20 Feb Edinburgh Scotland United rally against racism and fascism

Join a day of celebration of multicultural Edinburgh on Saturday 20 February. Assemble Ross bandstand Princes Street Gardens at 11.30. Peaceful Rally and March against English/Scottish Defence league plans to demonstrate in the city that day. http://www.scotlandunited.org/

‘Scotland United’ is a coming together of trade unionists, anti-racists, and faith groups for one purpose - to hold a rally & march to celebrate multicultural Edinburgh on Saturday 20th February.

This is in response to the anti-Muslim protest planned by racist bigots of the Scottish & English Defence League who wish to march on the same day.

Previous EDL demonstrations have seen their thugs attack Asian people, chant “Muslims out” and make “Seig Heil” Nazi salutes. It is vital that we do not sit back and allow a small minority of racist thugs with links to the fascist BNP to terrorise and intimidate Muslims in Edinburgh.

In November they were humiliated after ‘Scotland United’ mobilised to deny them the right to march anywhere in Glasgow City Centre (see here) after they stated they would march on Glasgow Central Mosque.

The SDL spent most of the day corralled into a pub on the edge of the city, denied the right to march and then frogmarched onto buses chartered by Strathclyde Police to drop them at the edge of the City and told not to return.

At the same time over 3,500 rallied and marched through our city centre with a positive message, culminating in a minute’s silence for all victims of racial violence at George Square. We lead a peaceful march which condemned the SDL message of hatred. LET US DO THE SAME AGAIN.

The fascists of the BNP or the SDL/EDL can only defeated by mass action and solidarity. So Scotland United will be the bringing together of all who wish to live in a multicultural, multiracial, democratic society. We need your voices, your music, and your skills to show the true diversity of our city.

So ask your workmates, friends and family to join our rally. Let’s turn Saturday 20th February into a positive peaceful day that Scotland says loud and clear we do not want fascists on our streets, in our communities and we are united.

For more information, leaflets, or to add your name to the unity statement below email scotlandunited@gmail.com

UNITY STATEMENT

“We the undersigned strongly oppose plans by the ‘Scottish Defence League’ - a group linked to the fascist BNP - to demonstrate in Edinburgh. The SDL is a racist group dedicated to attacking Asian people and Muslims. Islamophobia - bigotry against Muslims - is as unacceptable as any other form of racism.

Its aim is to divide us by making scapegoats of one community, just as the far-right did with Jews in the 1930s. We have a simple message for these racist and fascist groups. We will not let you turn the clock back to the 1970s when their thugs could attack black and Asian people with impunity. An injury to one is an injury to all – and their attempts to target and scapegoat Muslims will fail.

Today they threaten the Mosque, tomorrow it could be a Synagogue, Temple or Church. Today they threaten Muslims, tomorrow it could be Jewish people, Hindus, Sikhs, black people, lesbians & gay men, trade unionists, travellers or Eastern Europeans. There is no place for Nazis, racists or the BNP in Edinburgh’s multi-racial, multi-cultural and multi-religious community We call on the leader of Edinburgh City Council and Police to take action against the SDL/EDL.”