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Saturday 1 December 2012

EDL Shotton Colliery Demo


Today the EDL held a demo in the village of Shotton Colliery in County Durham. The protest was prompted by the decision of a locally resident businessman named Kaiser Choudry to transform a closed pub into what has been described as ‘a Muslim education centre’.

Given the name of the village, it will come as no surprise to the reader that it grew up around the eponymous pit which was closed by the NCB in the early 1970s with the loss of around 800 jobs. The village has never recovered from this swingeing economic blow, and the proposed ‘Muslim education centre’, which was once the Melrose Arms, is but one of eight former local pubs that have now been shut. Clearly, what Shotton Colliery requires is economic investment and job opportunities, not such a pointless entity as a ‘Muslim education centre’.

The pointlessness and unwelcome nature of such an intrusion into the life of an English village was overlooked by the Hartlepool Mail, which naturally chose to cover the story from a pro-Muslim perspective under the heading of ‘Muslims fear EDL demo’. Apparently, the village is home to five or six Muslim families. Presumably they are all familiar with Islam, so why would Shotton Colliery require a ‘Muslim education centre’? Obviously, it does not, and is simply intended as a base for Islamic proselytisation – dawa – amongst the resident English population. There is nothing favourable that can be said either about such an intent or this specific move, so the EDL were certainly right to demonstrate in this instance, for such a centre can bring good to nobody. The less that Islamic doctrine is preached and spread in our country, so much the better for all. 

Residents of the village should be aware that Easington MP Grahame Morris has sided with the proponents of the Muslim propaganda centre. At the very least, those who object to its presence should write to him and complain about his stance, asking him directly what benefit he thinks such a proselytising mission centre could possibly confer upon the area and the lives of local residents. There is nothing positive in Islamic doctrine that cannot be found in any other faith or general system of ethical conduct, but there is much in it that is inherently negative and inimical to the public good. We do not need more Islam in Britain, but less of it. We should not grant planning permission for Muslim mission centres. It would be better if the former Melrose Arms were to be bulldozed.

As for the turnout at the demo today, there has been scant information, although one opponent of the EDL, a self-styled ‘anti-fascist’ claimed in a tweet that some 200 EDL turned up in Shotton. On the other side of the divide, someone named Peter Sloan asserted that there were between 500 and 600 EDL and locals demonstrating against the proposed Muslim centre. From the picture of the demo below, it is impossible to estimate numbers, as it only shows part of the crowd. If you were in Shotton today, what were your impressions of the protest? Were you for it, or against it? What happened? Feel free to leave comments below, because the press will not report it in an objective fashion. A poll has been added to the blog column on the right where you can make clear your opinion on Shotton's proposed 'Muslim education centre'. Multiple answers can be submitted, and the poll will close on 21 December. It will be interesting to see what readers think.

UPDATE:
On 2 December the Sunday Sun reported that two men were arrested at the demo ‘for breach of bail conditions’ and cited a police estimate of the number of EDL present as 200. However, it is not clear as to whether or not this figure also included locals who turned out to protest against the proposed ‘Muslim education centre’. The article also noted that Durham County Council has already ‘received a 102-signature petition and 13 letters against the conversion.’ Clearly, much more opposition will need to be effectively marshalled to put an end to this plan for the former Melrose Arms. According to the Hartlepool Mail, which decided to describe the demonstrators as 'far-right extremists' in its Sunday edition, Durham County Council has already approved plans for the centre to go ahead. Are you a local resident who opposes this centre? If so, how do you feel about being labelled a 'far-right extremist'?

A report that appeared in the Sunderland Echo on 3 December confirmed (as mentioned by a commenter below) that a woman wearing a niqab threw a bag of what appeared to be 'dog excrement' at the protesters, but the police have stated that it 'contained mud'. Her action cannot be described as being within the bounds of legitimate objection to the protest and was unnecessarily provocative. Nonetheless, she was only 'ushered away' and did not, so far as can be deduced from the report, receive a police caution. Although the protest itself is said to have been generally peaceful, it is stated that a bottle was thrown at the police (which fool did that?) and a number of fireworks were let off. It claimed that the demonstrators numbered about 200.

