Swansea, Wales, UK - "Welsh Defence League show true colours" - Nazi sympathizers vs. anti-fascists at protest (Oct.17, 2009)
"THEY denied being fascists ahead of their first Welsh march – but at yesterday's Welsh Defence League protest against Islamic extremism onlookers were confronted with scenes of jeering men giving Nazi salutes.
It was the first time the newly-formed group have been out on the streets in Wales. At a similar event in Birmingham a few weeks ago trouble flared when the English Defence League, w
More..hich describes itself as "peacefully protesting against militant Islam", and anti-fascism groups fought on the street.
At the gathering in Swansea, a 25-year-old man was arrested for a racially-aggravated public order offence.
The controversial march had sparked a counter-demonstration, with about 200 protesters occupying the city centre.
A heavy police cordon on either side of Castle Street in Swansea city centre kept the two groups apart.
Speaking before its demonstration, the Welsh Defence League (WDL) said the event would be peaceful, and consistently denied allegations of fascist tendencies.
But the ugly scenes, in which grown men among the group of around 60 were seen making Nazi salutes in front of small children, seemed to prove otherwise.
Keith Ross, one of the organisers of the counter demonstration by groups including Swansea City of Sanctuary and Searchlight Cymru, said: "My first reaction to the WDL is who are they defending us against?
"I don't need to be defended against Muslims and I'm sad that the WDL has made a public call for no more mosques, which is a breach of human rights. Yet they have been given the right of freedom of speech."
Plaid Cymru Assembly Member Leanne Woods was among those who had turned out to oppose the Welsh Defence League.
She said: "This is the first time they have come to Wales and a lot of people from different organisations have come out to say far-right extremism isn’t acceptable on the streets of Swansea.
"We are happy to live together with the Muslim community and we are not prepared to accept divisive and hate-based politics on our streets."
Dr. Mohammed Rahman, who attends Swansea Mosque, said Muslims in Swansea were very much an accepted part of the community.
He said: "In any society in the world there will be some elements who will be against Islam or Christianity or some other religion, so this is a normal thing to happen.
"But it is a very, very minor percentage of people. I feel very secure in the community here because most of the people support us."
Speaking after the demonstrations, chief superintendent Mark Mathias, of South Wales Police, said he had hoped the two sides would be separated but was pleased with a relatively peaceful outcome.
"When you bring two groups together there's going to be passion, and that’s what we have had today," he said. "I am pleased with the success of the police operation, which allowed the protests to pass off peacefully, whilst taking into account the rights of the people of Swansea to go about their normal business.""
(Wales Online, Oct.18, 2009)
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2009/10/18/welsh-defence-league-show-true-colours-91466-24954821/ Less..
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Added: Nov 2 2009 In: news_politics,education
Recorded on: Oct 17 2009
By: lasrever Premium 
- Tags:
- swansea,
- wales,
- welsh defense league,
- welsh defence league,
- WDL,
- BNP,
- nazi,
- nazis,
- fascist,
- fascists,
- antifascist,
- antifascists,
- lasrever,
- danielmountain,
- EDL,
- English Defence League,
- racist,
- racism
- Views: 834 |
- Votes: 1 |
- Recommendations: 0 |
- Comments: 32
Comments - sort by newest to oldest
looks a good turnout to me. there will always be the odd one with the salutes. just like you get at football matches. well done the welsh lads! keep the terrorists out!
Posted Nov-2-2009 by "easyrob33" (R)
i see no problems here besides the fact that the europeans countries are being over run with foreigners and making euros minorities in their own countries.
Posted Nov-2-2009 by "ml99vette" (R)
looks like a few cardiff fans there too. lol
Posted Nov-2-2009 by "easyrob33" (R)
Good job guys, keep your boots on!!
Posted Nov-2-2009 by "Harbinder" (R)
This is cause and effect...the left wing of the UK has ****ed that country over to the point it is bordering on collapse and all at the expense of the native brits...meanwhile muslim immigrants are a protected class of animal allowed to rape, rob and abuse the english tax payer.
Sooner or later something has to give, the pendulum has to swing back.
I look forward to it.
Posted Nov-2-2009 by "Awsomatic" (R)
This is cause and effect...the left wing of the UK has ****ed that country over to the point it is bordering on collapse and all at the expense of the native brits...meanwhile muslim immigrants are a protected class of animal allowed to rape, rob and abuse the english tax payer.
Sooner or later something has to give, the pendulum has to swing back.
I look forward to it.
2nd that.
Posted Nov-2-2009 by "easyrob33" (R)
We're seeing nazism pop up many places in Europe these days, and that's your reaction?
"Well done lads"?
"I see no problem"?
There are groups putting up stickers with swaztikas in my neighborhood, and I'm frankly more scared by the nazism growing in Europe than by any of the muslims I've ever met or worked with.
Luckily, the people who are attracted by the neonazi groups aren't the brightest. They're the type who dropped out of school early and never had any history lessons.
That also means a large portion of them will be taken care of by pure Darwinism.
If only Darwinism worked faster...
Posted Nov-2-2009 by "Foxbattle" (R)
Their grand daddies didnt fight so that their offspring would be 2nd class dhimmi peasants to the socialist elite and their muslim voters.
Posted Nov-2-2009 by "Awsomatic" (R)
I'd like to see the video of that march because the photo really looked like one guy hamming it up for the cameras.
Whenever anyone shows actual videos of "Anti-fascists versus BNP" they usually seem to show a mob of enraged Muslims and few, if any BNP members.
Posted Nov-2-2009 by "john731863" (R)
id rather have those guys in charge than the muslims.
Posted Nov-2-2009 by "itreallyisgrant" (B)
"Well done lads"?
"I see no problem"?
There are groups putting up stickers with swaztikas in my neighborhood, and I'm frankly more scared by the nazism growing in Europe than by any of the muslims I've ever met or worked with.
Luckily, the people who are attracted by the neonazi groups aren't the brightest. They're the type who dropped out of school early and never had any history lessons.
That also means a large portion of them will be taken care of by pure Darwinism.
If only Darwinism worked faster...
i think your confusing being a proud national with nazism. and while we,r talking of nazis, have you ever seen a march by muslims in this country? you have no idea how radical islam is here. the edl, wdl,sdl, all oppose islamic terrorists and its sypathisers. nothing more. if you challenge islam here you are called names like racist and nazi, even tho islam is not a race. its a weak race card play by those who have lost the debate. i would say that those who try to oppose our freedom of speech are the real nazis. so lets try and get things in perspective eh?
Posted Nov-2-2009 by "easyrob33" (R)
wrong arm. duh.
Posted Nov-2-2009 by "wuschii" (R)
One jackass has to ruin it for the rest.
I know EDL member where i'm from, and non are Nazi sympathizers
Posted Nov-2-2009 by "Ghandi_has_risen"
How do you know the people who were doing the Nazi salutes were Welshmen ?
There could be infiltrators. It is not the first time people joined a political group with the intent to wreck it.
Posted Nov-2-2009 by "Steve677"
minority of people doing nazi salutes dont imagine all of the protesters were they arnt all "nazis" the EDL arnt
Posted Nov-2-2009 by "hippy123"