This weekend over 1000 campaigners joined together in Walthamstow to show opposition to the views of the English Defence League and to celebrate the muliticulturalism of the area.
Jean Lambert, Green MEP for London and local Walthamstow resident was one of a number of prominent members of the community asked to speak at the event.
The rally was organised by campaign groups Unite Against Fascism and We Are Waltham Forest after it emerged that the English Defence League were planning to hold a rally in the area. Campaigners had previously held a protest when the English Defence League had marched through Waltham Forest earlier this month, during which a large group of anti-fascist campaigners blocked the EDL’s proposed route. This weekend local residents, Green Party members and campaign groups came together to provide a strong voice against any further possible EDL action.
After only a few dozen English Defence League members arrived to protest, Unite Against Fascism labelled the rally a “victory”.
However, a number of campaigners have expressed their concern regarding the way the police handled the protests. Due to concers about possible violence between EDL and anti-fascist campaigners, a Section 13 Public Order Act has been applied which bans any protest in 4 of London’s Boroughs. Speaking on his blog, London Green Party’s Political Education Officer Danny Bates said that, whilst Saturday was an “inspiring show of unity…a total lock-down in East London is unfair, potentially counterproductive and quite dangerous.”