Solidarity Against The SDL.

A shortened version of the "thank you" from Edinburgh UAF:

 

Hello friends

      Well done lovely people of Edinburgh and beyond, you did an amazing job! Over 800 anti-fascists from across Scotland joined a UAF march to oppose 80 members of the racist Scottish Defence League in Edinburgh on Saturday 17th August. The racist SDL march was supposed to be their big event in Scotland, a two finger insult to the largest and most diverse multi-cultural festival in Scotland. However, on the day the racist SDL had to bus in their pals from the Sunderland Div of the EDL and the North West Infidels to make up the numbers. As the racist SDL trailed past City of Edinburgh Council offices, supporters openly gave Nazi salutes-please see photos on our Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/EdinburghUAF/photos_stream
      Green Councillor Maggie Chapman commented ‘Edinburgh is a wonderful, welcoming and diverse city. I’m glad we were there to stand up against the hatred and bigotry of those claiming to speak for Scotland. I think it speaks clearly that their demo was fronted by the EDL Sunderland Division. Clearly the SDL does not have the support in Scotland that it would believe it has.’
     Thanks to all who came and helped build the demo on the day, thanks to the Festival visitors and performers who joined us on the march. A truly international crowd joined our march as it passed down to the Scottish Parliament to stand united against the racist SDL and EDL.
     Trade unions including EIS, UCU, PCS, UNISON, RMT and Unite the Union encouraged union reps and members to mobilise their union branches, their workmates and community campaigns to attend the march.
     Larry Flanagan, Gen Sec of Scotland’s largest teaching union, EIS had encouraged union members to attend the march, ‘EIS resolutely opposes racism in all its forms. As a profession, teachers engage with young minds to develop a shared commitment to values such as fairness and equality, self-respect and respect for others. Racist ideologies such as those pedalled by the SDL and EDL are an assault on those values and need to be challenged through events such as the counter demonstration planned for this Saturday.’
     Edinburgh College Students Association and other Student Associations supported the march too. UAF speakers emphasised the need to mobilize large numbers of people from our trade unions, community and faith organisations to oppose racist and fascist groups whenever they try to take to the streets. We showed the racist SDL that we are the many and they the few. We showed that they are not welcome on our streets, our city or our Festival!
You Tube video of the UAF march can be viewed on the following link.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=GyzaNRWwQtE
Detailed coverage of the UAF Edinburgh march can be found on Facebook: Edinburgh Against The Racist SDL.
     SDL intend to demonstrate in Dundee The racist SDL have said their next demonstration will be in Dundee in late September, early October. When we get further information we will let you know. Let’s make sure we give them the same unwelcoming reception when they
come to Dundee.
Thanks
UAF Edinburgh
Facebook: EdinburghUAF
Email: uafedinburgh@riseup.net
Twitter: @UAFScot

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