Labour politicians have urged residents to show their opposition to this weekend\u2019s EDL march by attending the counter rally arranged for Saturday morning.
\nWhilst Labour are disappointed at the Met\u2019s failure to thus far seek a ban for the march they have assured residents that they are working with police and others to ensure a safe environment for residents to go about their daily lives.
\nLast week Labour once again wrote to the Government requesting a ban stating that they felt the EDL were \u201cseeking to use our community for their own divisive means, a deplorable hate preaching tactic which we have seen result in serious violence multiple times before\u201d
\nThe politicians will be at the Unite Against Fascism counter rally in force this weekend to peacefully protest the EDL\u2019s presence and stand in solidarity with their community. They have also called upon all sides and the police to work together to be sure the day passes peacefully and does not see the kind of violence which featured two years ago.
\nLeader of the Labour Group, Cllr Sirajul Islam, said:
\n\u201cWhilst we are disappointed by the police\u2019s decision not to ban the EDL march, we are working with them to ensure that everything possible is done so that the march passes without violence or major disruption to residents.
\n\u201cIt is clear that the EDL\u2019s only aim is to preach division and hate, we will not allow that to happen. Our community will stand united in the face of these EDL outsiders.\u201d
\nLabour\u2019s candidate for Mayor of Tower Hamlets, John Biggs, said:
\n“I am and will continue arguing until the last minute for a ban as it is a mistake to permit the EDL march. I urge local residents to show their peaceful dissent from the EDL’s narrow inward-looking and divisive views. I will be in Whitechapel on Saturday showing my strong support for unity in Tower Hamlets.”<\/p>\n