A GROUP of Scottish right-wing extremists who plan on taking over Glasgow’s city centre in an anti-refugee protest today have been told to expect a challenge.
Trade unions and anti-fascist campaigners are to stage a mass counter-demonstration against the Scottish Defence League’s planned event in George Square this afternoon.
Police have said they will be standing by and will take “appropriate action”.
The SDL announced in February that they would be holding the event to protest against refugees, Islamists [sic], Europeans, socialists, communists and Daesh.
On their Facebook page, SDL supporter Eddie Goodwin from Cambuslang explained why he was protesting against refugees: “This is for the future of our children and their children for if we don’t take any action we will be their slaves, and all our young daughters, wives, mothers and sons will be raped and sodomized. For these people are pure evil personified.”
In other posts the sick supporters of the group laugh at a news report saying that 900 men, women and children died trying to cross the Mediterranean last week. David Scott from Larkhall comments: “Only thing wrong with this headline is there are not enough zeros. Drown the lot of the bastards. “
In a joint statement, United Against Fascism and the STUC called on as many people as possible to come down to George Square and outnumber the right-wingers.
They said: “In Glasgow we have a proud record in modern times of denying fascist and Nazi organisations of any of our air to breathe or space on our streets to put their feet.
“Now the SDL have announced that they will hold a rally in George Square on Saturday, June 4. They intend to use the occasion to preach their vile Islamophobia, accuse refugees and immigrants of taking our jobs and of being closet terrorists.
“Help us to organise to ensure their attempted rally does not go unchallenged and that we outnumber them massively, denying them any space to recruit and grow.
“So far, the threat of the Scottish and English Defence Leagues has been successfully countered. They are losing support, fighting amongst each other and being kept small and marginalised.
“We call upon all anti-fascist, anti-racist, pro-refugee organisations, political parties, trade unions, community organisations, local communities, anybody and everybody to come together to oppose this fascist threat.”
Police Scotland said it is aware of the demonstrations and George Square will be “policed appropriately” on the day.
The SDL are not as popular as they would claim. Recent attempts to hold demonstrations in Edinburgh and Ayr fell flat when they could barely muster more than 20 members, having to rely on bored English fascist members of Combat 18 who fancied a day out in Edinburgh.
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