Scotland UNITED defies Scottish Racists and Fascists again

Thousands of people demonstrated in Edinburgh today peacefully under the 'Scotland United' banner to further humiliate the so-called English/Scottish Defence League's attempt to bring its message of hate to the city.

While demonstrators from trade unions, faith groups, students and ordinary members of the public staged a peaceful protest through the city centre, less than 100 fascists were corralled in pubs by the police and sent home again humiliated, as they were in Glasgow in November.

In a gesture of unity, the rally in Princes Street Gardens heard from the leadership of all the main parties. Kenny MacAskill, SNP Scottish Justice Minister, Ian Gray, Labour Party leader, the city's Lib Dem council leader Jenny Dawe, and Tory spokesperson Ruth Davidson who beat the BNP candidate into fourth place in Glasgow North East.

It also heard from organiser Aamer Anwar, Osama Saeed of the Scottish-Islamic Foundation, Shami Khan of Edinburgh and Lothians Racial Equality Council, Weyman Bennett of Unite Against Fascism and Dave Moxham, STUC Deputy General Secretary as well as student leader Liam Burns.

Jenny Dawe said there was no place in Edinburgh for racists, Ian Gray called on the memory of the Scots who went to Spain in the 1930s to fight fascism and Weyman Bennet noted that he had always been told to turn the other cheek. "Well I've turned all four and I'm still fighting", he said. Shami Khan said, "Racism is a cancer that has to be cut out".

"We students have one word for the range of cultures in Edinburgh", said student leader Liam Burns. "That is 'welcome'".

The demonstrators marched off up the Mound to the Meadows. So many of them young people determined to stand up against racism. Many others seasoned campaigners alongside a multicultural mix of individuals and families who had never demonstrated before.

All with the same purpose; to say there was no place in our city for thefascists. A warmth and a unity that would shame the thugs around the corner.

We were joined by UNISON colleagues from Glasgow, Dundee and parts further.

In a moving moment, the march fell silent outside the Mosque in Potterrow as elders and worshippers stood and waved in dignity.

Meanwhile the so-called Scottish Defence League were surrounded by police at the railway station and in a High Street pub, heckled by anti-racism demonstrators. Later they were herded away by police out of the city.

At the end of the march Dave Moxham and Aamer Anwar praised the demonstrators for standing up against fascism and thanked the council for their help and the police for how they had managed the situation.

Unity indeed on a day when that unity, and decency, stood up to hate.

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Scotland UNITED defies Scottish Racists and Fascists

Thousands attended the ‘Scotland United’ rally to celebrate multicultural Glasgow on Saturday 14th November in Glasgow Green, and forced the fascists off the streets of the city.

On the decision of the City Council, police read the Riot Act to an attempted gathering of Scottish Defence League, who tried to mount an anti Islamist presence in the city. UNISON banners were to the fore of trade unions on the march.

Speeches before the march from Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, Grahame Smith, Gen Sec STUC, Anabele Goldie (Tories), Mohammed Sarwar MP (Labour) , Robert Brown MSP (Lib Dem), Clr Ruth Black, Amer Anwar (Scotland United) defied any attack on the community.

The rally heard that today the racist and fascist thugs threaten Muslims, tomorrow it could be Jewish people, Hindus, Sikhs, black people, lesbians & gay men, trade unionists, travellers or Eastern Europeans, asylum seekers.

There is no place for Nazis, racists or the BNP in Glasgow’s multi-racial, multi-cultural and multi-religious community.

The rally left the Green to march to George Square outside City Chambers next to the War Memorial, where a two minute silence was held for all victims of racial violence.

This was our response to anti-Muslim protest at Central Mosque planned by racist bigots, of the Scottish Defence League and English Defence League (EDL). Previous EDL demonstrations have seen their thugs attack Asian people, chant “Muslims out” and worse at passers-by and make “Sieg Heil” Nazi salutes.

It is vital that we do not allow these racist thugs to terrorise and intimidate Muslim and Asian people. The rally and march were a clear declaration, that this is not a time to hide but to stand up for a multicultural Glasgow, a multicultural Scotland.

The police had already stated that the SDL would not be allowed to march or even congregate outside any Mosque. A BNP candidate in the Glasgow NE by election on Thursday did attract 1000 votes, but Scotland United brought together all those who wish to live in a multicultural, multiracial, democratic society.

Mike J Kirby