 - Blackburn family hits out at 'atrocious' sentence given to attacker

Maggie Garth, sister of Shaun Baxendale who suffered catastrophic injuries LAST month the Lancashire Telegraph launched the Consequences campaign to raise awareness of the devastating effects of spontaneous violence.
http://bitly.com/xp9tqi

October 2010 - Blackburn EDL KFC demo ‘chicken’ man is attack thug

A ‘dangerous' man who left his victim with a permanent brain injury has been released from jail early and is taking part in English Defence League protests.
http://bitly.com/n1Q57p

April 2011 - EDL Blackburn demo; Bernard Holmes make speech on stage at end

Mr.B's Blackburn demo speech:

"[Unintelligible] ... Christopher Fawlkes, a 36 year old Blackburn man who got attacked in Queen's Park, a predominently Asian area of Blackburn almost 2 years ago. He was chased and bullied and kicked like a football. At which event he died. The Police and Telegraph said it was not a racially aggravated assault. Obviously, it was. Christopher had never had a fight in his life. He was placid and had a calm attitude and approach to life. Mohsin Mohammad was called a coward by the judge, who said it was a vicious attack. Mohammad ... to try to wriggle out of it, although there was great evidence against him. The judge was right to call him a coward. People have been asking me why in the English Defence League are you? Because if nobody had stood up to this, who would? These are our streets and we should take them back. [Leads chant] Whose streets? [...] Whose streets? [...]"

July 2011 - Ribble Valley Conservative MEP's home targetted by EDL protestors

CONSERVATIVE North West Euro MP said he was left fearing for his safety after a large group of English Defence League protesters descended on his family home.
http://bitly.com/xK0nca

Jul 2011 - MEP and family 'threatened' over EDL protest outside home

An MEP has said he and his family felt threatened when a group of people carrying English Defence League banners protested outside his Lancashire home. Sajjad Karim, who represents the North West in the European Parliament, said up to 40 demonstrators arrived outside his house on Saturday lunchtime.
http://bbc.in/yIXzGv

Police search Mr.B's flat

December 2011 - Full court listing for Mr. Bernard Holmes from Sep 2011 to March 2012

AntiEDL verdict: A Chicken And A Thug.

Leon McCreery

Name: Leon McCreery

Pseudonyms

• Leon the Brit

May - July 2010 - Anti-Mosque Protest, Dudley

Leon McCreery claims "a regiment supplied all our gear" for the rooftop protest. A quick check showed that no regiment gave EDL, Leon McCreery or John "Snowy" Shaw equipment for their protest. Someone stole and gave the equipment to them.

May 2010 - Men in Court for Dudley Rooftop Protest

"Leon McCreery, aged 28, from Stockport, and 39-year-old John Shaw from Knaresborough, appeared at Dudley Magistrates Court today charged with burglary and public order offences."
Read more: Dudley News: Men in court for EDL rooftop protest

June 2010 - Jewish leaders condemn EDL

"The far right, anti-Islam protest group, whose violent nature was exposed by the Guardian last week (and covered by the NS here), has professed support for Israel in the past and is now urging British Jews to "lead the counter-jihad fight in England". But its advances have been swiftly rebuffed by Jewish leaders. Mark Gardner, communications director for the Community Security Trust, told the Chronicle:

"The EDL intimidate entire Muslim communities, causing tension and fear. Jews ought to remember that we have long experience of being on the receiving end of this kind of bigotry."

Read more: New Statesman: Jewish Leaders condemn the English Defence League.

July 2010 - Charges dropped for EDL rooftop protestors

TWO English Defence League members, who were arrested during a rooftop protest, have had all charges dropped against them. Leon McCreery from Stockport and John Shaw from Knaresborough were arrested during the incident over the May Bank holiday, after being taken down from the roof of a disused factory in Hall Street by riot police.
Read more: Dudley News: Charges Dropped for EDL rooftop protestors

4th June 2010 - Tommy Robinson said:

"In my eyes Leon and Snowy will always be seen as leaders for there bravery and dedication to our cause."

August 2010

Leon the Brit shmoozes some soldiers, and has his arrse handed to him on a plate
Leon the Brit attempt to shmooze soliders to get him to join the EDL Armed Forces Division. He fails abysmally, and is given a good going over by some real patriots. Here are some choice quotes:

Leon the Brit:

"You know a regiment supplied all our gear to that do."

Solider:

"UVF doesn't count."

Soldier:

"... the fact that your organisation has a few ex-soldiers in its ranks counts for nothing. The same is true of CND and the Communist Party. Are you going to support them on the same basis?

Solider:

"Currently sat in a Pub outside Bristol looking over at Someone wearing a Polo Shirt with English Defence League Bristol Division on it Invited him to view this debate on my laptop and asked his views, after listening to his Ranting and Raving he did not appreaciate the irony of the fact he was talking to two ex and one serving servicemen. They are definately not the sharpest knifes in the box."

For more sterling quotes from the boys in green, read: My View of the English Defence League by Leon McCreery

December 2011 - Uppdrag Granskning:

"We're just normal geezers, from working-class estates, who got fired up with the way one government has treated us, and another government doing exactly the same. And we're not going away."