EDL Demonstrators in Shotton Colliery (Saturday 1 December 2012)

37 comments:

  1. there were definetly around 500 demonstrators and most which were local villages althought quite a few edl members who were leading the full 500 with there experince it was a good demonstration and hopefully proved a point to athoritys , everyone who attended were 100% against ! apart from 1 muslim who carried a bread bag full of human waste it just shows how these animals think ,her idea was to throw the bag of human feces into the crowd of protester but faced with a hostile protesters the police quickly ussered her away , this is one of many demomstrations to be held at our village ,please make your mark and join us for the next one , I myself been a villager and knowing everyones feelings that are we are being takeing over and this will be no longer our village in the near future as this will be takeing over completely by muslims ,THIS IS COMPLETELY WRONG ,why should we feel this way ? nothing good at all is to come out of this so called muslim learning centre ,I am not racist neither is any of our village ,derek walls q.c.

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    1. respect for derek , he may be small but his heart is big ,also big respect for the edl .

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    2. Thanks for your report Derek. Good luck in campaigning peacefully against the centre.

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  2. my name is joe humphreys , I have lived in our village all my life and this so called learning centre is a complete waste , no good what so ever will come out of it ,our local mp grahame morris should live next door to it and then see if he would be all for it ,I am sure he would not ! I predict within the next 10yr the whole village will be stinking of that curry smell they seem to leave every were they live ,there is no need to encouage this by giveing the ( muslims )permission to bring even more into our relatively peaceful village ,PLEASE JOIN THE 500 DEMONSTRATORS AT OUR NEXT MEETING . JOE HUMPREYS .

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  3. my name is BILLY know locally as the ( TRAPPER ) me and another 500 demonstators were at our village disputeing the councils decision to give muslims permission to learn even more of there stupit beliefs , most of which go towards hatred of me and my country gentlemen and there familys ,as there not been enough blood shed with terrists etc in the uk and other places ,so why encourage this by giveing them permission to come into my village and set up home ,it has been proved in the past they might seem ok collec ting money from you in corner shops etc ,but remember most of this money is to go against none muslim beliefs ,thats you and I , SO GET THEM OUT AND KEEP THE OUT ! TRAPPER .

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  4. .............GET THEM OUT KEEP THEM OUT ..............

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  5. JOIN US AT OUR NEXT DEMO AND PROVE IT IS NOT JUST OUR VILLAGE PEOPLE WHAT IS AGAINST THESE SO CALLED LEARNING CENTRES ,LEARNING SHIT !

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  6. Islamic education, surely an oxymoron?

    Yeah the Islamic groups try the 'community centre' 'learning centre' schtick all the time. The are trying it on in this way in Hereford. It doesn't help that some councillors seem to think that the way forward is to climb up the arseholes of Islam.

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    1. In Hereford too? I hadn't heard about that one. How far towards realisation is that 'development'? I like your blog by the way as our opinions seem to tally on a number of matters, so I've added it to my blog list.

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  7. Islamic education centre, what a complete oxymoron.

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  8. THE TRAPPER HAS THE RITE IDEA ,GET THEM OUT AND KEEP THEM OUT ! OUR VILLAGE SHOULD BE OUR VILLAGE AND FOR US TO DECIDE WHAT GOES OFF AND WHAT DOES NOT GO OFF AND THIS LEARNING CENTRE IS SOMETHING THE WHOLE VILLAGE IS AGAINST , SO A BIG THUMBS UP FOR THE( EDL ) WITH ALL THERE SUPPORT IT IS MUCH APPRECIATED , THIS IS FROM THE BIG MONEY MAN ALAN BRIGGS AND THE THE GANG OF SHOTTON AXEMEN ,YES US SHOTTON AXEMEN ARE STILL HERE ,WE MAYBE OLDER AND WISER BUT VERY MUCH HERE ! MESSAGE TO ALL READERS JOIN US ON OUR NEXT DEMO ,SHOULD BE FUN AND GAMES !

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    1. respect for alan briggs and all the SHOTTON AXEMEN !

