EDL Mosque Bashing

Despite claims by the EDL that they are not anti-Islam, just against extremism, the evidence continues to fly in. As we witnessed in Manchester there were anti-Muslim slogans and posters with 'No More Mosques'.

EDL members (in conjunction with members of the party they are supposed to be distinct from) have set up a Facebook protest about a proposed Islamic centre in Weston-super-mare. The planning application aims to convert a former working men's club (possibly a British Legion) into a community and education centre. That the function would also include prayers means that the EDL is able to do a little conversion of its own.

The Facebook group 'No to the new Mosque in Weston Super Mare' sets the tone for the campaign. Notwithstanding that the majority of its 900 plus group have no connection with the area, they are urged to protest.

In order to set the scene the group helpfully posts a picture of a large (and somewhat breathtaking) mosque. [An Eric The Fish badge for anyone who can identify which country it's in - I tried Tineye but couldn't locate it].

Now, having seen the plans online - and not to take anything away from architect M.J. Harding - I don't think the former Wheeltappers and Shunters place is going to turn into the Brighton Pavillion (did I mention that Tranny beat Brighton 2-1 today? That tumbleweed drifting past is for our Fascist friend's silence).

The group outlines its intentions:

• At present we are not aware of any mosques in weston super mare in somerset.
  The are major flaws in this application as it has been described as being for muslim children, If it was for muslim children then why does it require 24 hour access? We believe this is a fasttrack way of building a mosque, Then there will be 2, then 3, and so on.
  This further ads to the islamification of the united kingdom.

Yes, I know the writer of the comment would benefit from some of the centre's educational facilities. There's more.

• Because of recent comments in the Weston Murcury, where members of this group were called racist for having their say. We would ask all group members to watch what they write, ( NO RACIST COMMENTS PLEASE ) By all means have you're say.

Ooh, what's that? The Weston Mercury explains.

• But some of the 440 members have written threatening comments in the internet forum.
  
  One post said: "Muslims are never gonna take over this country....well at least weston super mare, I swear on my life if they built this new mosque in weston I will set fire 2 it and thats a f***in promis."
  
  Other comments say that all Muslims are terrorists and one aggressive member threatens to drive a bus into the centre and blow it up if it is given planning permission.
  
  The disturbing comments have also been sent to planning officers at North Somerset Council

I see. So the comments were on the group not just made up by the paper and that's why members are reminded to try not to be racist. You've got to admire the person who thought the way to defeat terrorism was by driving a bus bomb!

Not that deleting previous posts has had much success. One of the founders of the group, John Sheridan shows his loose grip on historical knowledge:

• John Sheridan Edl wrote
  at 11:24 on 12 October 2009
  Omar, not all muslims are terrorists, But all terrorists are muslims FACT, That is enough, Thats all we need to be afraid.

When Nick Thorne of bristol suggests urinating in the centre, group admin Dennis Raines wades in with his DMs:

• 
  Dennis R Raines wrote
  at 22:56 on 11 October 2009
  I Look forward to leaving a little present on their doorstep, just hope i have something to wipe my arse with.

Fellow racist Nick bites back with:

• do you know what,i aint racist at all,anyone who knows me will know that half of the people i mix with are not "white english"

I can feel a but coming on

• but

We're getting all Points of View now. Anyway, he continues his erudition:

• im sick of this now...THIS IS MY COUNTRY,ENGLAND,IF YOU WANNA LIVE HERE THEN YOU DO IT THE ENGLISH WAY....FUCK MUSLIMS,FUCK MOSQUES,FUCK TURBANS,FUCK ROMANIANS,FUCK POLISH...ALL OF YOU AND YOUR FUCKING TERRORIST WARS,FUCK OFF AND KILL EACH OTHER AND DO US ALL A FUCKING FAVOUR....WE HATE YOU,GO AWAY AND LEAVE US THE FUCK ALONE...IF YOU DONT,THEN SOON SUMMUT BAD IS GONNA HAPPEN COS THE ENGLISH ARE GETTING REAAL PISSED OFF...GO TAKE YOUR FUCKING MOSQUES AND THE REST OF YOUR DIRTY SHITE AND TAKE IT BACK TO YOUR OWN FUCKING COUNTRY......WHERE THERE ARE ALREADY FUCKING MOSQUES!!!!!

Stop SHOUTING, you moron! then there's the genuine international security expert:

• don't let this happen there is an airport not far away remember.

That last startling comment was from Ron Bennett. In his picture he's clearly pointing out how much of a plantpot he is. As Ron knows all terrorists set up plans right near to the place they intend to target.

Among the other topics for discussion is a plea to boycott all Muslim businesses posted by Mr. Raines himself. So no way is the EDL anti-Muslim. Oh no.

