We Are Birmingham
DON’T LET THE EDL DIVIDE OUR COMMUNITIES
We, the undersigned, condemn the decision by the English Defence League (EDL) to come to Birmingham on Saturday 8 April 2017. We believe it is a cynical attempt by the EDL to use the appalling events in Westminster on 22 March to whip up racism and division in our city by trying to turn communities against each other without a care for the damage it leaves in its wake.
We believe that the implementation of policies designed to prevent all forms of discrimination and racism has a crucial role to play in achieving justice and fairness in our society.
The EDL is a racist and fascist group dedicated to attacking Asian people and Muslims. Many former members of the fascist BNP, the Nazi National Front and other fascist organisations are active in the EDL and its splinter groups. These fascists and racists should be condemned and opposed. We must not give a quarter to those who would judge an entire religion, race or nationality by the actions of a few. Islamophobia – bigotry against Muslims – is as unacceptable as any other form of racism. Today they threaten Muslims, tomorrow it could be Jewish people, Hindus, Sikhs, black people, LGBT people, Travellers or Eastern Europeans.
We urge people of goodwill to support the 'EDL not welcome in Birmingham' statement and join the 'We Are Birmingham - Don't let the racists divide us' unity demonstration on Saturday 8 April.
Lee Baron TUC Midlands Regional Secretary
Ravi Subramanian Unison West Midlands Secreatary
Kit Armstrong NUT Midlands Regional Secretary
Andrew Lloyd PCS Regional Secretary
Rhiannon Lockley UCU Regional Chair
Josie Green PCS National Equalities Adv Cttee
Cllr Aftab Nawaz Walsall MBC
Sharon Campion Sandwell Unison Joint Branch Secretary and SGE Exec
Sian Ruddick PCS Midlands chair
Paul Singh Sikhs against the EDL (Birmingham Convenor)
Rabbi Margaret Jacobi Birmingham Progressive Synagogue
Jim Warner Assistant Sec, Dudley TUC
Pete Jackson Birmingham South PCS Asst Sec
Annette Rochester PCS DWP Vice President
Saima Suleman Birmingham South PCS Equalities Officer
Clare Simm Birmingham South PCS rep
Tracey Abrahams PCS rep Ministry of Justice
Claudine Campbell HMRC PCS rep
Martin Lynch Dudley NUT Past president
Organised by
Birmingham Unite Against Facism