News Clip on SDL Demo

Source: STV

SDL Protest Passes Without Incident

A protest by a far-right group in Edinburgh has ended without incident, police have confirmed.

The Scottish Defence League (SDL) staged a static protest on Saturday after their request to march through the city was turned down by the council.

A counter-rally also took place with groups from across Scotland coming together to under the banner of United Against Fascism (UAF).

The UAF rally, which began at The Mound from 11am, was followed by a march through the city centre involving over 250 participants. Meanwhile, approximately 150 SDL activists gathered for their demonstration at the bottom of Waterloo Place.

Lothian and Borders Police said there was a "substantial" police presence in the city centre, with officers deployed along the route of the UAF march.

The force said that no arrests had been made during the day.

Assistant Chief Constable Iain Livingstone, of Lothian and Borders Police, said: "We are satisfied with the conduct of the vast majority of those who visited Edinburgh for their respective demonstrations.

"The day passed without significant incident and allowed local residents and businesses to go about their day with minimum disruption.

ACC Livingstone went on to thanks the Edinburgh public for their patience and support throughout the event.

He said: "Edinburgh remains a hub for various demonstrations to take place and Lothian and Borders Police have a wealth of experience in facilitating both planned and spontaneous gatherings."

Lothian and Borders Police was supported by colleagues from Strathclyde, Tayside, Fife and Central forces for the operation.

A previous SDL march held in Edinburgh in February 2010 saw five people arrested.

Source: STV

Preparations for the SDL Demo Today

Note the bias in this news clip. They sympathetically interview a member of the UAF (an organisation that exists for no other purpose than to use violence and intimidation against political opponents) but no member of the SDL.

The reporter also describes the SDL (or EDL) as "unashamedly anti-Muslim". This is incorrect. Being anti-Islam is not the same thing as being anti-Muslim. Islam is an ideology. Muslims are people. In any case, the EDL at least (I would assume the SDL follow them in this) insists that it is opposed only to Islamic extremism, not Islam in general.

I disagree with them in this. I think, in its division of the world into two classes of people to whom differential moral standards are applied, Islam is an inherently extreme, conflict-generating ideology. There is no other major ethical system in the world that violates the Golden Rule (do as you would be done by), as Islam does. It's time we started acknowledging the problematical nature of Islam, rather than being cowed by political correctness into uttering only half truths about it.

SDL March Banned

A march planned by a far-right group through the streets of Edinburgh has been rejected over fears for public safety.



Edinburgh City Council's licensing sub-committee turned down the application from the Scottish Defence League (SDL), which wanted to march on September 10. The council said the decision was taken unanimously.



Grahame Smith, general secretary of the Scottish Trades Union Council (STUC), said: "The STUC welcome the decision of the regulatory committee to reject the application by the Scottish Defence League to spread their hatred on the streets of Edinburgh. This sends out a clear message that racism and fascism has no place in Scotland's towns and cities."



Aamer Anwar, a human rights lawyer and organiser of Scotland United, said: "We welcome the council's decision to ban the SDL march. Neo-Nazis masquerading under the flag of Scotland will never be welcome in our capital city. As the only place in the UK that has successfully stopped these thugs marching through our streets, we repeat our message: you are not welcome in Scotland.



"I want to thank the thousands of decent minded people, the trade unions, 47 MSPs, the Scottish Government, the party leaders and the First Minister who backed Scotland United's objections to this march. Today is a good day for freedom and democracy and unity against racism."



Lothian and Borders Police had no formal objection to the application, but raised some concerns in light of "major unrest" across the country.



The proposed route would have taken an estimated 200 people along Regent Road and Waterloo Place to the Wellington monument at the end of Princes Street. The route passes the Scottish Government ministerial headquarters and is close to the US consulate.



A report to councillors who decided the application said that the police acknowledged there may be some disruption to city centre business. But the report also said that with sufficient planning in place, it should be possible to accommodate the SDL procession and any other "resultant demonstrations".



Councillors were given copies of objections, including one from the STUC which had concerns about the proximity of the march to the 10th anniversary of the terror attack on the Twin Towers in New York.



Committee convener councillor Rob Munn said: "The council holds dear the values of freedom of speech, of the right to assemble and march, and we would go to great lengths to protect those rights. We have taken great care to consider all of the issues raised by council officials, Lothian and Borders Police, the SDL and by objectors. Today's decision was wholly based on the information available to us regarding the potential impact on public safety, public order and possible disruption to the life of the community."

Source: Herald