As we saw at the demo in Manchester there was a larghe number of neo-Nazis in the EDL presence. Our friend Liam Pinkham (who should be banned from attending Tranmere games and is a big fan of this blog). Remember that cartoon, Pinky and the Brain? Well, it had a spin-off. Pinky Without The Brain.

Which brings us to the membership of this group.

• Dennis Raines is friends with Scotland BNP organiser Gary Raikes
• Denis Adams, BNP member
  
• Tommy robinson (one of the EDL leaders)
• Dave Oloughlin (who likes to send Nazi insignia to friends and has one of the ugliest webcam pictures ever seen. I think he deserves a post to himself particularly his predeliction to sending Facebook eroticism to someone described as his sibling!)
• Granty Chelsea Headhunter (another football hooligan to keep Robinson company)

There are other interesting members but we'll be here all day. It's a bit disconcerting that there are school pupils on the list too.

The group is also advised to contact the local council to protest. Well, we're all in favour of mass action aren't we? Unfortunately, what the idiots don't realise is that they don't have sufficient standing to oppose the application. Some of the comments are pitiful:

• Would this site not be more benificial aimed at the youth or community in Weston Super Mare.

writes our friend Dennis Raines from Bridgwater, Somerset even though he does not reside there.

• I do not think this development should take place. ADAM JONES, West Midlands

• JUST GOES TO SHOW THAT THEY WILL TAKE OVER SOON! ANON

• Where will the working men now go to socialise? Muslims should stop displacing British people

Now that last comment is interesting as it echoes comments by the BNP about the loss of British pubs due to Ismamification. Nothing to do with the economic situation or the stranglehold the PubCo owners have on the industry.

UPDATE:

As Wales Online finds, the EDL Nazis were out in force in Swansea on Saturday (in the guise of the Welsh Defence League) with Hitler salutes being seen. Their article is here and a photo on Flickr from prusakolep, A History student, is here.

For those who think the comments abour Mosques are just bravado, this BBC story should put matters straight:

• A 53-year-old man has been charged after petrol was thrown at the doorway of a mosque in Wearside.

  The man, from Peterborough, is due before magistrates on Monday charged with attempted arson with intent to endanger life with racial aggravation.

This is a man who seems to have travelled from Cambridgeshire to the Sunderland area. Or had he relocated his racist tendencies?

STORMRONT FASCISTS MAY WISH TO READ THIS. PLEASE ASK AN ADULT TO HELP WITH ANY HARD WORDS.

Rattle Snakes

The English Defence League aims to hold a display of bigotry on 10th October in Manchester City Centre. Given the appalling incidents in Birmingham a few weeks back, one wonders why this is being allowed to go ahead. Protest letters have already been sent but the police and politicians appear to be playing pass the buck.

As I've mentioned before, the EDL tries to maintain that it is merely against Islamic extremism and that it has no links with the BNP, football hooliganism or other right-wing extremism. The evidence to the contrary is clear to see.

I covered EDL spokesman, Trevor Kelway in an earlier post when we saw his online links to those groups. I also touched upon the new tactic of these groups to canvass respectable causes to ally themselves with legitimate groups. As has been seen by the BNP's crude attempt to align itself with the Royal British Legion through percentage fundraising, this is merely a propaganda exercise; rattling a tin for charity whilst pocketing the majority of the money themselves. The RBL seems to finding that out to its cost, as it has not received the donation in question.

As Lancaster Unity points out:

• As it happens, even though Firth's little stunt took place way back in August, the RBL still hasn't had its donation and according to Third Sector (the UK’s leading publication for everyone who needs to know what’s going on in the voluntary and not-for-profit sector), the RBL is now seriously considering whether to reject it even if it is (finally) offered, on the grounds that the party has used it to make political capital.

The EDL has latched on to the Help For Heroes charity which raises money for injured servicemen. EDL was selling T-shirts on eBay with 10% supposedly going to H4H. whether this has happened is anyone's guess. How is the charity able to ascertain how many items have been sold?

Now, comes further evidence of the sinister nature of the group. Previously the EDL had referred members to a hooligan store selling face masks for use at the demo. On eBay, the group is now selling an EDL Hoodie Burka (sic). This is a charity listing with 10% again reputedly going to the H4H. The garment retails at £17 (with an extra £13 for postage - where's it coming from: Honduras?).

Charities should be aware that eBay sellers are able to obtain perks by holding such a listing. Perks include reduced listing fees and increased visibility.

Kelway has some other interesting comrades. One Sidney Martin has a Nazi insignia avatar (what is it with these nutters?). A quick glance at his friends sees Gary Raikes (Scottish BNP organizer and no stranger to charitable propaganda), Mark Collett (BBC 'youth BNP rep') and Liverpool BNP. There's also an appearance from Kenny Cooke (of more at a later time).

The challenge goes out to the authorities to ban this parade of hate and to charities to have the courage to distance themselves from dirty money.