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