25 Aug
Images from the cross-party meeting in the Birmingham Council House calling for a ban on EDL and far-right marches in the city; attended by Adrian Goldberg, John Hemming MP, Khalid Mahmood MP, councillor Judy Foster, councillor Salma Yaqoob, Apache Indian and Chief Insp Adrian Atherley. Chaired by Waseem Zaffar.
More to come…
24 Aug
An English Defence League (EDL) supporter taunts police. Pic:Birmingham Mail
West Midlands Police have been urged to step in and ban a far right group from holding a march in Birmingham next month to avoid a repeat of the shocking scenes of violence witnessed earlier this month.
White nationalist organisation The English Defence League (EDL) and an associated group, Casuals United, are due to hold a rally against Islamic extremism in the city on September 5.
Their first demonstration on August 8 ended with violence and bloodshed as supporters clashed with anti-racism campaigners.
One of those calling for a ban was Respect councillor Salma Yaqoob, who expected more street violence if EDL returned.
“When it comes to public safety we have every right to intervene,” she said.
“But the ‘just stay away’ message we are hearing won’t wash with today’s Muslim youngsters who won’t put their heads down and carry on walking when they are subjected to racist taunts – they will react and fight back.”
Adrian Goldberg, Khalid Mahmood MP and John Hemming MP also attended the public meeting calling for an EDL ban. Pic: John Tyrrell
Yesterday, those at a public meeting to discuss how the city should deal with the group’s next visit voted unanimously that the police should have the demonstration banned.
West Midlands Police were urged to join forces with Birmingham City Council to apply to the Home Secretary for a banning order under the Public Order Act.
Luton is one of the places which has banned the EDL and other right-wing groups from holding marches for three months to avoid violence.
But a senior police officer said there were no current plans to do so as the EDL had a legitimate right to hold its march.
The Birmingham rally saw 35 people arrested, and running battles between protesters and police in riot gear in Victoria Square and New Street.
Chief Insp Adrian Atherley, head of West Midlands Police’s diversity and community cohesion unit, told yesterday’s meeting how both groups involved, the EDL and the Anti Facist League, acted within the law and the problem lay with their supporters.
“The people fighting were Brummies fighting each other. Why? Because they had been wound up and provoked by the groups who had left by then,” he said.
He said to obtain a ban they would have to jump through numerous legal and bureaucratic hoops.
“We have considered it, but section 13 of the Public Order Act is very specific about marches,” he said.
“In Birmingham the situation is very different to Luton where the Chief Constable felt he could not police that event. We did not lose control on August 8 , there were no major injuries or damage, and in terms of disorder there was no loss of control.”
He added: “Obtaining a section 13 ban requires the Chief Constable to go to the local authority to say in the event of a march I cannot police the streets and the local authority has to apply to the Home Secretary.”
But he said their decision was constantly reviewed and he would feed back comments to the Chief Constable.
Also at the meeting was Birmingham councillor Judy Foster, vice-chairman of the West Midlands Police Authority, who said she would be raising the issue of a ban during a meeting with the Chief Constable Chris Sims today.
Source article: Police urged to ban far right rally in Birmingham – Birmingham Post, 24.08.09
Link: Why the next Brum anti-Muslim march should be banned – John Tyrrell, The Stirrer, 25.08.09
Link: Police urged to ban far right rally in Birmingham – Birmingham Mail, 24.08.09
Link: Ban call for anti-Muslim march – The Stirrer, 24.08.09
Link: Birmingham United, anyone? – The Stirrer, 18.08.09
13 May
Birmingham Votes '09
On Saturday 9th May, 2009, Councillor Salma Yaqoob attended the Birmingham Votes ’09 event held by the Electoral Reform Society at the Quaker Meeting House in central Birmingham.
Salma spoke at the event’s Question Time segment alongside cross-party city representatives including John Hemming MP (Lib Dem) and Richard Burden MP (Labour).
Electorial Reform Society Political Campaigns Officer Michael Calderbank said:
“We all face a real challenge in raising the profile of the European Elections and the importance of democratic representation and we hope that the event made some contribution towards this effort.”
26 Apr
Birmingham Votes '09
Does politics matter? Well on Saturday 9th May, the Electoral Reform Society are holding Birmingham Votes’09, an opportunity for the people of Birmingham to make politics work for them.
The day will be an chance for local community campaigns, faith groups, NGOs and the public to discuss how they can make their voices heard in the June election and beyond.
Respect party leader and Birmingham City councillor Salma Yaqoob will be attending the event and participating in the Democracy Question Time alongside Birmingham’s John Hemming MP and Richard Burden MP.
Birmingham Votes ’09 is organised by the Electorial Reform Society and will take place from 11am at the Quaker Meeting House, Bull Street, Birmingham B4 6AF. To register for the event or to find out more, click here.
1 Jan
FRIDAY 2nd JANUARY 2009
Birmingham Public Gaza Vigil – All Welcome
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MONDAY 5th JANUARY 2009
Event: Birmingham Stop the War Coalition Emergency Public Meeting: Stop the Bombing of Gaza – Justice for the Palestinians
Venue: Committee Rooms 3 & 4, Council House, Victoria Square, Birmingham | Time: 6.30pm (tbc)
Speakers: Salma Yaqoob, Cllr Ayoub Khan (Lib Dem), Cllr Tahir Ali (Lab), John Rose (Jewish anti-Zionist author) and others from the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign and the Birmingham Ramallah Twinning Committee.
Birmingham Respect 