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    2. I hope that you're both referring to guitarists when you mention the 'Shotton Axemen' rather than something more sinister?

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    3. this is not alan briggs's comment and it it should be removeed immediately

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  9. SHOTTON AXEMEN RULE SHOTTON ,GET THEM OUT AND KEEP THEM OUT ,TONY BRIGGS .

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  10. THEY RECKON ( FOSS ) IS GOING TO BE THERE NEXT TIME ,THEN WE'LL SEE ,JOIN US , COME ON THE LADS ,COME ON THE LADS ,OUR NEXT DEMO WILL BE MINT ,SO COME ALONG AND STAND UP FOR OUR COMMUNITY ,FROM JAMES ANDERSON THE CARAVAN MAN !

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  11. I live in Shotton and hate violence but think if this is built there will be trouble all of the time. 99% of the village is against this, I can't see it lasting even if it is built.

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    1. Peaceful opposition and protest is fine, but anything beyond that I cannot condone, but roundly condemn.

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  12. when is the next demo takeing place at shotton colliery ???????? edward cocoa !

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  13. WHY do five or six Muslim families need a place as big as the melrose to do there so called Muslim education , would that include religious education i wonder? (mosque) YES i do agree with the protest. why cant they do there Muslim education in there 5300 pray rooms that they have in and around hartlepool!!! that,s FIVE THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED folks!!!not to say anything about stuff they DON,T have to pay ie..... rent / council tax etc, WE IN SHOTTON HAVE HAD ENOUGH,AND ENOUGH IS ENOUGH,

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    1. Anon, I think you will find that virtually none other of Britain's minority religions would behave in the same way as Islam does. It does not appear to be the sort of thing that would be necessary for a few families and is obviously a base camp for some form of Islamic expansion.

      I don't think that any other religion in the UK would want such a building for such a small number of families in the area who are likely to use it. It certainly looks like some form of Dawa/Islamic propaganda centre to me.

      This form of words 'Islamic education/community centre' is normally to cover for what the real intention is which is a mosque/Islamic propaganda centre.

      The Labour MP, who is cheerleading for this monstrosity, needs to be defeated at the polls, but that can only be achieved if there is a high turn out. Low turnouts only benefit the Islamic vote fraudsters and the incumbents.

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    2. Yes 'Anon', there are plenty of mosques nearby as you state. Your village does not require one. F211, you are right in stating that the Labour incumbent needs to be challenged over his support for this centre, but before the next election constituents need to bombard him with letters and emails of complaint, or visit him at his constituency surgeries with the same intent. Make him work for his money and make him rue the day that he ever gave his mistaken support to this unwelcome venture.

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  14. massive thank you to all at Shotton for your hospitality and warm welcome and for showing up in your numbers we (the North East EDL) will be there if and when you need us,please carry the fight on and we will not be defeated,please join our Division groups and keep us informed on all accounts and developments (https://www.facebook.com/groups/EDLNEWCASTLEDIVISION/..... we Will Never Surrender and Stand up for our beliefs...thank you all Steve (Newcastle Div Organiser)

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    1. If you would like some additional publicity for your next Shotton demo, leave its date here.

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    2. we will do thanks a lot!

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  15. Who ever thought it would be funny to mention the names of Alan and Tony Briggs on here, Durham police have been informed and are on the case.

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    1. Who are they? The reference to the term 'axemen' is a little disconcerting.

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  16. I'm no good at building stuff, but I can collect wood for when you start to build the wickerman. I was at the zoo at the weekend and even parts of that was just full of French spies. When will this madness end?

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    1. Какая пизда! Отступали на усталый старый ксенофобии инсинуации.

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  17. You must think that everyone reading this is a moron. Did you invent funny voices to go with all the characters too?

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  18. If there was so much local support in Shotton, how come there are so many people commenting on here who are pretending to be locals?

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    1. Well, perhaps because they actually are locals?

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    2. a lot of these comments are made up with someone putting names in, which could cause trouble should be removed im a local and i know these people wouldnt have made these comments, half the names mentioned dont even know how to turn on a computer

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  19. Our next protest at Shotton will be on November 9th.

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