...You will – we are sure – have seen the significant national media coverage about Luton in recent weeks. Virtually all national newspapers and many international publications have run significant stories about Luton as a town following the “Stockholm bomber’s” appalling actions. The proposed rally and march by the English Defence League on the 5th of next month has compounded the negative media coverage – something that has caused deep dismay and anxiety among the wider community in Luton – of whatever background, faith or outlook...
...We recognise that a ‘banning order’ on the EDL and counter demonstrators, would not prohibit them from holding a static demonstration, however a march is – in our opinion – provocative and not conducive to the public good at this time and would risk serious disorder. Any march proposed by the EDL would – by necessity – need to travel through residential areas from the train station and other access points into the town...
...Further to this, the presence of the EDL processing through Luton has generated significant plans for visible and voluble counter-protests by other groups, some of whom will include Luton residents and others who will not. We would include among the groups who wish to counter-protest not only organised groups such as Unite Against Fascism (UAF), but also groups associated with the recent student protests in central London and potentially other groups associated with the defence of Islam from perceived threats. The intelligence available suggests this is the case...
...We cannot rule out also the possibility that local Asian [read Muslim] youths and others may also wish to counter-protest, which could create real issues for cohesion both on the day and after the 5th February itself...
...The presence of a high numbers of demonstrators supporting rival and diametrically opposing views is not conducive to the wellbeing of our community and has the potential to spark tensions and community impacts which as a Council we have worked so hard to avoid in recent years...
...We can confirm that Luton Borough Council has consulted widely about this request – including with key community representatives...
Yours sincerely,
Leader of the Council
Leader of the Liberal Democrat group
Leader of the Conservative Group
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| Tomorrow, London. |
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| Next Month, Luton. |
2 comments:
"...could create real issues for cohesion "
I don't recall any issues about community cohesion when growing up in a small northern town in the 1960's, perhaps it had something to do with it being hideously white to the point of being monocultural.
I rather liked it and no-one asked me if I wanted it to be otherwise.
That’s it though aint it, banned.
Never asked, just told. Just told by our own too.
There's not many nations whose peoples can lay claim to that without having had the option to fight back like men dispossessed beforehand.
Fuck me, there has never been a time in England's history when the people who resided in her borders were not allowed to fight back against foreign hordes.
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